Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Goldbugs were on the road against District 2A-1 opponent Luther Friday night. Early in the game, the Goldbugs took control and scored. But the Lions came back with a roar to win 37-12.

The Alva team was playing without Gavin Perez and Domonick Covert, injured in last week's game at OCS. The Goldbugs knew Luther would be a tough opponent as the Lions are currently ranked second in the district behind OCS.

Alva scored early in the first quarter but missed the extra point kick. The Lions scored near the end of the period to lead 7-6. By halftime, the margin was increased to 13-6 in Luther's favor. The Lions added two more touchdowns in the third to lead 27-6. In the final quarter, the Goldbugs rallied as Luther brought in substitutions but it wasn't enough, and Luther won 37-12.

First Quarter

Alva won the coin toss and elected to receive. They made little headway and elected to punt. The Lions took over on their 37 and came within inches of making a first down before giving the ball back to Alva.

At the Lions' 45 yard line Kaden Slater handed off to Drake Wharton who ran for a gain of seven. Slater found open receiver Zayin Tiger who made it across the goal line for the 38 yard touchdown. There was concern when a flag went down, but it was just a sideline warning so the TD went on the scoreboard. Samuel Houston's kick went to the left of the uprights, and Alva led 6-0 with 7:31 left in the quarter.

Houston's deep kick, returned by Ruben Vega, put the Lions on their 26. After an incomplete pass, Braden Browning gave the ball to Elijah Scott who was stopped by Alec Ferguson for no gain. The Lions were penalized for holding, negating the play and moving the ball back ten yards. Browning completed a 21 yard pass play to William Northcutt for the first down. Another pass to Northcutt gained only two yards before he was taken down. After a false start was called, a bad snap sent Browning scrambling and Ferguson tackled him for a loss. An incomplete pass ended the drive, and the Lions had to punt.

At the Alva 39, Slater's pass was incomplete but the Goldbugs were penalized 10 yards for holding. Wharton rushed for 10 yards in two plays. A false start lost five yards. After another incomplete pass, the Goldbugs punted.

Beginning at the Lions' 39, Browning tried a pass that fell incomplete. So he kept the ball, running to the Alva 43 and the first down. With that success, Browning elected to keep running, making another first down all the way to the Alva 26. Another run put the junior quarterback on the Alva 10. This time he handed the ball to Drew Scheer who got within two yards of the goal. A handoff to Elijah Scott completed the scoring drive and tied the game at 6-6. Jace Mills kicked for the extra point and a lead of 7-6 for Luther.

The kick by Mills went deep to the Alva five yard line, but Tiger ran it back to the 19 before he went down. Slater gave the ball to Wharton who gained 11 yards and the first down. The next handoff to Wharton went nowhere. The clock ran out with Luther leading 7-6.

Second Quarter

Starting at the Alva 30, Slater threw on the run to Daylon Malone for 12 yards and the first down. Three handoffs to Wharton put the Goldbugs on the Lions' 49 with one yard to go. Wharton rushed again but was stopped short of the first down.

The Lions took over at their 49. Fredrik Greenhoward broke loose, running the ball to the Alva 35. A flag signaled a holding call on Luther, and the ball went back to the Alva 45. Browning kept the ball but gained only one yard as Kory Faulkner tackled him. However, Alva was flagged with a penalty giving Luther a first down.

Now at the Alva 35, Browning handed off to Scott who gained five yards before Devin Dowty made the stop. After an incomplete pass, Browning struggled with a bad snap and gained one yard. On the fourth down, Browning kept the ball but was sacked by Ferguson.

Alva took possession on their 37. Slater gave the ball to Wharton who was tackled for a loss of two yards. A throw to Nathen Hunt gained one back. Slater tried handing off to Hunt who was stopped for a four yard loss. The snap to Houston was low, and his punt was blocked by Greenhoward.

From the Alva 23, the Lions needed only two plays to score. Browning kept the ball to run for five yards. He then faked a handoff and threw the ball to Owen Wilson for the touchdown. Mills' kick was off to the right, and the Lions led 13-6.

Alva started on their 31 and made the first down in a run by Wharton and passes to Malone and Tiger. After an incomplete pass, Wharton gained five and lost one in successive runs. The Goldbugs punted. A facemask call on Alva gave the Lions 15 yards.

Starting at the Luther 39, Scott ran for the first down to the Alva 49. Payden Nusser tackled Browning for a loss of one. A pass attempt went nowhere. Browning tried to throw on the run, but Malone knocked the ball away, and the Lions had to punt.

The Goldbugs managed three plays before the half ended with Luther leading 13-6.

Third Quarter

Lion Quintin Richardson had a big return of Houston's kickoff, putting the ball at midfield. Browning ran the ball to gain one yard, then he handed off to Scott who was stopped by Faulkner just short of the first down. Browning kept possession and ran to the Alva 37. He gave the ball to Scott who gained two before being brought down by Hunt. As Browning looked for a receiver he was sacked by Keton Lewis and shaken up enough to leave the game. Scheer took over at quarterback. Following an incomplete pass, Scheer had to punt.

