Prep Football: Eagles stunned by Athens at Boz Adams
When the Eagles needed a big play this season, especially during the last two weeks, Eldorado has been able to go to the well and pull something out.
The team looked for the same magic Saturday in a home playoff game against Athens, this time however, the well was dry as Eldorado fell 21-14 in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A playoffs at Boz Adams Field.
Looking to capitalize on a fourth-and-10 situation from the Athens 26 yard line, Adam Ninness' pass to Max Kasiar, who tossed up a ball intended for Isaac Bethel in the end zone was jarred free by Athens' Mason Reiff preserving the upset for the Warriors.
The loss is a first for the Black Diamond Champs, who went a perfect 9-0 in conference play this season, giving the Eagles their first BDC title in school history and allowing Eldorado to host their first playoff game at home since 1996.
EHS head coach Brandon Hampton referenced the gamut of emotions his team has experienced lately, but also credited what he called a "physical Athens team."
"You just hate it for our kids," Hampton said. "They have just been on such an emotional roller coaster for what seems like three or four weeks. It's tough to match that each and every day and we just came up a few inches short there at the end. I give our kids a lot of credit, we got down early and staggered a little bit and kept playing and fighting. Athens is a good football team and play in a good conference, don't let that 5-4 record fool you, that's a good football team and they were physical."
Athens struck first on a 4-yard run by Matthew Selinger to get the game going, but Eldorado responded with a 7-yard run by Payton Price and following the Drew Woolcott two-point conversion, held an 8-7 lead.
The Warriors struck next with an 8-yard run by Hunter Maxwell to regain the lead and then took advantage of a Ninness interception, punching another score in at the 1:56 mark on the first as junior quarterback Nick Hanner scored from three yards out.
Eldorado worked quickly and found paydirt when Price sprinted out to a 22-yard score with just 18.5 left to play in the first half.
Neither team had much going in the second half - despite Eldorado coming up with two big plays on defense - one, a fumble recovery by Kasiar that led to a punt and an interception by Woolcott that resulted in the final drive that left the Eagles 26 yards short of the win.
"I was proud of how our defense in the second half made a few adjustments and got some turnovers," Hampton said. "I thought Max had a big turnover with the strip and Drew coming up with the interception; Bowen made a couple of nice plays. Our offense kept fighting right till the very end, but one game does not make a season. This hurts, this hurts all of us, but quickly you have to reflect and look back on all the things these kids have accomplished. They've done so much for our community and for our high school. We gave ourselves an opportunity and just came up short and sometimes you come up short."
Athens outgained Eldorado 284-268 with the Warriors ground game getting off 247 yards on 49 carries. Eldorado rushed 41-220 as Price led the Eagles with 84 yards on 14 carries.
Jacob Traxler had seven carries for 80 yards, while Tre Vessel finished with 30 yards on 11 carries.
Ninness went 3-for-13 for 48 yards under center, hitting Kasiar twice for 38 yards and Woolcott once for 10 yards.
Penalities - while not an alarming number - did come back to bite Eldorado more than once as they were flagged four times for 30 yards. In the end, Hampton said the loss falls on the shoulders of the coaching staff.
"Uncharacterisctally, we had a few penalties and a few turnovers that hurt us, but our kids weathered the storm and gave us a shot there at the very end and (Saturday) we just came up short. All season long we have been in that same position and made the plays. If you got to say you were going to go 9-1 when the season started in August, you would take it 100 percent of the time. I'm super pleased for the players and the season they had, but I'm crushed for them because we weren't able to get it down for them today. The wins are on the players shoulders and the losses are on the coaches and I'll take full responsibility for this one, but that was a good football team."
Athens (5-5) will now play Maroa-Forsyth (8-2) who knocked off Westville 33-12 also on Saturday.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter:
@spydieshooter.
Athens 7 14 0 0 - 21
Eldorado 8 6 0 0 - 14
Scoring Summar
First Quarter
ATH - Selinger 4 run (Davis kick), 6:01
ELD - Price 7 run (Woolcott conversion run), 1:20
Second Quarter
ATH - Maxwell 8 run (Davis kick), 7:25
ATH - Hanner 3 run (Davis kick), 1:56
ELD - Price 22 run (conversion failed), 18.5
Team Statistics
ATH ELD
First Downs 23 16
Total Yards 284 268
Rushes-Yards 49-247 41-220
Passing 2-8-1 4-14-1
Passing Yards 37 48
Fumbles-lost 4-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 2-15 4-30
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: ATH - Kline 18-65, Maxwell 18-101, Selinger 10-71, Hanner 3-10. ELD - Price 14-84, Vessel 11-30, Traxler 7-80, Ninness 2-14, Molinarolo 1-2, Woolcott 4-12, Kasiar 1-(-2).
PASSING: ATH - Hanner 2-8-1 37, ELD - Ninness 3-13-1 48, Kasiar 0-1-0 0.
RECEIVING: ATH - Richardson 1-13, Fletcher 1-24. ELD - Woolcott 1-10, Kasiar 2-38.