The Ropes Eagles’ varsity football team fell to the Sudan Hornets in Slaton on Friday, 4312, in the Class 2A Bi-district Championship game.
The Eagles totaled 231 yards of total offense, including 33 rushing yards and 198 passing yards.
After a punt to open the game from each team, Sudan got the ball back deep in their own territory, but on second and six, a bobbled snap was recovered by senior, Hunter Mayhall for a turnover with 7:12 to play in the first.
The Eagles took advantage of the good field position, as junior, Ben Saldivar, took a sweep to the right for four yards. Freshman quarterback, Kade Franklin, kept it on the RPO on second down, heaving a pass over the middle to sophomore, Colton Mortensesn, to set up first and goal from the one-yard line.
On the next play, junior, Branson Beck, came in motion going under center to take the snap for the sneak into the end zone for the one-yard score with 5:47 remaining in the quarter. The PAT by sophomore, Reese Williams, was blocked by junior, Jaden Conley, leaving the score, 6-0.
Sudan’s next drive ended in a punt with 2:48 to play in the quarter, however the ball was muffed on the return by the Eagles, but they were able to get on top of it, taking over at their own 26-yard line.
On the very next play, though, sophomore, Mason Marmolejo, took a sweep to the right, but the ball was stripped and Jaden Conley was there to pick it up and return it for the touchdown with 2:30 to play in the quarter. A low snap resulted in a scramble from holder, Josue Cervera, but he was able to connect with Joel Williams for the two-point conversion to put the Hornets up, 8-6.
Marmolejo took the ensuing kick-off return down the Eagles sideline to give them great field position, but on second down, Trent Wilson, stripped and recovered the ball for a turnover with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter.
After a turnover from each team, Sudan took over, as Cervera ran up the middle for four yards on first down.
Wilson kept it on second down taking it to the left side for a one-yard gain, but on the next play, Wilson connected with Thys Danzeisen, for a 66-yard touchdown with 9:09 remaining in the half. The PAT by Caleb Groetken, stretching the lead to, 15-6.
After another punt from the Eagles, the Hornets took over at their own 11-yard line with just under five minutes to play in the half.
King picked up nine yards on a run up the middle on first down and a quarterback keeper on the next play set the Hornets up with first and 10 from their 26-yard line. Wilson picked up nine yards on a first down run and back-to-back carries had the Hornets sitting at second and eight from their own 47-yard line. Wilson kept it himself on second down, but picked up just two yards, however, on the next play, Cervera took a counter around the right side for a 51-yard touchdown run that was capped off with the PAT from Groetken to make the score, 22-6, with 2:10 remaining in the half.
Sudan’s defense bowed their necks on the goal line to force a turnover on downs, as Franklin’s pass was broken up on fourth and goal with 16 seconds to play in the half. The Hornets ended up taking a knee and taking the lead into the locker room at halftime.
Ropes got the ball to open the second half, but they had nothing going, as they went three-and-out, punting the ball away with 11:03 to play in the third quarter. Sal Juarez fielded the punt and took a return to the right up to the Sudan 48-yard line.
Williams carried the ball to the left on first down, but it was called back for a block in the back penalty on Sudan. Cervera picked up nine yards on the next play, taking it across midfield to the Ropes 44-yard line and Williams moved the chains on the next play, taking it down to the 40yard line to set up first and 10.
Wilson pulled it and kept it himself on the read-option, taking it to the left side for a big gain and on the next play, Williams powered his way into the end zone for the eight-yard touchdown run with 9:23 remaining in the quarter. The PAT from Groetken was good, making the score, 28-6.
Ropes took over at their own 25-yard line after the kick-off and on first down, Franklin connected with Beck, who took a shot as soon as he caught the ball, but was able to get the lateral off to Saldivar on the hook-and-ladder play who took it down the Eagles sideline for a huge play.
With a first and 10 at midfield, though, the Eagles’ drive stalled out and sophomore, Hayden Torres, was forced to punt the ball away with 6:11 to play in the third quarter. Juarez fielded the returned and brought it up the Sudan 40-yard line where the offense would take over.
Back-to-back runs by Wilson and Cervera had the Hornets just inside Ropes territory, but on the following play, Wilson’s pass fell incomplete, looking for Danzeisen on second down and the Hornets were flagged for a false start on third down, backing them up into their own territory.
On third and long, Wilson dropped back and found Juarez sprinting down the left Ropes sideline for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 4:37 to play in the quarter.
The PAT was good from Groetken, making the score, 36-6.
With 6:50 to play in the fourth quarter, Franklin hit Josh Sexton over the middle for a 64yard touchdown pass, but the two-point conversion pass from Franklin fell incomplete looking for Beck, making the score, 36-12.
Reese Williams recovered the onside kick for Ropes, but on fourth and 15, Franklin’s pass fell incomplete looking for Reese Williams in the end zone for a turnover on downs with 5:05 to play in the game.
Sudan took over on downs at their own 39-yard line and marched down the field, capping off the six-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run from Joel Williams up the middle with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The PAT was good, making the score, 43-12.
Ropes went four and out for a turnover on downs on their final possession and a pair of kneel downs from Wilson closed out the game, as the Eagles’ season came to a close against Sudan, 4312.
Franklin finished the game 16-29 passing for 198 yards and one touchdown.
Saldivar tallied 12 carries for 39 yards, and in the receiving game, Marmolejo led the team with six catches for 79 yards, while Sexton tallied two grabs for 66 yards and one touchdown. Beck had five catches for 33 yards and Mortensen tallied one catch for 11 yards.