Eagles Score Homecoming Win Blowout

Twenty-one points scored in the first quarter by the Eagles in Holden’s Homecoming game against conference opponent Lexington foreshadowed the final outcome as the Eagles cruised to a blowout win by the final score of 63-3 against the Minutemen Friday, Sept. 26.

When the dust settled, six different Eagle players found the end zone for touchdowns with senior running back Wes Brown leading the charge with three scores on the night. Lexington mounted a lone lengthy scoring drive late in the second quarter.

A solid Eagle defensive effort backed by sub-par special teams play displayed by the Minutemen set the Holden offense up with short fields throughout the game. The Eagles used all opportunities to total its largest points total in several seasons in the Homecoming victory.

“Homecoming week, it’s an opportunity for us to get class reunions back here, a lot of our old former players come back and watch Homecoming, and you want to show the crowd something to be proud of,” said Holden football coach David Diener. “I really felt like our boys fought hard tonight. Lexington’s getting better every week. That eight-minute drive, I mean, there are things we have to keep getting better at. They were able to hold us accountable, but when we were on our game, and when we were trusting our steps, had our eyes up, we made blocks, and then our backs made the carries that we needed to.”

Holden’s first score of the night on the Eagles’ first drive was set up in part by back-to-back pass receptions by Eagle senior receiver Cohen Drake on passes from sophomore quarterback Truman Wamsley. Drake hauled in an 18-yard reception and followed that with a nine-yard catch that left Holden at goal-to-go on the three-yard line.

Senior running back Wes Brown covered the final three yards of the drive on a touchdown carry at the 7:32 mark of the first period. Kicker Phil Schuler tacked on the PAT to put Holden ahead 7-0.

The Eagle defense forced a three-and-out by Lexington, and following a fair catch by Drake on the Minutemen punt, Holden mounted its second scoring drive of the game.

The scoring drive culminated with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Wamsley to Brown. Schuler added the PAT with 1:26 remaining in the opening period.

Holden forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff with the Eagles recovering the ball on the Lexington 14-yard line.
On Holden’s first play from scrimmage after the fumble recovery, Eagle junior running back Brody Bockover covered the 14 yards to the end zone to score just 14 seconds after Brown’s touchdown reception. Schuler’s PAT kick put Holden ahead 21-0 to close out scoring in the first quarter.

“The thing I’m most proud about tonight was our passing game,” said coach Diener. “We really feel like we have to continue to get better at that to be able to get people off and back up so we can run the ball more efficiently. We were able to do that tonight.

“Truman had another great game throwing the ball,” continued coach Diener. “Cohen had some incredible catches.

Wes getting our first passing touchdown of the year, that’s a great concentration play. Great job by our offensive line, and then, Brody and Wes ran the ball incredible. When they get in the open field, they’re dangerous ball carriers, and we’ve got to make sure they can get those first three-to-four yards. That way they can keep having chances because if they have a one-on-one tackle in the open field, they are going to win that battle. We’ve got to make sure that we can get as many of those moving forward, especially next week.”

Brown added to Holden’s total in the second quarter on a 30-yard tote of the pigskin for a touchdown at the 11:14 mark. A failed PAT left Holden leading 27-0.

Brown’s score represented the third touchdown carry of the night after yards were hard to come by on Holden’s first few carries of the game. The Eagles adjusted in order to end the game with six rushing touchdowns and 182 team rushing yards.

“We knew they were going to bring stunts,” described coach Diener. “It’s a deal where we’ve got to keep getting better. People are going to keep giving us different fronts, keep bringing blitzes like they did to try to stop the run. We had to be ready to pick up linebackers faster than we were in practice. Things were just hitting a little faster for our O-line than what we were anticipating. Once they got used to it, saw it on film, got their eyes up in time and ready to throw blocks, then we were able to stop that penetration that they were able to get, and be able to pick up the second level. When they bring as many people as they were, once you get to the second or third level, there’s not that many left. There’s only three deep, and we have usually a couple blockers still there to get it. Once we get past the first three yards, those were seven, eight, 10-yard plays.”

Following Brown’s touchdown, Holden’s defense held Lexington to a punt attempt deep in Minuteman territory. A 13-yard punt left the Eagles 27 yards away from the end zone.

Wamsley wasted no time in connecting with Drake on a 27-yard touchdown pass to put Holden ahead 34-0 with the extra-point kick at the 8:53 mark.

Lexington used the remainder of the second quarter to mount a 70-yard scoring drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass and a failed two-point attempt to leave the halftime score at 34-6.

The first of three touchdown scored by Holden in the third quarter came on a five-yard quarterback keeper from Wamsley at the 9:50 mark.

On Lexington’s following drive, Eagle junior linebacker Eli Burnham recovered a Minutemen fumble. Bockover converted the turnover to points on a one-yard carry with 6:20 remaining in the third.

The advantage on the scoreboard allowed reserve players to trickle into the game for Holden.

Lexington’s woes continued late in the third quarter when Eagle sophomore defender Jack Thomas blocked a Minuteman punt.

Holden turned the blocked punt into points when freshman running back Levi Hall carried for an eight-yard touchdown. Freshman quarterback Trace Reffitt carried for a successful two-point conversion.

Hall’s touchdown left Holden ahead 55-6.

The Eagles posted their final score of the night on an 18-yard pass from Reffitt to junior receiver Collin Cooper. Hall carried on a successful two-point try to set the final score.

The Eagle defense then held Lexington to a punt.

Holden received the ball following a 17-yard punt return by Dwight Meads with four minutes remaining.

Two carries by Hall were followed by three kneel downs by Reffitt in Victory formation to run the clock out.

“I’m really proud of our defense,” highlighted coach Diener. “That’s an offense that you have to be disciplined all the time, you have to tackle really well, and it’s a great learning opportunity for what we’re going to see next week.

Higginsville wants to run the ball, and this was a prep that we wanted to see if our defense could handle that work.

For them to have the game that they did and only give up the one score was a great effort on their part.

“I’m very proud of that group, and I’m also proud of the young guys that got in at the end of the game,” continued coach Diener. “Coach (Tylor) Coulson and coach (Aaron) Andes do an incredible job with that group. They win a lot of JV games, so for them to get a chance on Friday night under the lights come out and execute the plays that they did, that’s just absolutely the reward that they deserve. I’m extremely proud of them and grateful for that opportunity that they got on the field and took full advantage of it.

“You’ve got to give Lexington credit for that effort that they gave,”…

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