EUREKA — Down 8-0 after the opening drive, the Copperheads shut down every drive from that point forward en route to a 34-8 Western B conference win to spoil Homecoming for the Lions.
Not only did Anaconda stun the standing-room only crowd, they dominated a team that until Friday they’ve never beaten before.
Anaconda now moves to 2-3 overall on the season and 1-1 in the Western B, tied in a three-way tiebreakers with Eureka and Thompson Falls.
Rushing has not been the strong suit of Anaconda this season, accounting for only 150 yards total through four games. But on Friday alone the ‘Heads nearly matched that total, grinding out 144 yards on 25 carries led by junior tailback Rory Cromwell with 80 and quarterback Ryder Anderson with 64 including a 42 yard TD that put the game away late in the fourth quarter.
Eureka got out of the blocks quick, catching Anaconda in man defense with a Hook and Ladder gadget play for 43 yards. That drive was later capped by an 8 yard TD run and conversion run by Ayden Helgert.
The Copperhead stalled on their first drive but got on the board to tie it up late in the first quarter, with Anderson finding Carson Lacey with the first of two, first half TD passes. Lacey’s first TD of nine yards followed a conversion pass from Anderson as well as Anaconda knotted the score at 8-all at the end of the first quarter.
Lacey once again it pay dirt midway through the second quarter, initially having a TD catch wiped off the board before securing the tiebreaking 19-yard reception stand. Anderson would tack on the PAT to give Anaconda the 15-8 lead heading into the half.
Unlike last week when the Anaconda only managed nine yards after halftime in a loss to Thompson Falls, the Copperheads were committed to finishing strong. Following a fumble and two holding penalties that pushed the Copperheads all the way back to fourth and goal from the 28, Anderson found a leaping Owen Pesanti at the back of the endzone for the remarkable score. Then on the next drive, sophomore tight end Bohdi Keeland bobbled then caught a ball on a shallow crosser, broke two tackles and then beat the rest of the Eureka defense up the visiting sidelines for a career-long 82-yard TD that sent the Copperhead sidelines into a frenzy. Anaconda led 28-8 at that point, headed into the final quarter.
Forced to pass, Eureka failed to sustain any type of momentum. The rushing attack took the ball to start the fourth quarter and ran it all the way down under five minutes when Anderson took the zone read around the right side and scored on a 42 yard run – his fifth TD of the evening.
For full stats of the game, click HERE
Anderson continued to spread the ball around to his skill positions, finding Lacey (4-66) and Gillie Everett (4-66) four times each for a combined 132 yards. Keeland had three receptions for a game- and career-high 113 yards, Pesanti added two receptions and Cromwell added another on a screen pass for 13 yards.
Defensively, Anaconda recorded two tackles for loss and two sacks, one in each category by Rhett Nicholes and Hunter Novak. Lacey led the team with 12 tackles including nine solo and senior lineback Soren Keeland’s 11, coming back from missing last week due to an injury.
Eureka’s Grieve threw for 149 yards on 13-of-27 attempts. Ty Van Orden caught a team-high seven passes for 58 yards. The Lions would rush for 116 yards on 28 carries led by Helgert with 66 yards on 12 touches.
The Copperheads host their final nonconference opponent of the regular season this Friday, welcoming undefeated Huntley Project to Mitchell Stadium.
Anaconda 8 7 13 6 – 34
Eureka 8 0 0 0 – 8
First Quarter
E – Helgert 8 run (Helgert conversion run)
A – Lacey 9 pass from Anderson (Lacey pass from Anderson)
Second Quarter
A – Lacey 19 pass from Anderson (Anderson PAT)
Third Quarter
A – Pesanti 28 pass from Anderson (PAT failed)
A – B. Keeland 82 pass from Anderson (Conversion failed)
Fourth Quarter
A – Anderson 42 run (PAT failed)
PASSING – Anaconda: Anderson 17-25-283-4-1. Eureka: Grieve 13-27-149-0-1.
RECEIVING – Anaconda: Lacey 4-66, Everett 4-66, B. Keeland 3-113, Pesanti 2-25, Cromwell 1-13. Eureka: Van Orden 7-58, Culver 2-22, Judd 2-19, Shay 1-7, Van Gilder 1-10, Helgert 0-33.
RUSHING – Anaconda (25-144): Cromwell 16-80, Anderson 9-64. Eureka (28-116): Helgert 12-66, Grieve 11-44, Judd 4-8, Van Orden 1-(-2).
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