On a perfect night for football in Eagles Stadium, the Sailors struck first with two
touchdown drives sandwiching an Eagles punt. After the Sailor kickoff, Cam Renz took
the kick and scampered 59 yards to set GRC up in Sailor territory. GRC would pound it
in just three plays later on a run by QB Charlie King from 7 yards out with a big push by
the O-line of Dane Fitzgibbon, Caleb Pugh, Davis Hutt, Will Hausig, and Ja’Kylon
Bender. A subsequent South Christian score was followed by each team stopping the
other on fourth down, which made the halftime score 19-7, Sailors.
GRC received the second-half kickoff and moved the ball across midfield on a beautiful
19-yard pitch and catch from King to Justin Davis. The Sailors were able to force a
fumble to put the Eagle defense back on the field. After the Sailors moved the ball down
to the Eagle 15-yard line, Easton Howe and Ty Damstra forced back-to-back negative
plays and when a fourth and twelve pass by the Sailors fell incomplete, the Eagles took
over at their own 21-yard line.
On the next drive, King found Brieon Walton for 24 yards on the opening play and, a few
plays later, Justin Davis broke open for a 32-yard catch and run all the way down to the
Sailor 10-yard line. Four throws into the end zone were unsuccessful and the Eagles
turned the ball over to South Christian at the 10-yard line. South pushed the ball down
the field for a TD and 2-point conversion to make the score 27-7, Sailors, with 5:08 left
in the game.
There was no quit in these Eagles as the offense took the ball 86 yards in under four
minutes behind passing from King to Brandt Alles, Hudson Ogle, and Nate Larson – all
with 10+ yard receptions. A few plays later, Elden Grover powered into the end zone
from 4 yards out. Howe’s kick made the score 27-14, Sailors, with only 1:23 left. GRC
was unable to get the ball back before the horn sounded and 27-14 was the final score.
Offensive leaders were Charlie King who completed 14 of 22 passes for 167 yards to go
with 28 yards and a TD on the ground. Elden Grover led the rushing attack with 8
carries for 51 yards and a TD. Brieon Walton and Justin Davis led the receiving corps
with 3 catches each and 41 and 55 yards respectively.
Defensively, Ty Damstra led the way with 6 solo tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss and
Easton Howe had 5 tackles with 1.5 TFLs.
The 2025 Eagles showed grit, toughness, and teamwork throughout the game and have
positive things to build on as they work this coming week to prepare for a road-trip game
to Wheaton Academy in Chicago next Friday night at 7:00PM Central Time. Go Eagles!