Festus Scores 28 Straight To Defeat Eagles

Festus used some third down magic on Friday to spark the beginning of a rout against Sullivan.

The Tigers picked up 34 yards on a third-and-35 from deep in their own territory, then later scored a touchdown on a third-and-goal from the Sullivan 21.

It was the beginning of 28 straight points and a 42-13 victory over the Eagles.

Sullivan (0-2) had their own big moments, including a 60-yard pick-six by Dillon Farrell and a 28-yard touchdown by Alex Goly.

Goly’s touchdown brought the Eagles within 14-13 with 4:41 remaining.

Festus began flailing on the ensuing drive.

A personal foul and an intentional grounding penalty had sent them backwards. Sullivan was ready to take possession with under two minutes to play.

Instead, Festus quarterback Cole Rickerman threw a strike over the middle of the field to Collin Doyel, who got inches away from the first down marker. One play later, Austin Shaver ran 23 yards on fourth-and-1 to spot the ball at the Sullivan 1.

On second-and-goal, the Tigers had a wayward snap and recovered at the Sullivan 21, losing 19 yards in the process.

Rickerman would again come up with a clutch throw. He floated a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Wagoner with 1:34 left, giving the Tigers a 21-13 lead.

That put Festus in firm control and set the tone for a monster second half. Austin Anderson ran for touchdowns of 63 and 60 yards late in the third quarter.

Anderson amassed more than 200 yards and three scores.

Festus stumbled out of the gates as Rickerman was picked off by Farrell, who stepped in front of a curl route and sprinted untouched for a 60-yard score.

The Eagles took a 7-0 lead with 8:48 left in the first quarter.

Rickerman made up for the mistake with a 40-yard pass to Kain Roberts-Day on the first play of the ensuing drive. 

A penalty on second-and-goal set Festus back to the Sullivan 17. Facing a third-and-goal, Rickerman threaded a pass to Isaac Stucke to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:47 remaining.

The Eagles were backed up to their own 1-yard line with nine minutes to play in the half. They went three-and-out and punted away, but the ball traveled just 23 yards. 

Festus gave the ball to Anderson a delayed hand-off and he scampered to the end zone on the first play of the drive, going 24 yards for the touchdown a 14-7 lead.

Sullivan hammered away with Goly. After runs of three and four yards, he picked up 27 on third-and-3. 

On a first-and-15, he ran for 11 yards. His fifth rush of the drive produced a touchdown. Festus trapped him near the sideline, but he shrugged off his defenders, cut right and scored to make it 14-13.

Festus would score on the next drive to go into the half leading 21-13. They scored three more touchdowns within four minutes in the third quarter to pull away.