No hometown fan at Boz Adams Field on Friday night would have objected to the dominance of the first half continuing throughout the second.
But Eldorado head coach Brandon Hampton probably wouldn’t trade the experience for anything – especially given the final result. After opening up an 18-0 halftime lead on visiting Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton, Hampton’s charges showed character in withstanding a strong comeback, and finished with flourish in a 32-14 victory.
“We’re a fourth-quarter program,” Hampton told his charges in an impromptu victory circle after the win. “That’s not because of anything we as coaches do; it’s what you do on the practice field, in the weight room, the dedication you show.”
Eldorado certainly looked like a first and second quarter team in the early going, physically dominating the Bearcats on both sides of the ball. Three punishing runs by Caid Griffin and an offside call on C-Z-R set up a beautiful play action pass from rookie quarterback Joe Blair to Derek Miller.
That 39-yard hookup gave Eldorado a 6-0 lead, and they added to it after forcing the Bearcats into a three-and-out. Nick Stewart ran back the ensuing punt to near midfield, and a big fourth-down conversion by Griffin kept the drive going.
The drive looked imperiled when Griffin fumbled a handoff inside the ten, but he recovered it, and made up for his mistake by punching the ball in from six yards out with 1:21 left, putting the Eagles up 12-0.
The Bearcats got a slight rally going on their next possession, but a big defensive play kept momentum on Eldorado’s side. C-Z-R quarterback Steven Dial short-hopped a pass to Dylan Walter, setting up a third and six. And on that play, Derek Miller busted through the line to sack Dial for a five yard loss, forcing a punt.
After a few more bruising runs spread between himself, Nick Stewart and Dashawn Turner, Griffin sprung outside for a 43-yard dash down the left sideline, dragged down barely short of his goal at the one. Two plays later, Blair snuck in for a score and an 18-0 lead, which was preserved into the half.
The Eagles drove into C-Z-R territory on the next drive, but Griffin lost a fumble. A workmanlike drive by the Bearcats over the next four minutes took them down to the five-yard line, but Griffin, contributing big-time on defense on this occasion, busted up a handoff, pushing C-Z-R back to the 12 yard line.
