Alva Review-Courier -

On a rainy Friday, the Alva Goldbugs traveled to Watonga to take on the Eagles. The teams had not met for around seven years. Despite the difficult playing conditions, the Goldbugs came away with a 36-30 victory. They are now 2-0 in the season while Watonga dropped to 1-1.

The weather was a definite factor in the contest. The game might best be described as sloppy. Players had to contend with a wet grass field, slippery footing and balls that slid out of their hands. The damp heat was another issue, felling several players with cramped muscles.

The Goldbugs were conditioned to the moisture having practiced all week in wet conditions. Head Coach Mike Shklar only sent them to the inside practice facility when lightning threatened.

First Quarter

Alva put the first score on the board near the end of the first quarter with a rushing TD by Kaden Hensley followed by Cameron Gordon's extra point kick.

Meyer tried some throws to start off the game. Alva was flagged for holding on the first play, earning a 10 yard penalty. On the fourth down play, Meyer threw to Gordon but the ball was stripped from his hands for a turnover.

The Eagles earned a false start penalty in the next series, and Reza overshot Trey Hock on the fourth down.

Alva couldn't make headway against Watonga and was forced to punt. The Eagles stalled out at the Goldbug 43 and had to punt. Alva took over on the 22 yard line.

The Goldbugs finally started making progress, getting four first downs to pull within 18 yards of the goal. Meyer had trouble with a fumbled snap, and Alva lost three yards. On the second down he handed off to Hensley who rushed 21 yards for the first score 7-0.

In the next series on the third down Gavin Perez made a dive to sack Reza for a big loss. The quarter ended with Watonga at 4th down and 14 to go.

Second Quarter

Reza punted, and Reece Martin ran the ball back. A penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct moved the ball to the Watonga 22. Dalton Hess scored a 22 yard rushing TD. Another Gordon kick was good to make Alva's lead 14-0.

Watonga lost the ball on a fumble, and Alva fell on it to take possession at the Alva 31. Then Alva turned it over when Michael Reza picked off a pass from Meyer to Hensley. Watonga took advantage to score on a 44 yard rushing TD by quarterback Reza and a two point conversion by Joe Jackson. The teams went into halftime with Alva leading 14-8.

Third Quarter

Watonga pulled ahead 16-14 in the third period with a short rushing TD by Jayden Flynn and a Reza two-point conversion. The Eagles added another TD by Flynn but their conversion try failed. At the end of the third, the score was 22-14 in Watonga's favor.

Fourth Quarter

Meyer added a rushing TD and a conversion early in the fourth quarter to tie the score. That drive started with a turnover on the punt and took 12 plays by Alva.

On the kickoff, Watonga dropped the ball, and Alva picked it up. It took three plays for Meyer to connect on a pass to Gordon who ran the ball to score. Gordon kicked the extra point, and Alva led 28-22.

Alva continued to dominate the final period when Hensley found a wide open path to rush 41 yards for the goal. Meyer threw to Reece Martin for the conversion, and Alva was up 36-22. Watonga managed to answer on a Reza rushing TD and a conversion by Dalton Laird for the final of 36-30 with about five minutes left in the game.

Alva made one first down but the second series was hampered by a holding penalty, and Meyer had to punt with about three minutes left. Watonga progressed from their 18 to Alva's 45 where the ball was stripped from Reza, and Alva recovered with only seconds left. The Goldbugs waited out the clock and celebrated their second win.

Stats

Trey Lunn

Senior wide receiver Kaden Hensley leaps for an amazing catch.

Alva gained 386 yards in the game, 279 rushing and 107 passing. Hess led in rushing yards with 121 followed by Meyer with 81 and Hensley with 70.

Hensley had two rushing TD's, Meyer had one and Hess had one. Meyer passed to Gordon for the fifth TD of the game. Meyer made 12 pass attempts, completing five for 107 yards.

Arturo Cisneros is credited with the most tackles for Alva at 20. Hensley had 16 tackles followed by 14 for Gordon, 11 each for Steven Willyard and Dalton Manning, and 10 for Jacob Cox.

Perez and Gordon each made a quarterback sack. Hensley, Perez, Gordon and Cisneros each caused fumbles.

Up Next

The Goldbugs will host Fairview next Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. The Yellowjackets are 1-1 on the season having lost to Perry 39-33 in overtime in their first game and beating Chisholm 35-28 on Aug. 31.