Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Goldbugs opened the football season Friday night in a home game against the Kingfisher Yellowjackets. Alva has not won against the Kingfisher powerhouse team in recent memory, so the contest was expected to be lopsided. Kingfisher dominated most of the game until they started substituting from the bench. Alva was able to score in the fourth quarter for a 54-6 final in Yellowjackets favor.

First Half

The Goldbugs won the toss and deferred possession. After a Samuel Houston kick, the Yellowjackets advanced from their 29 yard line to the 42 where sophomore quarterback Jax Sternberger's pass overshot Jarrett Birdwell. With a fourth down and nine yards to go, Kingfisher chose to punt. Alva pressured, and Cade Stephenson's kick only made it to the Alva 38.

Alva's junior quarterback Kaden Slater elected to run on the first play but lost a yard. He tried handing off to Keaton Lewis, but the play went backward another three. At third and 14 to go, Slater attempted a pass which was tipped, and Houston punted.

Starting at the Alva 41, Kingfisher drove down the field. A 22 yard keeper by Sternberger put them on the one yard mark, and Sternberger ran across the line for the touchdown. Aaron Delatorre kicked the extra point, and Kingfisher led 7-0.

On the kickoff, Alva was flagged for a hold and had to start on their six yard line. The Goldbugs lost four yards in two plays followed by a Slater pass to Drew Glass that was incomplete. Houston punted.

Kingfisher started the next series on the Alva 34. Sternberger completed a pass to Harrison Evans for nine yards. A pass to Will Taylor was called back due to an ineligible receiver, and the Yellowjackets took a five yard penalty.

Following an incomplete pass, Sternberger passed to Stephenson for the first down and 18 yards to the goal. After a four yard pass to Caleb Dick, Sternberger threw for an incomplete under pressure from the Goldbugs. Sternberger found some room, broke a tackle and rushed for the 14 yard touchdown. Delatorre's extra point kick was good, and Kingfisher led 14-0.

Gavin Perez ran back the kickoff putting the Goldbugs at their 37 yard line. On the first play, Slater threw the ball to Perez but it was picked off by Dick, and Kingfisher gained possession at the Alva 41.

Although Sternberger was sacked on the first play by Domonick Covert and Devin Dowty, in two more plays the Yellowjackets scored again. Sternberger passed to a wide open Tate Taylor for the 41 yard touchdown. Delatorre's kick was good, and Kingfisher was up 21-0.

Alva managed a couple of quick plays before the quarter ended.

At the 28 yard line on a third play with five to go, Slater tried a pass to Perez that overshot, and Birdwell picked it up to give the Yellowjackets the ball.

From the Alva 25, Kingfisher advanced toward the goal. Despite a ten yard penalty for holding, they made steady progress with Stephenson rushing for the four yard score. Delatorre's kick was good, and Kingfisher was up 28-0.

On the kickoff, Zayin Tiger was running back the ball when he was hit and the ball popped out for another Alva turnover.

This time, Kingfisher started on the Alva 13. It took them only three plays to hit pay-dirt with Stephenson again doing the honors. Delatorre had another good kick, and Kingfisher led 35-0.

The kickoff went into the end zone, putting Alva on the 20 to start. After three plays, the Goldbugs advancee only two yards against the Kingfisher blitz. Slater's kick rolled to the Kingfisher 48.

On the first play, Sternberger handed off to Stephenson who broke loose for an untouched 52 yard run to the goal. Delatorre's kick was good, and Kingfisher led 42-0

On the kickoff, Perez had a great return putting the Goldbugs at the 44. But Slater's pass was picked off by Taylor for the fourth Alva turnover.

This time it took four plays to cover the 45 yards and another touchdown for Kingfisher. Cade Cooper ran the final three yards to cross the line. Delatorre's kick failed, and Kingfisher was ahead 48-0.

Alva took over on their 34 yard line, progressing to a first down into Kingfisher territory on a Slater run and a pass to Perez. The Goldbugs made two more first downs, advancing to the 29 before the half ran out.

Second Half

After a first half that seemed to last forever, the second portion of the game went much faster. Despite the large lead, Kingfisher kept their first team in place. Alva received the kickoff, starting on their 23. The Goldbugs made it to the Kingfisher 42. An incomplete pass put Alva in a punt situation, and Slater's kick sent the ball to the Yellowjackets' 25.

It took three plays for Kingfisher to cover the 75 yards to the goal finishing with a big 55 yard breakaway pass play from Sternberger to Stephenson. Delatorre's kick hit the upright, and Kingfisher led 54-0.

After getting the ball, Alva was stalled in three plays and had to punt.

Kingfisher started substituting from the bench with freshman Cooper Covalt as the new quarterback. Starting at their 39, they advanced to the 47 before having to punt.

Alva had the ball for one play and a gain of two yards before the third quarter ended with Kingfisher up 54-0.

On the opening play of the fourth Slater was sacked by Diego Munoz. On a third down and 13 to go, Slater was pressured and had to throw on the run with his left hand. Glass caught the ball and gained nine yards. On a fourth and four, Slater threw an incomplete pass to Daylon Malone.

Kingfisher took over at the Alva 45. A delay of game penalty set them back. Then Covalt was sacked for a big loss. On a fourth and 19, Stephenson punted.

Alva took over on their 14 yard line. Two passes by Slater to Nathen Hunt gained six yards, and a pass to Faulkner finished the down. On the next play Slater connected with Perez who looked like he might go all the way. However, something happened with his leg, and Perez hobbled out of bounds at the Kingfisher 29. Perez went to the sidelines to be checked out. Slater threw the ball to Glass who made it from the 23 to the one yard line where he was stopped.

On the next play, a flag signaled an offside penalty for Kingfisher, but there was nowhere to go. Alva stayed at the one yard spot. Slater handed the ball to Lewis who lost a yard. On a keeper, Slater made up that yard but there was still another to go. Slater handed the ball to the freshman Malone who scampered across the goal line for his first varsity touchdown. The Goldbugs tried for the conversion, but Slater's throw was in and out of Faulkner's hands. The score was now 54-6.

Kingfisher took over with less than three minutes left in the game. They were called for a false start and moved back to the 22. Covalt had to pick up a low snap but managed to make up three yards. On the final play, Covalt kept the ball but Dowty sacked him for a loss and the game ended.

Wrap-Up

Kingfisher more than doubled Alva in total offense, 365 to 160, with most of the Goldbugs' gains made on their final drive.

Slater completed nine of 23 passes for 137 yards. Slater also had 11 carries for 30 yards. Perez caught four passes for 65 yards and Glass caught two for 31 yards. Faulkner and Malone had one catch each with nine yards for Faulkner and 35 for Malone. Alva had four turnovers, three on pass tips and one on a fumble.

Kingfisher made 10 of 15 pass attempts for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Their other five touchdowns were from rushing.

In other games, Pawhuska defeated Perry 64-7, OCS topped Christian Heritage 27-14, Prague beat Luther 27-14, Crescent bested Hennessey 13-7 and Fairview had a narrow win over Hobart 20-19. Cherokee topped Laverne 28-20, and Waynoka blew out Waukomis 38-8. Chisholm, Blackwell and Newkirk will start their seasons next week.

The Goldbugs travel to Thomas next Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff.