Sept. 24FALCON 24 – ROCK CANYON 20The Falcons hosted an explosive Rock Canyon Jaguar team Sept. 24. The final score was Falcons 24 – Jaguars 20. The Falcons scored first for a 7-0 lead, but Rock Canyon came right back to tie the score at 7 all to end the first quarter. The Jaguars were held scoreless in the second quarter, while the Falcons hammered away offensively to put up 10 more points to end the half with a 10-point lead.Rock Canyon tagged Falcon for 13 unanswered points in the third quarter. Offensively, Rock Canyon scored twice on fourth down. After looking at the game film, Coach Catron said the Falcon defenders were right where they should have been on the play. At the end of the third quarter, the Jaguars were ahead 20 to 17. Coach Catron said the Falcons played probably as good of a second half, both defensively and offensively, as they had all year.With less than two minutes left in the game, the Falcons mounted one last drive. The Falcons went to their two-minute offense and “Gunslinger” Joey Caron found junior wide receiver Will Galvez on a post route over the middle for a 37-yard reception that ended on the 3-yard line. The Falcons punched it in from there, and Isaac Schoeppey booted the extra point to make the final score 24-20 in favor of the Falcons.Coach Catron said the score was closer than it might have been, as Schoeppey missed a field goal from inside the red zone, and one of the younger sophomore tight ends dropped a pass in the end zone for what would have been a touchdown. Oct. 1FALCON 26 – MESA RIDGE 9Both teams were 4-0 when Falcon hosted the Mesa Ridge Grizzlies. At the end of the game, the Falcons were 5-0. With the Grizzlies outstanding running back averaging almost 200 yards per game for the first four games, the Falcons might have been a little tentative as Mesa Ridge scored 6 points – the only in the first quarter.The Falcons got their act together in the second quarter and scored 17 unanswered points. The score at half-time was 17-6 in favor of the Falcons. The defense was fired up and held to the plan to contain Mesa Ridge’s running back. Falcon also held Mesa to just eight first downs for the entire game. The Falcon defense did a great job all night.Offensively, the Falcons ground it out with their running game and controlled the clock in the process. The Falcon’s super sophomore, Keenan Britton, rushed the ball 23 times for 214 yards. His longest was 46 yards, and he had two touchdowns. Jade Gale carried the ball nine times for 81 yards, with the longest at 39 yards. He had one touchdown. Junior Andrew Hunley had four touches for 25 yards. Joey Caron carried the ball three times for 17 yards. With averages like these, the Falcons nixed putting the ball in the air as much as they had in the past and were successful with their running game.”Gunslinger” Joey Caron put the ball up only nine times for a total of 52 yards. Joe Vela caught one for 22 yards; Brody Hicks also had 22 yards with one reception and wide receiver Will Galvez had one catch for 8 yards. Defensively, Brennen Nowlin again led his teammates with eight-plus tackles; Brandon Albright, Andrew Hunley and Adam Montelongo each had 6. Gale garnered five tackles.Senior kicker Isaac Schoeppey had a productive night with 2/3 extra points and two field goals: a 23-yarder and a 37-yarder into the wind. He also had one punt that was good for an amazing 70 yards.After the Mesa Ridge game, the Falcons were rated No. 4 in the 25 4-A team division in Colorado.Oct. 8FALCONS 45- LIBERTY LANCERS 9It was another day at the office for the Falcons first conference game, as they bested the Liberty Lancers 45-9. Coach Catron also played a lot of his backup players in the second half.The score at half time was 35-3. Joey Caron had perhaps the best night of his season in the percentage of passing completions vs. attempts. He was 7 of 10 for 111 yards, the longest being a 48-yarder to Joe Vela. Joey got in on the scoring by going 30 yards untouched on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.Joe Vela had another good game, with four catches for 90 yards. Will Galvez had one reception for 11 yards and Brodie Hicks had one for 5 yards. Zach Bagby got in on the scoring with one catch for 5 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons had a total rushing yardage of 292 yards, and with 111 yards passing, they had 403 yards.Fullback Andrew Hundley had 10 carries for 64 yards and three touchdowns. His longest run was good for 27 yards. Jade Gale had 99 yards on 14 carries. Sophomore Keenan Britton rushed 13 times for 82 yards and one touchdown.Senior defensive linemen Brennen Nowlin and Tyler Lane had six tackles each, while Brandon Albright and Anthony Montelongo also had six. Brandon also forced a fumble and had an interception, and sophomore Justin Willman, filling in at corner, also grabbed an interception. Oct. 15PINE CREEK 47 – FALCONS 14On this night, the Falcons ran into a quicker and more physical ball club in Pine Creek than their first six opponents. The previously unbeaten Eagles were coming off an unexpected loss the week before to Pueblo West – and the team had something to prove. They pounded the Falcons with a score of 47-14.The Eagles controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage all night. After the game, Coach Catron told his players he was proud of the way they played, not giving up and not pointing the finger or putting the blame on any one of their teammates for the loss.The Falcons didn’t have a running game against the Eagles. Joey Caron was 13 for 29 and 148 yards in the passing game with one touchdown. Joe Vela had three catches for 41 yards and one touchdown. Zach Bagby had two receptions for 11 yards; Will Galvez had two for 23 yards and Brody Hicks had five catches for 66 yards.David Beals had six tackles; Logan Balaich four; Tyler Lane four and Andrew Hunley four and a half.Oct. 21FALCONS 21 – DOHERTY SPARTANS 12The Falcons showed courage and pride at Garry Berry Stadium Oct. 21 when they went up against the Doherty Spartans, a 5-A team. This was the first time Falcon played a 5-A team. After losing to Pine Creek the week before and having a short week of preparation, along with a few banged-up players, they did what it took to down the Spartans, 21-12.In the game against Pine Creek, Keenan Britton tore his ACL in the first quarter – a huge blow for the rest of the season. Jade Gale filled in for Britton and had a gutsy performance this night with 29 carries for 184 yards and one touchdown. Joey Caron was 3 of 9 passing for 40 yards and had two interceptions. Fullback Andrew Hunley had a good night, carrying seven times for 28 yards.In the second quarter, special teams David Beals ran a kickoff back 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the Falcons a spark for a struggling offense. In the receiving department, Joe Vela caught a pass for 32 yards and a touchdown, and Will Galvez had two catches for 8 yards.The defensive line held the Spartans to 103 yards in the first half and 23 yards in the second half. Leading the Falcons defensively, Brennan Nowlan had nine tackles. Andrew Hunley and Chris Rucker each had four sacks. Caleb Tanksley had five tackles in one quarter. Gale had one interception that went for 21 yards. Defensive coordinator Dan Spain had his boys tuned up for this game.One of the reasons for the success of the Falcon football team this year is the offensive down linemen. Most of the glory for the winning record has been given to the backs, wide receivers and kicker. They are the athletes that carry or pass the ball to set up those electrifying runs for the end zone. However, none of this would be possible if not for their teammates up front. They are the ones who do the grunt work to make it happen; the ones in the trenches. They have to be strong, quick and intelligent, with a desire to protect the quarterback.Hats off to the upfront guys – everyone, too.This column does not necessarily represent the views of The New Falcon Herald.
