Eagles Crush Knights In Homecoming Tilt
The Blue Eagles’ Tyler Anderson rushed for a career-high 250 yards, intercepted two passes, and returned one for a pick-six to lead Magnolia to a 34-0 shutout over Tyler Consolidated in Magnolia’s homecoming game Oct. 24 at Bill Stewart Stadium.
The Eagles took the opening kick and got a first down on a pair of nice runs by freshman Brooks Parsons, who, with Anderson, claimed 47 yards on the next three Blue Eagle runs. Then, after a Tyler Consolidated penalty, Anderson rushed for two yards to set up Nick Priem’s two-yard quarterback sneak to give the hosts an early 7-0 lead after the Oscar Celedon PAT.
After the ensuing kick, the Big Blue defense shut the door with a three-and-out to reclaim the football at midfield. Anderson picked up substantial yardage, but a penalty hurt the drive, forcing the Blue Eagles to punt.
Consolidated picked up a couple first downs before the Eagle defense again shut the door and forced Tyler to punt all the way to the Eagles’ eight yard line. From there, Anderson gained runs of 7, 39, 15 and 27, yards before capping off the drive with a four-yard touchdown catch. Celedon split the uprights to give the hosts a 14-0 lead in the second period.
The Eagle defense handed the Silver Knights their second three-and-out series, with Blue Eagle Carter Seckman blocking a punt to give the Magnolia offense the ball at the Tyler 27 yard line. After a trio of Anderson runs, Priem sneaked it in on a three-yard keeper to give Magnolia a 20-0 advantage at the break.
Anderson rushed for 136 yards in the first half on 17 carries, while Parsons rambled for 56 yards on four carries. Priem scored twice, giving the Eagles a potent running game in the opening half.
Bending, but not breaking, the Blue Eagle defense stopped a long Knight drive to open the second half and Priem went to the house on a long 30-yard run to push Magnolia’s lead to 27-0 after another successful Celedon kick.
It didn’t take the Eagles long to score again, as Anderson’s pick-six went for 39 yards. That gave the Blue Eagles a 34-0 advantage with 3:28 left in period three. Anderson stopped another Tyler drive with an interception at the Knight’s own one yard line. Priem scrambled for a nice 10-yard gainer and a first down, but the Silver Knight defense held and forced Magnolia to punt to open the fourth period. Neither team managed to mount any scoring drives the rest of the game.
After game time expired, the Magnolia 12th Man joined the team at midfield to celebrate the victory and the school’s 2014 Homecoming Queen, Brandi Buchanan, who was crowned at halftime.
Anderson netted a career-high 250 yards rushing, while Parsons gained a career-high 81 yards.
Priem netted a career-high 57 yards rushing and three touchdowns for 388 total yards. He went 4-6 for 25 yards and a TD. Anderson grabbed three for a net of no yards, but a score, while Peau Halahingano hauled in another catch for 25 yards.
Defensively, the Eagles limited the Silver Knights’ potent ground game to 95 yards rushing and limited them to 68 yards and two interceptions in the air. Caleb Nice – who just returned to the lineup after a week off due to an injury – and Hunter Brill each made six tackles, with four of them for loss of yardage. Each also forced a fumble to lead the Blue Eagle defense.
Zach Haught made five tackles and Seckman hauled down four Knights, while blocking a punt. Anderson made two interceptions.
The Blue Eagles will travel to Barnesville Friday to take on the Shamrocks at 7 p.m., while the Silver Knights will entertain the Valley Lumberjacks, also at 7 p.m.