Eagles score 72 points
October 28, 2021
TOUCHET - It was all offense between the St. John-Endicott-LaCrosse Eagles football team and the Touchet Indians.
The Indians won 86-72 in a shortened game on Friday.
The game started at 3 p.m. because Touchet's field doesn't have lighting. It ended at about 6:15 p.m. when it became too dark to play. The fourth quarter was cut short by two minutes.
"It was a tough game. When you put up 72 points, you expect to win," said Eagles Coach John Hergert. "158 points in a game is pretty impressive no matter how you look at it."
SJEL started the game missing a pair of starters, Wyatt Schwartz and Landen Miller.
After the first quarter, Touchet led 30-16. By halftime, they widened the lead to 56-28.
In the second half, the Eagles outscored the Indians 44-30, but the lead from the first half was too much and the final score was 86-72 in favor of Touchet.
"Our offense fired on all eight cylinders," said Hergert. "Our defense struggled."
Eagle Matthew DeFord had a game for the stats book. As a quarterback, he threw 11 for 22 for 321 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also threw 2 interceptions. DeFord added 43 yards by rushing and scored four of the 2-point conversions on the ground. He returned kickoffs for 32 more yards and had 8.5 tackles with one for a loss.
SJEL's Tanner Fleming generated 196 yards returning kickoffs and a touchdown. As an alternate quarterback, He completed 6 for 11 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. He gained another 43 yards by rushing and another touchdown. As a receiver, Fleming caught passes for 65 yards and another touchdown. He had 6.5 tackles as defense.
Eagle Austin Stanley had 10 receptions for 260 yards for six touchdowns, said Hergert.
Brennen Gonzalez had 38 yards rushing and a touchdown and two 2-point conversions. He had 76 yards receiving and recovered two onside kicks. And he had 5 tackles on defense.
"We had only one other touchdown," said Hergert.
SJEL's Dylan Birg rushed for a 34-yard touchdown and on defense he had 7 tackles and one sack.
"It definitely was an offense shoot-out," said Hergert. "As far excitement goes, an offense shoot-out is more exciting than a defensive struggle."
SJEL has yet to win a game this season but the young team, with two seniors, is getting better as they gain more experience.
"From the start of the season to now, it's been a 180-degree flip," Hergert said. "Our guys are definitely improving ... We've got a promising future. I truly believe that."
Next, SJEL hosts the Yakima Nation on Friday. The game was moved to St. John for the lighting. It's their homecoming game and they are honoring the football, cross country, and cheer squad seniors.
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