The Eureka Tornado football team used their storming rushing attack to defeat the Central Heights Vikings last Friday night. The rushing attack was spearheaded by seniors Justin Andrews and Peyton Hare. The two would take turns gashing the Vikings defense, and would combine for nearly 300 yards rushing with 6 touchdowns. Hare would also add 6 throws for 114 yards and 1 touchdown, all in which senior Cole Ptacek was the target. This offensive attack was aided by a swarming defense that had six takeaways. Ptacek would add two interceptions, Hare would recover a fumble and Gauge Lopez would recover 3 fumbles himself.
This complimentary football made it hard for the Vikings to ever recover after the Tornadoes took the lead in the second quarter on a 2 yard touchdown run by Hare followed by a 2 point run-in by Hare. Once the Tornadoes took the ball away from the Vikings, Hare would find Ptacek for 51 yards through the air for their second score of the evening followed up by a 2 point throw & catch from Hare to Brody Mitchell. The defense would once again force a takeaway but the Tornadoes and Vikings would exchange unsuccessful drives before the Tornadoes would get great field position thanks to an errant punt. This time the Tornadoes would punch it in with Andrews on a 15 yard touchdown run.
The Vikings would go on to score on their next drive and both defenses would force turnovers before the half, with the score of 22-6. Opening up the second half, the Tornado defense would get the Vikings to punt and thanks to a high snap, the Tornadoes had excellent field position once again. It only took three runs all from Andrews. This time he scored on a 5 yard run. The two teams would once again trade promising drives that ended in a punt or turnover on downs before the Vikings would score their second touchdown of the evening. After a special teams miscue by the Tornadoes the Vikings would be forced to punt the ball back to the Tornadoes. The methodical rushing attack led to another touchdown by Andrews this time coming from 3 yards out. The Vikings offense tried some trickery but Ptacek sniffed it out, snagging his first interception of the night. With the offense back on the field, it took them just 2 plays to score, this time Andrews following his lead blocker Noah Rippy for 52 yards to the endzone.
The Viking offense would string together another scoring drive but this would prove to be their last on the night. The Tornado offense went back to work marching down the field until Hare took off for a 19 yard touchdown run putting the game out of reach at 46-20. The Viking offense would once again try to move the ball through the air but Ptacek once again would intercept their pass. With the game on ice, the Tornadoes would kneel out the clock and claim their district title.
Leading Stats - Offense: Hare 6 for 10 passing for 114 yards 1 TD. 13 rushing attempts for 111 yards & 2 touchdowns. Andrews 24 rushing attempts for 185 yards & 4 touchdowns. Ptacek 6 catches for 114 yards & 1 touchdown. Defense: 9 total tackles & 1 TFL. Lopez 6 total tackles, 1 TFL, 3 fumble recoveries. Ptacek 2 interceptions.
Eureka will host Reno County this Friday, Oct. 24.
