FARMINGTON -- Farmington overcame an early 14-0 deficit on the way to an Oct. 27 victory by the tune of a 24-21 score over 7A Rogers Heritage in junior high football.
Aided by two offsides penalties against the junior Cardinal defense, Heritage drove 80 yards in 17 plays to score on the opening possession of the contest. Farmington couldn't answer and punted. Heritage moved the football 76 yards in seven plays to score again. Heritage freshman runningback J.J. Webb (5-6, 134 pounds) gained 29 yards on a jet sweep to the junior Cardinal 28. After Farmington was drawn offsides by Heritage freshman quarterback Ward Richardson (6-1, 172), Farmington brought heat with junior Cardinal freshman Jacob Turner grabbing Richardson, forcing a throw into the dirt. Farmington coaches wanted an "intentional grounding" flag which they didn't get and on the next play, Webb scored on an 18-yard jet sweep. Heritage kicker Kevin Guadarrama booted his second extra-point giving the War Eagles a 14-0 lead with 4:29 left in the first half.
Farmington freshman Drew Sturgeon gave the junior Cardinals a spark with a 50-yard kick return setting up the offense at the Heritage 22. Freshman tailback Jaden Schaeder ran 4 yards, then dashed into the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown carry. Farmington eighth-grader Tate Sutton ran for the 2-point conversion on a quarterback keeper. The conversion reduced Heritage's lead to 14-8 with 3:19 left in the second period.
"Jaden Schaeder runs the football well," said coach Tracy Sutton. "Give him a crease, he can go. He's a good, physical back. I'm very proud of him. The offensive line, they opened some holes. They come to work every day."
Turner and Dakota Wolf made tackles, that combined with an incomplete pass, forced a Heritage punt from the War Eagle 35. Sturgeon again provided good field position with a quality punt return to Farmington's 48. Two plays later, he reeled in a pass from Tate Sutton and ran for a 47-yard touchdown. The pair hooked up on a 2-point pass conversion pushing Farmington in the lead, at 16-14, with 1:09 before halftime.
The junior Cardinals took command of the game with a long, sustained drive to start the third quarter. Farmington marched 34 yards in six plays. Then Tate Sutton threw to Sturgeon for 27 yards. The duo capped the drive with a key third-and-14 connection for a 15-yard touchdown pass play, then replicated the scoring feat for another successful 2-point conversion. Farmington led, 24-14, with 2:52 remaining in the third.
"Tate's been able to throw to Drew a lot," said coach Tracy Sutton. "He's been able to get open and get some completions. That's been nice."
Heritage rallied with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive culminated by Richardson's 18-yard pass to Griffin Brown. Guadarrama's P.A.T. narrowed the margin to three, at 24-21. DeCory Thomas fielded the ensuing kickoff and Farmington burned 3:53 off the clock before punting from Heritage's 40. Tate Sutton angled the kick toward the sideline and the ball rolled out-of-bounds at the Heritage 6, leaving the War Eagles 2:19 to work with, but Farmington's defense held, securing the 24-21 win.
Sports on 11/16/2016