MISSOULA – A year ago, Ryder Anderson caught two of the five touchdown passes from then quarterback Travis Dye to place the senior second all-time in passing TDs for a game. This year, Anderson was on the giving end of five of his own.
In what was Anderson’s coming out performance, the junior QB tied the second-best mark all time in Anaconda history plus adding a rushing TD to lead the Copperheads past Loyola 38-6 in the 6B opener for both teams Friday night.
Anderson hooked up with senior Owen Pesanti on three TD passes of 51, 52 and 5-yards, respectively, plus hitting Gillie Everett and Carson Lacey with one each, completing 19-of-28 for 329 yards. He tacked on a 4-yard rushing TD to put Anaconda ahead 6-0 in the first quarter on the initial drive of the game.
All told, Pesanti caught six passes for 176 yards, Lacey had eight for 86 yards and Everett three for 26 yards. Senior running back Soren Keeland had one reception for 15 yards and his younger brother Bohdi hauled in a circus catch down the Copperhead sideline, tipping a ball slightly under-thrown to himself before stepping out of bounds with a 26 yard first down in the fourth quarter.
In 2018 junior QB Dylan Smith connected with five different receivers for TD, Braedon Sawyer, Pat Galle, Connor Sampson, Kyler Gochanour (2) and Dylan Skocilich to set the record. https://copperheadcountry.org/2018/10/record-breaking-performance-leads-heads-to-season-ending-win/
The Copperheads churned out 400 total yards thanks to 71 yards on 18 carries. Rory Cromwell was the leading rusher with 27 yards on four carries followed by Soren Keeland’s tough-earned 21 yards on seven carries. Keeland was lost late in the fourth quarter to a lower leg injury when trying to get extra yards near the goal line.
What might be most impressive about the win his not only how effective the skill position players on offense were, but the numbers they put up defensively as well.
Soren Keeland (13), Lacey (11) and Pesanti (10) all registered double-digit tackles with Keeland and Pesanti earning nine and eight solo tackled respectively. The Copperheads also registered five tackles for loss (Pesanti, S. Keeland, B. Keeland, Rhett Nicholes and Reid Maes) and four sacks. The Keeland brothers had a sack apiece joined by Maes and Nicholes as they wreaked havoc on the interior line the entire night.
Loyola senior QB Andrew Richardson had his share of highlights, but it was the athletic secondary for the Copperheads that dominated the night. Richardson connected on 15-of-30 passes for 161 yards with a TD and interception. Kuiken led the team with 73 yards on four receptions and Ethan Lamb, who was averaging over 120 ypg coming in, was held to just five catches for 33 yards.
When you add it all up, Anderson had one of the finest collective nights in memory. Along with his 343 total yards on offense with six total TDs, he also added 165 yards on special teams, an interception of 33 yards, five tackles and two passes defended.
Only four QBs in Copperhead history have thrown for five TDs or more. Dylan Smith threw for six against Thompson Falls in 2018, Travis Dye last year, Braxton Hill in 2016 and now Anderson – all tied with five.
Following the game, both teams met at midfield and took a knee. Anaconda and Loyola have been fierce rivals over the years, but all of that was put aside in a show of sportsmanship in front of the sizable crowd for both teams. Playing on Sept. 11 and honoring that memory was a special sight indeed.
A tip of the cap goes to the Loyola administration for a memorable night, not only how they recognized the significance of the date but by honoring their longtime head coach Todd Hughes at halftime. Hughes stepped down following last year, guiding Loyola for 19 years – 18 of which he led the Rams into the Class B playoffs including two state titles.
Anaconda is back at home next week to take on Thompson Falls for Homecoming. To listen to the rebroadcast of this contest, go to the homepage and click on PODCASTS.
For a complete look at the stats from Friday’s game, follow the link
ANACONDA 6 14 6 12 -38
LOYOLA 0 0 0 6 – 6
PASSING
ANACONDA – Ryder Anderson 19-29-329-5-1; LOYOLA – Andrew Richardson 15-30-161-1-1.
RECEIVING
ANACONDA – Carson Lacey 8-86, Owen Pesanti 6-176, Gillie Everett 3-26, Soren Keeland 1-15, Bohdi Keeland 1-26. LOYOLA – Ethan Lamb 5-33, Kuiken 4-73, Hoagland 3-33, Simonsen 4-26.
RUSHING
ANACONDA (21-46) – S. Keeland 9-24, Anderson 6-6, Rory Cromwell 4-27, Everett 1-9, Team 1-(-20). LOYOLA (21-8) – Richardson 11-(-11), Hoaglin 8-6, Lamb 2-13.
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