Eagles fall at Homecoming against Patriots

ST. JOHN - St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse headed back home after suffering a 76-0 loss to DeSales on Sept. 30 in hopes of upsetting the also-undefeated Liberty Christian High School.

The Eagles weren't able to pull off the upset, losing 66-16 to the Patriots.

St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse were still without key players, with starting quarterback and defensive back Matthew DeFord missing his second

straight game after suffering an injury against Garfield-Palouse on Sept. 23, and Tanner Fleming for the second straight game got the start in his absence.

St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse (3-2, 2-2) were held off the board through the first quarter while giving up 22 points to the Patriots.

Liberty Christian tallied 22 more points in the second quarter before the Eagles got on the board via a kick returned for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. A kick return for a touchdown by the Patriots immediately reciprocated the St. John score and Liberty Christian went into halftime up 52-8.

St. John was able to slow the scoring onslaught by Liberty Christian in the second half, and scored in the fourth for a 14-8 scoring advantage by the Patriots in the second half but the first half had already put the game out of reach for the Eagles. St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse will have an opportunity to get back to its winning ways at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 in Toppenish against Yakama Nation Tribal.