by Jayce Osmus (@jayce_osmus)10/7/2021 7:51:14 AM
posted in: Articles | 1,009 views
The Del City Eagles manhandled Stillwater 30-7 on the road last Thursday night in a matchup of top-10 6A-II teams.
Del City dominated the line of scrimmage, punishing the Pioneer defense with its run heavy offense.
Del City senior quarterback Virgil Yates shined as the key contributor in the running game along with fellow senior running mate Ethan Lawrence.
The two combined for 44 rushing attempts and more than 350 yards on the ground.
The Del City defense put together an all around great performance by allowing under 300 total offensive yards from the Pioneer offense.
Stillwater only put together one full drive in the third quarter as the Pioneers struggled to execute and finish drives throughout the game.
Stillwater got solid performances from quarterback Gage Gundy and Holden Thompson from the backfield.
Thompson shined late in the game after getting increased touches following the first couple of drives.
The first quarter went on with neither team being able to capitalize on their drives. Del City attempted two field goals and Stanley Johnson made one from 21 yards and missed one from 44 and led the game early 3-0 near the end of the first quarter.
Del City drove down the field to start the second period.
Yates ran in from seven yards out to post the first touchdown of the game.
After a Johnson point after attempt, the Eagles led the game 10-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
On the ensuing drive, Gundy found Thompson down the field for a 33-yard gain to kickstart their best drive of the half. After entering Eagle territory, a holding penalty derailed the drive and set up a 4th and 12 at the Eagle 39.
The Pioneers attempted a fake punt where Heston Thompson got the ball on a sweep play.
The Eagle special teams unit was prepared for the play and tackled him for a loss of nine yards.
Two plays later, the Pioneer defense came up with a fumble from running back Jayson Smith.
The Del City defense answered the bell yet again as Jaylin Sweet picked off a Gundy deep pass.
Yates and Lawrence ran all over the defense on the next drive.
Lawrence had a touchdown called back by a holding penalty late in the second quarter.
Johnson had his field goal attempt of 34 yards blocked to end the half and the score stayed at 10-0.
In the second half, Stillwater got the ball first and after a quick first down, its drive sizzled to a stop and punted to Del City.
Yates ran for41 yards on the Eagles’ first play to set them up at the Stillwater 25.
Lawrence capped off the two-play drive with a touchdown from there, increasing their lead to 17-0 with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Stillwater answered when Holden Thompson had a 76-yard carry on second down to reach the 1 yard line. This set up a Gundy’s touchdown run to shed the Eagle lead to 17-7.
The Eagles answered back even more quickly on the next drive after a long kickoff return by Braelon Adamah.
On first down, = Lawrence executed a 49-yard carry to set up a first and goal. Yates ran in for a touchdown from a yard out to take a commanding 24-7 lead late in the third quarter.
Going into the fourth, the lead looked insurmountable for the Pioneers.
With just under 10 minutes left in the game, Yates found Sweet for a 14-yard touchdown pass for the last score of the game.
In a final ditch effort for the Stillwater offense, they had a drive reach inside the 10 deep in Eagle territory.
The Del City defense was perfect as the Eagles shut the door on a late game score. Three straight plays were stuffed from inside the 3.
Del City would then retain possession from their own 1 and run the clock out.
Del City’s defense came up with four sacks and one turnover while the offense dominated the ground.
Yates and Lawrence shined brightest as they combined for over 95 percent of the yards on the ground.
Del City (4-1, 2-0) looked dominant in Week 5 and is now tied with Midwest City atop 6AII-1.
The win sets up a big matchup this Friday between the two.
Stillwater (3-2, 1-1) will look to bounce back in Week 6 in their matchup against U.S. Grant and make a push for the playoffs going into the last five weeks of the regular season.