The youngsters for Eads are getting better as their immaturity and youth is diminishing and they are developing into aggressive ball players. On Friday in Tribune, Kansas they came away with a strong win, 70-26, over a big and athletic Jackrabbits team from Greeley County High School.
The Eagles are now 1-2 on the season and will begin conference ball this week when they welcome Kit Carson (1-2) to Eads. The Wildcats are coming off their first successful weekend in more than a year defeating Kiowa, 52-22.
It took the Eagles just a bit of time to get the stiffness out after getting off the bus in Tribune as they allowed the Jackrabbits to score first on a 26-yard rushing play. The conversion run was also good, and Tribune grabbed the early lead, 7-0. It would be the only time they had the lead in the ballgame.
Eads then got going and scored in back-to-back possessions. First junior backer Stockton Mitchek caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from classmate Case Nelson, and then senior Keenan Smith pounded the ball in from one yard out to give Eads the lead, 12-7. Kadan Dunlap hit a successful 2-point conversion kick leaving Eads up 14-7 after the first quarter.
Going into the second quarter Smith hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Nelson, and Dunlap nailed his second conversion kick of the night leaving the score at 22-7.
Mitchek then ran the ball in from 6-yards out for the touchdown. A second Eads kicker, sophomore Karsten Buller, was successful in his first conversion kick leaving the Eagles with the advantage at the intermission, 30-7.
The Eagles’ offense continued to fly in the second half. Scoring from the ground continued for Eads as sophomore Shaine Winder brought one home from 24 yards out leaving the score at 36-7.
The Jackrabbits then broke up the Eagle pass coverage and scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass play leaving the score at 36-13.
But Eads answered on a 29-yard touchdown pass play from Nelson to Buller. The Dunlap point-after-attempt was good, leaving Eads up 44-13.
Still in the third quarter, Eads would get the ball back allowing Smith to run it in from 16 yards out for another touchdown leaving the score at 50-13.
Eads coach Trey Eder subbed liberally from his extremely young bench towards the end of the third quarter. It did cost them, though, as Tribune came back with two touchdowns late in the third quarter leaving the score at 50-26 with just one quarter to go.
The fourth quarter was all Eads as the Jackrabbits put their bench on the field, as well. Winder would score a 3-yard touchdown making the score 56-26. Mitchek then electrified the crowd with a 71-yard touchdown run putting the score at 62-26. Finally, Dunlap ran one in from 47 yards out. His PAT kick was good, as well, leaving the final score at 70-26.
For the second week in a row, it would be the ground attack for Eads that was the difference in the game. They would outrush their opponent 354 yards to 118 yards. Tribune got a slight nod in the passing category as a team as they gained 160 yards from the air compared to 145 for Eads.
The score had the potential to be much more lopsided, but Eads suffered their way through 8 penalties adding up to 79 yards lost. The Eads defense was tough, however, as they only allowed 3-of-11 fourth down conversions for the Jackrabbits.
For Eads it would be Mitchek who led the way on the ground with 161 yards in 16 carries scoring 2 touchdowns. The junior also caught two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Winder added 86 yards in 16 carries and scored twice.
Smith had 8 carries for 54 yards and scored two touchdowns. Smith also had 2 receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Dunlap carried the ball twice for 40 yards and a touchdown. Buller caught one pass for 29 yards and a touchdown. Both Dunlap and Buller are becoming strong additions for Eads as they can both kick the ball and are making strides on both sides of the ball.
Gabe Hadley led the way on defense with 5 tackles and one sack. Mitchek had two tackles and one interception that he returned for 25 yards.
Game time with Kit Carson is slated for 7:00 pm under the Friday night lights.
