Turnovers lead to Eagle downfall Debbie Kistler The Junction Eagle In the season opener, in Bronte, the Junction Eagles prevailed over an opponent that fielded plenty of talent and was well coached, but contributed to their own defeat as a result of turnovers. In Big Lake this past Friday, the Junction Eagles played well, but gave the ball away four times. The Junction Boys had more rushing yards, more passing yards and fewer penalties. They played with skill and heart, even in the face of the turnovers and resulting 12 Big Lake points, but lost the game 27 to 19. It was a game they could have won; should have won. The Eagles started the game by moving the ball 62 yards to score. Justus Young took the opening kickoff and bulldozed his way for about 20 yards to the Junction 38. Austin Rivas and Young racked up the rushing yardage, helped this week by Laith Bannowsky. Then, on third and nine on the Big Lake nine, Eagles quarterback Drew Martinez passed to Asa Plumley, who was cruising in the end zone. The catch put the Eagles ahead 6-0. The Eagles’ point-after kicking game is still a struggle. When asked to Monday morning quarterback, Martinez said that this quick, easy success may have left the Eagles feeling over-confident and not respecting their opponent enough, a mistake he believes they won’t make again. Dontay Foy booted a high, deep kickoff and Martinez stopped the return effort at the Owls’ 15. Rivas, Young, Foy, Clay Dennis, David Lee Modesto, Zach Aguilar, Judge Modesto and Plumley made the going tough for the Owls.After seven minutes and 85 yards, the Owls drove in and, with a successful point-after kick, went ahead 7 to 6. Speedy sophomore Eagle Jose Salazar started the Eagles’ next possession by bringing the kickoff 25 yards to set his teammates up on their own 40. Two plays later, as Martinez prepared to pass, a 210 lb. Owl lineman, Baylee Barton, hit his cocked passing arm, dislodging the ball. The Owl offense came back on the field, ready to take advantage of their mid-field position. Eagles defenders rallied. Henry Whitworth threatened the Big Lake quarterback causing a wild pass; Salazar tackled the QB for a loss; Garet Martin, Plumley, Foy and Joshua Mogford all stepped up, but the momentum was with the Owls. On fourth and 18 on the Junction 22, Owls quarterback Mason Baggett threw to tight end Justin Pullig for another touchdown. Foy knocked down the point-after kick. Junction-6, Big Lake-13 The teams next traded possessions without much success moving the ball. The Eagles defense held the Owls deep in their own territory. Martinez returned the punt to the Big Lake 17. From there, it took just five plays for the Eagles to score. Dennis made a nice catch, then Plumley drove in from the one. Junction-12, Big Lake-13. After the halftime break, Foy kicked a line drive. Young and Aguilar jarred the ball loose from the Owl ball carrier on the Big Lake 32. To the Junction crowd, it appeared that the pigskin was recovered by the Eagles. Coach Spivey pointed that out to the officials. The game film and still shots verify his opinion, but the call on the field left the ball in the Owl’s possession. The Junction defensive unit would not let the Owls profit on that call. First, the Owls were held to minus seven yards. The resulting punt bounced and hit Young and was recovered by the Owls, but they were only able to make five yards and had to punt again. The Eagles offense marched 65 yards to the Big Lake 22, then fumbled. The Owls made 18 yards and had to punt. Back in possession, the Eagles sent Bannowsky on a dive play. Owls defensive end Ralphy Salas stripped the ball just 18 yards from Junction’s prime real estate. Three plays later, the Owls went ahead 19 to 12. According to Coach Cory Spivey, the turnovers were the key to the loss. He said his players didn’t take care of the ball in the third quarter. “You can’t give the other team the ball on your own 18 and have a good outcome.” This could have broken the spirit of a lesser team, but the Eagles fired right back to score two plays later. Salazar made another good kickoff return for 17 yards. Rivas took a dive play up the middle for nine yards. He followed that with a 54-yard run into the Owls end zone to draw some revenge blood for the Eagles. A good point-after kick from Dennis tied the game 19-19 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Owls roared back with a six-play, 63-yard drive of their own. They followed the touchdown with a two-point conversion. Junction-19, Big Lake-27. The Eagles used Rivas, Young and Danny Perez to move the ball. A fourth and five pass to Foy didn’t hold, so the Owls took over on their 26 yard line. Plumley, at 135 lbs., upended the Owls 210 lb. running back, Carrasco; Rivas handled Rocha; Salazar stopped Ortiz for no gain. Then Rivas and J. Modesto put the halt to Carrasco again. The Eagle offense now had to fight two opponents: the Reagan County Owls defense and the game clock. From their own 23, they marched to the Big Lake 37, with Rivas, Perez and Foy doing the heavy lifting. Plumley caught a short pass. The Eagles took to the air, but were not able to make it to the Owls goal line before time ran out. Final: Junction-19, Big Lake-27 Focusing on the upcoming game with Grape Creek, Coach Spivey describes the GC quarterback as “a scrambler”, saying, “He sees a crease and wants to run.” “Containing the quarterback will be key.” Martinez described GC Eagles as a “spread team”, so he expects more passing. Given his high rate of success making interceptions, Junction fans will be watching to see if he catches well for the Grape Creek Eagles quarterback Nathan Wiedbusch or if he’ll even throw the ball to the Martinez’ side of the field. It should be fun to watch. Be at Eagles Stadium this Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30. Two middle school games will take place in Grape Creek on Thursday at 5 and 6. The junior varsity game will start there at 7.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:53:47 +0000
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