ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles won their first game of the year Friday night by holding off the Sturgis Scoopers in a 21-13 victory.
Sturgis got the opening kick, but were unable to do anything with it, as the Aberdeen Central defense forced the Scoopers into a three-and-out.
The Golden Eagles started their first drive on their own 45, and were able to move into Sturgis territory before fumbling the ball and giving it right back to the Scoopers.
The Scoops then went on a 7-play, 59-yard drive capped off by a one-yard run into the end zone by Zhoel Irion. The extra point made it 7-0 Sturgis.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aberdeen Central would fumble the ball for the second time and Sturgis was back in business deep in Golden Eagle territory. The drive, however, would stall and on fourth and five, Jaxon Cano threw an interception in the endzone, and Aberdeen Central took over on their own 18-yard line.
The Golden Eagles then put together a scoring drive that went into the second quarter and resulted in a touchdown pass from Brayden Bowman to Karson Borge to make it 7-7.
Sturgis would re-take the lead on a seven play, 71-yard drive that was capped off by a 16-yard touchdown run by Irion. Smith missed the extra point and the Scoopers led 13-7.
Sturgis had a chance to extend their lead just before halftime after stopping the Golden Eagles and advancing the ball to the 19-yard line. Aberdeen Central’s defense would hold, however, as they forced an incomplete pass by Cano on fourth and long.
In the third quarter, Aberdeen Central got the ball first, and wasted no time taking the lead as Porter Lozenski rumbled 57 yards for the tying score. The Goden Eagles then added the extra point to take a 14-13 lead.
Sturgis’ first possession in the 3rd quarter resulted in a three and out, and the Golden Eagles then blocked the resulting punt, taking over at the Scooper 29-yard line. Seven plays later, Aberdeen Central would extend their lead, as Brayden Bowman would take it to the house from 13 yards out. The extra point gave them a 21-13 lead.
Sturgis would then go on a long, 23 play drive that stalled out at the Golden Eagle 7-yard line as a Cano pass on 4th down and 5 went incomplete. Aberdeen Central would get the ball back, and forced the Scoopers into using all of their time outs. The Sturgis defense would hold, and they forced Aberdeen Central to punt with just over a minute to play.
With one last chance, starting from their own 44-yard line, the Aberdeen Central defense again stopped Sturgis, stopping Cano short of the line to gain on a fourth and four.
Lozenski helped lead Aberdeen with 10 carries for 98 yards.
For Sturgis, Irion finished with 10 carries for 42 yards and Pi had 10 carries for 41 yards. Cano was 11 of 28 passing and rushed for 125 yards on 14 carries.