Eagles football gets underway with home game

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By Mike McGinnis

The Vienna-Goreville High School football team kicked off its fourth season of varsity level competition last Saturday at Vienna, with a 34-20 loss to Chester.

The Yellow Jackets took the opening kick-off and went on a 66 yard drive that ended with a short touchdown run at the 7:30 mark. The kick for the conversion was no good. V-G answered with an 80 yard drive that featured the running of Caleb Belcher, Hayden McClain, Caleb Miles, and Connor Seavers. Seavers scored on a three yard run near the end of the first period and Mason Bishop kicked the extra point to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead. Chester took a 12-7 lead when they scored on a 25 yard pass play early in the second quarter. The pass for the extra points was incomplete. The Eagles once again responded by driving 70 yards, with Seavers scoring on a nine yard run. Bishop’s conversion kick was wide, putting V-G ahead 13-12 with 3:52 left in the half. Chester scored again with 1:10 remaining on a 19 yard touchdown run and two point conversion, to give them a 20-13 halftime lead.

Neither squad could move the ball early in the third period as both teams were forced to punt on their first two possessions. Late in the quarter, Chester recovered a V-G fumble, then scored on an 11 yard pass play. The conversion kick was good, giving the Yellow Jackets a 27-13 lead going into the fourth quarter. With 6:57 left to play Chester appeared headed for another score when V-G’s Blake Crain picked up a fumble and ran it back to the Yellow Jackets’ 29 yard line. Five plays later, Colton Brown made a leaping catch of a Christian Dahncke pass in the end zone for a 12 yard touchdown reception. Bishop’s kick was good, closing the gap to 27-20 with plenty of time left. However, Chester returned the ensuing kick-off for a touchdown, and the extra point kick made the 34-20 final margin.

Connor Seavers led the V-G rushing attack with 96 yards. Hayden McClain had 38 yards, Caleb Belcher added 25, and Caleb Miles ran for 19. Christian Dahncke threw for 42 yards, with Colton Brown (19), Seavers (17), and Miles (6) combining for the receiving yards.

The V-G varsity squad travels to Hamilton County this Friday for a 7 p.m. game. The freshman team takes on Hamilton County this Thursday at Vienna, at 5 p.m., and the sophomore team has a home game with Hamilton County next Tuesday (Sept. 4), at 5 p.m.