Fired Up Sullivan Eagles Football Scorches Northwest Lions In Season Opener, 49-3

In their season opener on Friday, August 25, the Sullivan Eagles dominated Northwest, winning 49-7. Last year, they defeated the Lions 34-7, but they reached that score by halftime last Friday.

Sullivan had a total of 227 yards and Northwest gained 46. In passing yards, the Eagles threw for 48, while the Lions managed only 19. For rushing, Sullivan ran for 179 yards, while Northwest gained 27.

The Eagles were still acclimating to the scorching heat at the start of the game, but they quickly burned right through the Lions.

Head coach Eddie Haar was pleased with his team’s strong performance on Friday night, stating, “We started a little slower than I wanted. But you know our defense held us in the game with some great plays. Special teams did as well [and] came out with a big team win for us.”

A blocked Northwest punt snap by defensive back Curtis Rall led to Sullivan’s first touchdown and ignited the flame that would carry them throughout the game. Two fake kicks were attempted, along with a successful fake punt by Franky Erxleben, who ran for a first down.

The defense forced two fumbles and turnovers, including one for a touchdown by Colton Brendel. Northwest couldn’t escape the intense pass rush and defensive line.

Sullivan’s rushing game moved the chains and found the end zone. Running back Erxleben blasted through Northwest’s defensive line for two touchdowns. He carried for a team-high of 10 rushes and 103 yards. Starting quarterback Robert York II passed for 54 yards and rushed for 21. Wide receiver Seth Valley led the team with 34 receiving yards.

The Eagles initially struggled to gain momentum on offense, while Northwest, despite their 0-10 record last season, looked improved. The Lions managed to score a field goal on their first drive.

Then Sullivan responded with York diving into the end zone for a touchdown and an extra point by Kraus, taking a 7-3 lead.

They continued to assert their dominance as Mark Jennings recovered an onside kick by Northwest. Erxleben then executed a 23-yard run, bringing the Eagles to the Lions’ 9-yard line. He scored, making it 14-3 with 11:20 left in the 2nd quarter.

Northwest took the ball in hopes of a comeback but was shut down again. Lions quarterback Nick Younkins lost grip of the ball on a bad snap and tried to escape from Brendel, who was blitzing him from the right. Then Younkins ran straight into Blue, who knocked him down, popping the ball out onto the turf. A whole cluster of Sullivan defenders chased after it and recovered the fumble.

Erxleben continued his incredible, making a smooth 7-yard run to the right for another touchdown, bringing up the score to 20-3.

They then extended it to 28-3 after Rodriguez strip-sacked Younkins, the ball rolled across the turf and Brendel recovered it, running for a touchdown. Rodriguez pushed through defenders for a successful 2-point conversion.

Sullivan’s offense was on fire. With 2:27 left in the first half, York delivered a precise 18-yard pass to Valley in the red zone. He executed another beautiful throw for 17 yards to Brendel, who tip-toed his way into the end zone, bringing the Eagles’ lead to 35-3 before halftime.

In the 3rd quarter, the Eagles continued to dominate, adding a 9-yard touchdown from Cain to their tally of 41-3.

Northwest still struggled to move the chains and Sullivan’s defense kept them in check. Backup players, including Oliver Borton at quarterback, then saw action in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

Erxleben also delivered a surprise fake punt, leaving the Lions phased as he rushed for 1st down.

The Eagles eventually scored their final touchdown, ending the game with a score of 49-3. Borton lost grip of the snap, quickly recovered it, blasted through the defensive line and reached the ball over the end zone line to score. Then Blue secured a 2-point conversion.

The scoreboard remained unchanged in the 4th quarter as Northwest was clawed out by the Eagles and weakened by the scorching heat. Sullivan controlled the game with short, but effective runs by running backs Jennings and Joseph Bridgeman.

The Eagles will face the DeSoto Dragons at home this Thursday at 7 p.m. Last season, Sullivan crushed them 38-0.