Early turnovers doom Copperheads
Anaconda's Teagan Robbins drags defenders after one of his team-high three receptions during Friday's 40-7 loss to Eureka. COPPERHEAD COUNTRY/Melissa Hempstead
In the first three Copperhead offensive plays of the game, they gave two fumbles to Eureka inside their own 30. The Lions capitalized.
Eureka scored early and often, tallying four TDs in the first quarter en route to a 40-7 Western B win over Anaconda at Mitchell Stadium.
The loss dropped Anaconda to 0-3 overall and spoiled what was their home-opener and Senior Parents Night.
Coming off a tough loss against Southern B Townsend, Eureka wanted to start quickly. They did.
On the second offensive play of the game, Gunnar Smith scampered in from 60 yards out beating Anaconda around the corner on a stretch play. The PAT failed giving the Lions a 6-0 lead.
Two plays later, they regained possession after a fumble gave them possession on the 24 of Anaconda. Sophomore QB Caleb Utter turned that recovery into a 24-yard TD pass to Daniel Dunne inside the right pylon. Another failed PAT made it 12-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
Following yet another lost fumble, Utter scored his first of three rushing TDs, this time scoring on a 14-yard run. A successful Dunn PAT made it 19-0 9:56 left in the first.
Utter would have a hand in the next two TDs — the first on a 1-yard TD run with 2:11 left in the first quarter and the next a 54-yard hook and ladder gadget play caught and pitched from Colter Casazza to Gunnar Smith with :02 second left in the half — to give Eureka a commanding 33-0 lead at the half.
Utter capped the Lions scoring with a 1-yard TD run on fourth down with 7:30 left in the third quarter, giving them a 40–0 lead.
Anaconda finally got on the board late in the fourth, seeing Braedon Sawyer connect with fellow senior Kyler DeWitt from 26 yards out. With the Teagan Robbins PAT, it made it 40-7.
Utter was 12-of-21 for 154 yards and two passing TDs, and rushed for 44 yards and three scores. Smith was the leading rusher for the Lions, gaining 69 yards on eight carries. Daniel Dunn led the team in receiving with three catches for 63 yards and a score.
Sawyer completed 6-of-16 for 81 yards with a TD and interception. Senior Teague Robbins grabbed three passes for 49 yards, DeWitt had one for 26, and sophomores Tommy Sawyer and Nathan Blodnick each had one reception for three yards.
Senior Pat Galle led the team with 31 yards on 10 carries, Braedon Sawyer had 11 yards on eight carries and Robbins added 8 yards on three carries.
Anaconda will be on the road next week against Southern B foe Columbus. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.
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