Football Outlasts Pacific Indians 50-36 In Homecoming Clash

The Eagles (2-3) outlasted Pacific (1-4) in an offensive shootout on Homecoming night. Sullivan won the conference clash by a score of 50-36 on Friday, Sept. 27.

The two Class 4 District 2 teams last played each other in the championship a year ago. The Indians upset the Eagles, clinching the title with a 21-20 victory. 

Eagles head coach Eddie Haar was proud to see his offense hit on all cylinders in the rematch. “Our offensive line played great and allowed our offense to control the momentum of the game,” he stated. “If we can continue to control [the] line of scrimmage like that and allow our running game to get to loose like we did, [then] it helps out our defense too by keeping offenses off the field and off their game.”

Sullivan now holds a 2-1 record in conference play. They will face Hermann (5-0) on the road on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

The Eagles rushed for a total of 418 yards.

Mark Jennings marked a career-high 223 yards on the ground, averaging 12.39 in 18 carries. He made three trips to the end zone and a two-point conversion.

Chase Blue was Sullivan’s second-leading rusher. He racked up 110 yards, averaging 6.88 per his sixteen handoffs. The junior scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Nathan Garcia rushed for 12 yards on three carries.

Quarterback Robert York II scrambled for 73 yards on eight sneaks and rushed in twelve points. He threw two passes to Seth Valley for a total of 70 yards. 

Wide receiver Valley caught a 68-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion.

Valley opened the game by returning a punt to Sullivan’s 48-yard line. Blue bolted down the field for a 6-0 Eagle lead just two minutes in.

The Indians also started their opening possession at midfield but could not reach the end zone. Sullivan linebacker Mitchell Garner sacked Pacific quarterback Seth Stack, forcing a fourth down.

The Eagles could not capitalize on their following drive, which allowed the Indians to steal a 7-6 lead afterward.

Jennings juked out several defenders at the top of the second quarter to place the Eagles at Pacific’s 37-yard line. York followed up with a razzle-dazzle, sneaking in Sullivan’s next touchdown.

The Indians responded with a score to put themselves ahead 14-12.

Valley broke away with another deep return, taking the ball to Pacific’s 33-yard line. Right afterward, Jennings cut through a gap and dashed across the goal line to regain a Sullivan lead. York then connected with Valley for two extra points.

The Eagles forced Pacific to fumble, allowing them to score again before halftime. York ripped a deep pass to Valley for a 68-yard touchdown. Blue rushed in for a two-point conversion, giving Sullivan a 28-14 lead before returning to the locker room.

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