Wyatt Sprague (2) fends off a would-be Lamar tackler with a stiff-arm Friday night as Kaison Kinnie (30) and Miles Sprague (10) look on and Caden Sporhase (68) tries to keep his feet after blocking a Lamar defender. — Source: Jes-c French
Carlos Legarreta (7) runs the ball downfield in the first home Dragon football game of the season against Lamar on Friday night, Sept. 24, as Aidyn Shafer (75), Miles Sprague (10) and Johny Quintana (54) work to keep Lamar defenders away. The Dragons performed well in front of the home crowd and won the game 49-14. — Source: Jes-c French
Johny Quintana wraps up the Lamar ball carrier during Friday night’s football action. — Source: Jes-c French
Former HHS football coaches Gary Sperber and Dale Stoner, pictured from left, were honored at the coin toss of Friday night’s home opener. — Source: Jes-c French
Dragons win big in first home game
Dragon football picked up its third win of the season with a decisive 49-14 victory Friday night, Sept. 24, in the season’s first game at Max Bernard Field.
Holyoke scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters to lead 42-6 at halftime, and the Dragons never looked back. They scored one more in the fourth to activate the running clock. Lamar scored its second touchdown in the final quarter, but it was not enough to stop Holyoke from taking the 49-14 win.
Coach Dusty Sprague said it was great to be home after playing the first three games of the season on the road.
“The energy was there with offense, defense and special teams,” he said. “It was amazing to see the kids play with energy.” He added that their goal was to keep a high level of focus and intensity for every play and eliminate mistakes.
Sprague added that the 1A North Central league is always tough, particularly this year. With the Dragons’ first league game approaching Friday, Oct. 1, in Burlington, the call to action for the Dragons is to continue to get better, build on what they’re doing and keep eliminating mistakes.
Lamar received the game’s opening kickoff but turned the ball over on downs on Holyoke’s 45-yard line.
The Dragons scored on their first possession with the help of a 31-yard pass from Wyatt Sprague to Tyson Mosenteen to give the Dragons first-and-goal on Lamar’s 10-yard line.
Wyatt Sprague scored the night’s first touchdown on a quarterback keeper on the next play. After an unsuccessful extra point attempt, the Dragons led 6-0.
Lamar set up its offense at its own 25-yard line. Kaison Kinnie sacked the Lamar quarterback for a loss of five, and Lamar ultimately had to punt.
The Dragons took over at their own 45 and efficiently moved the ball down the field. On a third-and-two from Lamar’s 22-yard line, Wyatt Sprague again found Mosenteen with a pass that took the Dragons to Lamar’s 3-yard line.
Wyatt Sprague scrambled into the end zone on a quarterback keeper. A second quarterback keeper gave the Dragons a successful two-point conversion, and they led 14-0 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.
The Savages punted the ball to Holyoke after a quick three-and-out on their next possession, but they got the ball back after intercepting a Dragon pass. However, no harm was done as Lamar again had to punt.
The Dragons took over at their own 48-yard line. Wyatt Sprague broke free on a quarterback keeper and took the ball all the way to Lamar’s 15.
Miles Sprague got the handoff and got to the end zone for the Dragon touchdown. Mosenteen caught a pass for the two-point conversion, and Holyoke led 22-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Savages faced third-and-12 from their own 20-yard line. Wyatt Sprague intercepted Lamar’s pass and gave the Dragons possession at Lamar’s 27.
Holyoke expanded its lead when Cash Weber caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Sprague. The extra point was unsuccessful, and Holyoke led 28-0.
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