CZR Loses Opener At Eldorado

The Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcats opened the 2010 season at Eldorado Friday night, falling 32-14 to the host Eagles.

The Eagles started the game off strong on their opening drive.  Senior running back Caid Griffin ran four times for 26 yards and Eldorado quarterback Joe Blair connected with Derek Miller for a 39-yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles up 6-0 three minutes into the game.  

J.R. Myers gave the Bearcats good field position on their opening drive after he returned the Eldorado kick 23 yards. The Bearcats were unable to get a first down and were forced to punt the ball back to the Eagles.  

Eldorado took over at midfield after Nick Stewart returned the Bearcat punt 29 yards. The Eagles returned to their running attack of Griffin, Dashawn Turner, and Nick Stewart. Griffin added 32 more yards on the drive, capping it off with a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 12-0 after another failed two-point conversion.  

The Bearcats would take back over on the 39 yard line. Steven Dial started off the drive with an 8-yard run. He followed that up with an 8-yard pass to Payton Clark and the first Bearcat first down of the game. Chase Jarvis continued the drive with a 4-yard run, but a sack of Dial and an incomplete pass forced a punt to start the second quarter.

The Eagles marched down the field and Blair ran in a 1-yard touchdown and the Bearcats blocked the PAT making the score 18-0 midway through the second quarter.  

CZR then started an impressive drive and finally showed signs of life. Dial had a 2-yard keeper followed by a Dylan Walter 3-yard run. Dial then connected with Devin Austill on a 5e-yard pass. The Bearcats were then called for a delay of game penalty, but on the next play, Eldorado helped the Bearcats with a 15-yard penalty. Scott Marchetti then ran two plays in a row for a first down. Dial would follow that up with passes to Austill and Clark. The Bearcats got inside the E-29, but were unable to score before half, turning the ball over on downs.

The Bearcats opened the second half with a 53-yard kickoff return by Marchetti. Marchetti then ran for 16-yards on the next few plays and Dial capped off the drive with a 1e-yard touchdown run. Dial then ran in the 2-point conversion making the score 18-8.  

Eldorado picked back up with Griffin running the ball for the Eagles on their first second half possession.

Just when it looked like the Eagles were going to march down the field, Griffin fumbled and the Bearcats recovered at the C-30.  

Marchetti continued his impressive game running for 17-yards on first down. After another Marchetti run for nine yards, the Bearcats were back in Eldorado territory. Marchetti added 30 more yards and the Bearcats had first and goal at the 5-yard line.  Dial ran for one yard on the next play. On second down, the Bearcats fumbled, but were able to recover the ball for an 8-yard loss. Dial then looked into the end zone, but his pass was intercepted by Ben Genet. On Eldorado’s first play from the two-yard line, it fumbled the ball and Jarvis recovered for the Bearcats on the two-yard line.  Two plays later, Dial ran in his second touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion failed and the Bearcats trailed 18-14 to end the third quarter.  

Eldorado tried to give the game away to CZR committing big penalties in key situations, but CZR could not take advantage. Eldorado scored two more times to bring the score to 32-14 giving the Eagles their first win over the Bearcats since 2004.
 
“I was happy with our effort in the third quarter.” CZR Coach Nick Batts said. “We need that effort for the whole game the next two weeks as we have Johnston City and Chester coming up.”

The Bearcats will host Johnston City next Friday night. The Indians defeated Carmi-White Co. 28-20 Friday night.  The Eagles head to Elverado-Trico next Friday. The Falcons lost 44-0 to Fairfield Friday night.