At the Alva 12, Slater gave the ball to Wharton who lost two. On the second try, Wharton made it to the 21 and the first down. After an incomplete pass, Wharton ran to gain four yards. Slater's pass to Hunt was knocked down. Houston set up as if to punt but ran the ball instead. He couldn't quite make the six yards needed, and Luther took over.

Browning passed to Northcutt for the first down to the Alva 15. Browning kept the ball, rushing to the Alva five. From there, Browning ran across the line for the touchdown. Mills' kick was good, and Luther led 20-6.

After three missed pass attempts, the Goldbugs had to punt the ball away.

At the Alva 43, Browning picked up a low snap and ran, making it all the way to the 25 before being tackled. However, a block in the back penalty on Luther negated the big run. The ball was moved back from the point of infraction. Now at the 45, Browning's pass was knocked away. His second try connected with Northcutt for the first down at the Alva 27.

Browning handed off to Scott who rushed to the Alva 16. Dealing with a low snap, Browning went down on a knee for a loss of seven. His pass attempt was incomplete, but Luther was flagged for an illegal receiver downfield. Alva declined the penalty keeping the play and putting Luther in a third and 17 to go situation. Browning dropped back and then decided to run with the ball, making it within five yards of the goal line.

Browning's pass was incomplete but Alva was called for roughing the passer or a horse collar. This moved the Lions forward two yards. Browning tossed the ball up, and Wilson grabbed it to score. The extra point kick was good, and Luther led 27-6.

Alva couldn't make any headway on their possession and punted.

At the Alva 48, Scheer gave the ball to Vega, but Alva was called for a facemask penalty. Scheer's pass was incomplete. In a handoff to Vega, Luther was called for holding and moved back ten yards. On the next play, Scheer was pressured and sacked by Ferguson for an eight yard loss. A handoff to Vega still left the Lions 20 yards short so they had to punt.

The Goldbugs managed one play before the end of the third quarter. Luther led 27-6.

Fourth Quarter

On the first play of the final period, Slater was sacked for a loss, moving Alva back to their nine yard line. Following an incomplete pass, Houston had to punt from the end zone. He took a low snap that delayed the kick and was knocked down but apparently the referees didn't see it.

Starting at the Alva 35, Greenhoward ran for four yards. After an incomplete pass, Scheer handed the ball to Scott who gained five before Malone brought him down. Scheer completed the first down on a quarterback sneak.

Scheer ran the ball for three yards to the Alva 20. After two incomplete passes, the Lions set up for a field goal. Mills made the 37 yard kick, and Luther led 30-6.

Starting at the Alva 31, Slater stepped back to pass when protection broke down and he was sacked. Two more pass attempts failed, and the Goldbugs had to punt.

In two successive runs, Scott made the first down to the Alva 43. The Goldbugs were called for movement, giving Luther five yards. From there, Scott ran for another first down. Handoffs to Vega and to Scott put Luther within a yard of the goal. Scheer threw to Northcutt for the TD. Mills' kick was good, and Luther led 37-6.

With 3:38 left in the game, Slater threw the ball to Malone who broke away and ran for a gain of 30. The next pass to Malone went nowhere. Slater elected to keep the ball, running up the middle for the 34 yard rushing touchdown. The Goldbugs set up for a two-point conversion but drew a flag for a false start. The score was now 37-12 in Luther's favor.

Things got too physical between the players following Houston's kickoff. However, the Goldbugs were the only ones slapped with double personal fouls.

Starting at the Luther 23, the Lions brought in Logan Franklin at quarterback. They lost yards on the first play. A hold on Luther was called on the second play. Now the Lions were at second and 21. Franklin gain two yards on a keeper. A handoff to Vega was called back on a Luther holding penalty. The final handoff to Vega went nowhere as the game concluded. The final score was Luther 37, Alva 12.

Wrap-Up

Desiree Morehead

Head Coach Mike Shklar gives Kaden Slater, Daylon Malone and Devin Dowty some advice while Luther has a player down with an injury.

Alva is now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in district play. Luther has a 3-3 record with all three wins against district foes.

The Goldbugs were hurt by nine penalties, but Luther wasn't much better with seven.

Slater threw for one touchdown and ran for another. Tiger had two catches for 52 yards and one touchdown. Malone made four catches for 45 yards. Wharton carried the ball 21 times for 66 yards, and Slater gained 34 yards in two carries.

Next week, the Goldbugs will take on Perry in a home game. Fall break starts Thursday so the game will be played Thursday night at 7 p.m.

In other Class 2A-1 District games, Blackwell beat Hennessey 46-34, OCS blanked Newkirk 49-0, and Perry topped Chisholm 21-14.

In area games, Timberlake shutout Deer Creek-Lamont 64-0, and Waynoka defeated Sharon-Mutual 50-0. The Cherokee vs. Waukomis game was cancelled.