Gilpin Eagles end football season with valiant effort

In Kremmling vs the West Grand High School Mustangs By Gary King The Eagles final game of the football season was played last Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in Kremmling, Colorado against the West Grand High School Mustangs. The field was clear, but surrounded by piles of snow that had been removed from the field to let the sun complete the job. It was a cold night with a breeze that significantly boosted the wind-chill factor. West Grand came into the game ranked 2 nd in the League with a record of five wins and one loss to #1 ranked Vail Christian. The 1 st quarter opened with a Mustang short kick to the Eagles and a fumble resulting in a turnover on the first play of the game as the Mustangs recovered the ball. Taking advantage of the turnover, the Mustangs mounted a 6-play, 52-yard ground game to score a touchdown and complete a 2-point conversion to put them up by 8 points. The ensuing kickoff was received returned by Alex Rodriguez Jimenez (33) who returned the ball 23 yards to the Mustang’s 42-yard line. On the Eagle’s third play after the kickoff the Mustangs intercepted the Eagle’s first pass attempt of the game. The Mustangs confirmed the strength of their ground game with a 58-yard drive in five plays for a touchdown and another 2-point conversion for another 8 points. On the following Mustang kick-off, the Eagles again fumbled a short kick resulting in another turnover. This time the Eagles defense allowed 1 st and 10s on each of the Mustang’s first two plays, but then held them for four downs forcing the Mustangs to punt from their own 45-yard line. After the punt the Eagles began their possession on their own 23-yard line. Over the next 5 plays, including a sack and a 10-yard penalty, the Eagles were forced to punt on a 4 th down from their own 5-yard line. The Mustangs returned the kick to the Eagles 8-yard line. It took the Mustangs four more plays to reach the Eagles end zone for another touchdown followed by an unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt. The score was now Eagles 0 to Mustangs 22. After the kickoff and on the 5 th play of the Eagles possession, the Mustangs intercepted a pass for another Eagles turnover, on errors. The quarter ended with three Mustang downs but no further scoring. The 2 nd quarter began with a Mustang punt, on a 4 th and 11, from their own 47-yard line and going out of bounds on the Eagles 38-yard line. The Eagles then ended a 5-play possession with a failed 1 st down attempt, on a 4 th and 3, resulting in a turnover on downs on the Eagle’s 44-yard line. The Mustangs followed up with another touchdown in three plays with a 2-point conversion resulting in 8 more points for the Mustangs. On the following kickoff the Eagles again fumbled the ball but that time the ball was recovered by the Eagle’s King (2) on the Eagle’s 38-yard line. Subsequent to a 5-play possession the Eagles were again forced to punt on a 4 th and 14. The Mustangs acquired the ball on the Eagle’s 44-yard line where the punt went out of bounds. Again, in three plays, the Mustangs advanced into the Eagle’s end zone followed by a 2-point conversion bringing the Mustang’s score to 38. On the first play of the Eagle’s following possession the Boulter (19) completed a 58-yard pass play to King (2) who carried the ball into the Mustang’s end zone but the TD was called back on a penalty. The Eagles followed with two pass attempts, the second of which was intercepted by the Mustangs and carried to the Eagle’s 2-yard line. The Mustangs scored on the next play but failed in a conversion attempt, making the score 44 Mustangs. After the kick-off the Eagles possessed the ball for the next five plays ending the half with no further scoring. After a modest performance in the first half the Eagles defense came back considerably tougher to hold the Mustangs scoreless in the second half of the game. The 3 rd quarter opened with an Eagles kick-off to the Mustangs who returned the kick to their own 37-yard line. The Eagle’s defense stepped up holding the Mustangs to a gain of only 13 yards in seven plays ending with a punt on their 4 th down. The Eagles held the ball for only four plays with an unsuccessful run attempt on 4 th down resulting in another turnover on downs. On the first play of the Mustangs next possession, the Eagle’s Jessie Alexander (99) recovered a Mustang QB fumble on the snap for a turnover favoring the Eagles. The Eagles then initiated a drive from their own 34-yard line including a deep pass to King (2) for a 36-yard gain, a pass to Brewer (8) for 8 yards, and a 17-yard run by King (2) reaching the Mustang’s 5-yard line with a 1 st and goal as the quarter ended. As the 4 th quarter opened the Eagles continued their 4-play drive from the third quarter by adding another three plays culminating in a touchdown run by the Eagle’s King (2). After an unsuccessful conversion attempt the Eagles were finally on the scoreboard with a score of Eagles 6 to the Mustangs 44. At the Eagle’s kick-off, the Mustangs fell on the ball on their own 38-yard line. The Eagle’s defense limited the Mustang’s possession to four downs forcing a punt, on 4 th and 15, from their own 28-yard line. The game ended on a 4-play possession by the Eagles and with no further scoring. Eagle’s Head Coach, Craig Ball had the following comments: “It was a season of growth for our football team and program. It was an emotional end to the season for seniors. We played more as a team this year and found success in multiple areas. Our defense was starting to learn how to move off blocks and the tackling was much-improved game over game. Over half of our team was comprised of freshmen and sophomores, so it was an important season for our program because we were able to get these young boys a chance to play in games against top the top teams in the league. I’ve always believed that if you are going to compete in the playoffs you are going to have to play the best of the best during the regular season. Six of the nine teams we played this year ultimately made the playoffs and that type of schedule really helps a team grow for the next year. Our team will start preparations for next year by weightlifting before school and throughout the summer. We will start our new season with new freshman in May and we will attend a Nebraska football camp in June. I’m really proud of my team’s resilience throughout the season and we are looking forward to getting back to work for next season.”

Gilpin Eagles end football season with valiant effort

Patrick Henry Sweeney

Related Posts

Keep the High Country Clean: Your Complete Guide to Waste Management with Timberline Disposal

When the Lights Go Out: Why Power Outages Are Becoming Part of Daily Life

Craig Station’s Final Chapter: Can Federal Intervention Save Moffat County’s Economic Lifeline?

Central City Has Never Been Afraid of Big Moments. Until Now.

Colorado’s Quiet Watch: How Real ID, License-Plate Cameras, and Ring Doorbells Are Building a Shadow Surveillance State—and What Citizens Can Still Do to Opt Out

About Us

Quick Links

News Categories

Weekly Newsletter

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Gilpin Eagles end football season with valiant effort

Support authors and subscribe to content

Subscribe

Related Posts

About Us

Quick Links

News Categories

Weekly Newsletter

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password