Connell rallies past Royal

ROYAL CITY — Sixth-ranked Royal held Connell to three first-half field goals and trailed 9-7 at the half, but the second-ranked Eagles scored three second-half touchdowns to clinch the South Central Athletic Conference East Division’s top seed with a 30-14 win over the Knights.

Connell took possession after the game’s opening kick off and the Eagles marched down to the Royal nine yard line before the Knights defense kept Connell out of the end zone.

The Eagles tried desperately to take an early lead with the game’s first touchdown, but a stingy Knights defense forced Connell to settle for a 26-yard field goal and Royal trailed 3-0.

After Connell got on the scoreboard first, the Knights responded with a scoring drive of their own. Senior quarterback Marc Albertson guided Royal down the field before connecting with senior wide receiver Ben Singer on an eight-yard touchdown pass and the Knights led 7-3.

Although Royal took their first offensive possession down the field for a touchdown, the Knights couldn’t get much else going in the first half. Connell kept Royal pinned deep in their own territory throughout much of the first half.

The Knights were unable to get their offense going following their first score of the contest and Connell forced a Royal punt deep in their own territory.

Connell took possession of the ball and marched deep into Royal territory, but the Knights defense didn’t break and Royal forced another Connell field goal attempt.

Connell place kicker Ivan Barragan booted the ball through the uprights from 34 yards out, but Royal still led 7-6.

After Connell’s field goal helped the Eagles pull within a point of the Knights, the Eagles capitalized on a Royal mistake on special teams. Barragan kicked the ball off deep into Royal territory.

Junior wide receiver Kyle Spartveit fielded the kick from Barragan and tried to run a reverse, handing the ball off to senior wide receiver Ben Singer.

Spartveit tried to hand the ball off to Singer, but Singer misplayed the hand off.

The ball fell to the turf at David Nielsen Memorial Stadium and Singer fell on the lose ball at the Royal two yard line. The Knights tried to move the ball out of the shadow of their own goal post, but Connell kept Royal pinned deep.

Albertsen tried to throw the Knights out of their own end zone and senior running back Will Christensen narrowly avoided a safety on a third-down run before the Knights were forced to punt on fourth down.

With his heels uncomfortably close the end line, Albertson punted the ball out of end zone. Connell was unable to return the punt, but the Eagles began the ensuing drive deep in Royal territory.

The Knights were able to take advantage of some Connell miscues on offense and a timely sack from freshman linebacker Alex Myrick forced the Eagles to attempt a 46-yard field goal before the half. Barragan narrowly put the ball over the crossbar for Connell’s third field goal of the first half and the Knights trailed 9-7.

Royal received the opening kick off of the second half and the Knights were unable to move the ball down the field.

Connell forced another Royal punt after the Knights offense stalled and Connell scored the first of three second-half touchdowns on the ensuing possession when running back Matt Hadley took the hand off from quarterback Nate Martinez, made a move at the line of scrimmage and raced 35 yards down the visitor’s sidelines and the Eagles led 16-7.

Hadley scored again on a two-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and after the Connell defense recovered a Royal fumble, Hadley scored again from two yards out for a 30-7 Connell lead.

Royal answered later with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Albertson to Singer, but the Knights were unable to score again and the Eagles moved into sole possession of the East Division’s top spot with the 30-14 victory.

Connell clinched at least a share of their third division title in four years and the Eagles could claim it outright with a home victory over visiting Warden Friday night at 7 p.m.

River View 49, Warden 7

WARDEN — Warden senior quarterback Arturo Reyes scored the game’s first touchdown on a 20-yard run and the Cougars defense kept River View scoreless in the second half, but the Panthers scored 49 first-half points on their way to a 49-14 victory.

After Reyes’ score gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead, the Panthers capitalized on a potent offense and an opportunistic defense to take a 35-7 first-quarter lead.

River View took their first possession of the contest to midfield before quarterback Matt Wilhelm threw the first of four touchdowns  to tie the game at 7-7.

Warden scored to open the third quarter when Reyes threw a five-yard touchdown to Scott Hendersen

Warden will travel to Connell Friday night to take on the Eagles at 7 p.m.