The 0-4 (0-2) Sand Creek Aggies are just one year removed from winning the conference title. It shows how much everything can change in that short amount of time. This week they were defeated by the 3-1 (2-0) Summerfield Bulldogs 27-20 on the road.
Neither team could get anything going until late in the first quarter when Sand Creek’s quarterback Kolton Alcock scored on a 1 yard touchdown run.
Early into the 2nd Summerfield answered back with a 1 yard touchdown of their own from Lucas Diver. They tried for a 2 point conversion, but they couldn’t get the run into the end zone. On the ensuing drive, the Aggies scored again when Alcock found his receiver Kyle Keller for a 6 yard touchdown pass. The score at halftime was 14-6.
The only score of the third quarter came at the 7:54 mark when the Bulldogs’ quarterback Diver hit Steve Schankin who took the ball 59 yards for a touchdown.
Early into the final quarter, Alcock would find another receiver, Brandon Williams, with a beautiful over the shoulder pass and Williams took it 41 yards for the touchdown. They did miss the extra point though. Sand Creek’s defense fell apart as they gave up two touchdowns. The first was a 63 yard touchdown run by Cole Bischoff. Diver completed the 2 point conversion pass to his receiver Jordan Link. Diver took in the other one from a yard out to seal the game with a score of 27-20.
Sand Creek’s Alcock threw 10 passes and completed 5 of them for 87 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Alcock also led the Aggies on the ground with 94 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. Elliott Rains added 12 carries for 83 yards. The leading receiver was Williams who caught 2 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs were led through the air by Diver who was 12 for 24 for 258 yards and a touchdown. Their leading rusher was Bischoff who carried the ball 4 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. Diver was had 6 carries for 14 with 2 touchdowns. They were led in receptions by Schankin who hauled in 5 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Cilly also caught 4 passes for 73 yards.
I did see some improvements on offense for Sand Creek in that they did sustain some drives and moved the ball against Summerfield. The problem though is that they still turned the ball over 3 times. They were in three of their games this year, when turnovers ended their possessions and gave their opponents chances to take back the momentum. Losing the turnover battle has been one of their biggest problems on offense.
Their defense gave up a lot of yards again this week. The Bulldogs totaled 418 of offense. The passing game gained 258 yards of that. This is partly because of the inexperienced secondary, but it is also on the defensive line that doesn’t put enough pressure on the opposing offense. They are being picked apart. Blitzing more is an option to create pressure, but if it doesn’t work they will be leaving their secondary even more vulnerable. They need to figure out someway to slow down the opposing offense or this team might not win a game this year.
It is also a note that the Aggies are pretty much all, but eliminated from making the playoffs. They are now playing for pride, so I hope they don’t completely collapse and show some heart to finish the season.
Sand Creek will host the 1-3 (1-1) Whitmore Lake Trojans. The Trojans were handled at home by the Britton-Deerfield Patriots 51-26.
Summerfield this week will travel to play the 3-1 (1-1) Morenci Bulldogs. Morenci went to the Madison Trojans this week and won 28-0.