SESSER- The Sesser-Valier/Waltonville/Woodlawn Red Devils got off to a bit of a slow start in Friday's home game with Vienna-Goreville, but still managed a 38-13 win over the Eagles at Carrol Kelly field.
The Red Devils received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into the Eagles' end of the field, but turned the ball over on downs at the 30-yard line with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter. The Eagles would take advantage. They drive 70 yards to take a 7-0 lead, converting a pair of fourth-down plays in the process.
After another three and out by the Red Devils, the Eagles were forced to punt deep in their end of the field. SVWW rushed the punter and got the block but the ball rolled out of bounds for a safety getting the home team on the scoreboard. That play turned the game around for the Red Devils.
On the next offensive drive, SVWW needed just two plays for a touchdown as Eli Gunter bolted 38 yards for the score. The Red Devils added a 32-yard scoring pass from Clayton Smith to Lukas Gunter with just over four minutes to play in the first half.
The Eagles started the second half picking up two first downs, but the Red Devil defense forced them to punt. SVWW followed with a touchdown drive as Jayon Malone reached paydirt form nine yards out with over eight minutes to play in the third period.
Eli Gunter would cap a big night with a 62-yard scoring run in the closing minute of the third stanza, putting the Red Devils up 32-7. Gunter finished the game with 221 yards rushing on 19 carriers.
Backup quarterback Reid Basso scored late in the fourth quarter for the Red Devils and Vienna-Goreville got a touchdown on a four-yard run by Aidan Kuhn to round out the scoring.
The SVWW offense racked up 390 rushing yards in the game. Peyton Rock collected 55 yards on nine carries. Tanner Eubanks added 52 yards on three tries and Smith was 4-7 passing for 58 yards and one touchdown.
Lukas Gunter had 48 yards on two catches and one touchdown. The Red Devil defense held the Eagles to 170 yards rushing. Nolan Dahncke paced the Eagles with 82 yards on 14 carriers. He had 59 yards on his last two carriers late in the game. Logyn Fassato was 2-3 passing for 49 yards and one touchdown to Dahncke.
