Eagles impressive in opening win over C-Z-R
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[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.
On third and goal, Ben Genet stepped in front of a Dial pass and snagged an interception, and was forced out of bounds at the two-yard line.
However, Eldorado fumbled the ensuing snap and lost possession, with Dial pushing in from a yard out just two plays later. Eldorado snuffed out the two-point try, but still momentum had shifted greatly, with the Eagles now up only 18-14 with 12 seconds left in the third.
The Eagles got the ball back with time for one more play in the quarter, and it was a big one, as Dashawn Turner broke free for a 13-yard gain.
C-Z-R's last drive was reminiscent of their earliest ones. Under heavy pressure on each drop back, Dial misfired badly on a pair of passes, then, forced to go for it on 4th and 8, Miller came through with another key sack, dropping Dial and forcing a turnover on downs.
Showing no letup, Griffin and Stewart powered the Eagles to sure-fire clinching score, with the latter breaking off an 18-yard scamper with 2:38 to play. Blair hit Griffin with a pass for the two point conversion, setting the final score at 32-14.
Eldorado (1-0) travels to Elverado-Trico next week, looking to continue their winning ways. C-Z-R, meanwhile, hosts Johnston City.
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