Eagles Win Conference Opener in Penalty-Plagued Contest

By Betsy Barnett

KCP Staff

September 12, 2003

Eagle quarterback Steven Gilmore had an outstanding night at the helm for Eads completing 11 of 14 passes for 163 yards to receivers Levi Kraft, Kelly Lindholm, and Dain Barnett in an exciting 30-22 win over conference rivals Holly at home on Friday night. While Gilmore damaged Holly from the air the ground troops were led by Cody Cordova who scored three touchdowns for Eads.

Eads began a scoring exhibition that quickly turned into an up-and-down-the-field extravaganza. With only three minutes into the contest Cordova found pay dirt on a two-yard dive play. Kraft would add the two-point conversion run and Eads was up 8-0. However, Holly has some nice speed in quarterback Angel Pecina and halfback Kole Neugebauer who controlled the offense for the Wildcats. Pecina would score on a 73-yard breakaway run with 6:22 left in the first. The conversion pass play failed and Eads was holding on to a thread, 8-6, until very late in the first half when Cordova’s gutsy running got him into the end zone from six yards out. A Gilmore to Lindholm conversion pass play would put Eads up 16-6 at halftime.

The second half saw both teams digging in on both sides of the ball but Eads would be dramatically penalized by the officials who threw yellow on numerous holding calls and a couple of personal fouls. Penalties hurt Eads backing them into a huge hole deep in their own red zone. A misplay at the goal line gave Holly a safety and the ball with 3:48 left in the third. However, Holly could get nothing going on the possession and was forced to punt. Barnett got through the line blocking the punt and giving Eads excellent field position with little time left in the third. Cordova plowed through the Wildcat line at the 1:42 mark from three yards out to keep Eads on top, 22-8, at the end of three.

Holly, who had the size advantage, turned on the afterburners on a tired and penalty-plagued Eagle group who continues to see constant action on both sides of the ball. The Wildcat’s Neil Thompson brought Holly back into contention with 9:45 left in the game scoring from four yards out and gaining ground on Eads, 22-16. With Holly in full gear Eads battled back and with one last gasp with 7:50 left Kraft scampered for 10 yards for the touchdown after Gilmore executed well on a number of pass plays to set up the score. A conversion pass to Barnett gave Eads some breathing room, 30-16. But Holly wasn’t finished just yet. Neugebauer broke away from deep in Eagle territory and was hauled down from behind by Kraft at the Wildcat 40.

However, a controversial facemask call gave Holly excellent field position and allowed Neugebauer room to bring in Holly’s final touchdown from three yards out. The conversion failed leaving Holly still short, 30-22. The Wildcats would threaten very late in the contest as they marched toward the end zone until a long pass from Pecina was dramatically intercepted by Gilmore. Eads maintained possession and the hard-fought victory.

Kraft led Eads on the defensive end pulling down 18 Wildcats while Brandon Cordova, Shawn Kraft, and Barnett had double-figure tackles with 13, 12, and 11 respectively. Eads now travels to Springfield on Fair Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest for yet another Arkansas Valley Conference clash.