Green River Star -

Green River hit the road last week to make the short trip West to take on the 4-1 Evanston Red Devils.

Green River kicked to Evanston to start the game and the first defensive play of the game was a tackle for a loss by Green River’s Payton Tucker. Green River got gave up a couple of big runs, but on first down, Wolf Russell Ferrell stopped Evanston for a 1-yard gain. The Red Devils then picked up 15 yards and got an additional 5 yards on a face mask penalty.

The defense then stepped up once again with Tucker and Thomas Harvey back from injury and making the stop for no gain. Evanston went to the run again with senior Erik Gawaltney holding them to only a 1-yard gain. Evanston tried a pass on forth down, which fell incomplete. The Wolves stopped the Red Devils deep in Evanston territory on their 14-yard line.

The Wolves ran the ball three times themselves, with sophomore James King making runs of 7 and 5 yards for a first down, but on the next play Evanston blitzed which resulted in a fumble and recovered by the Red Devils. Good defense on the next three running plays held Evanston to 9 yards, but a face-mask penalty gave the Red Devils a first down and a 1-yard run was all it took for Evanston to score their first touchdown. After the P.A.T. was missed, the Red Devils led 6-0.

Green River got the ball and ran it three times, with one pass before they had to punt the ball back to Evanston. The punt was a line drive, which was returned 20 yards to give the Red Devils good field position to start their drive as the first quarter ended.

Evanston went to the run and after Anthony Mitchell stopped them for a 3-yard run on first down, the Red Devils’ Tyus Cornia broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion was stopped, but Evanston increased their lead 12-0.

The Wolves on their third offensive series ran five plays, with the only positive play a solid 10-yard run for King, but the Wolves’ quarterback Dallan Serrano was sacked by Evanston for a 5-yard loss to end the series and the Wolves were forced to punt once more. Sophomore Seth White got off a good 37-yard punt, which was only returned 7 yards by Evanston.

Evanston ran six plays. The Wolves’ defense stopped Evanston on a fourth-down pass, which fell incomplete. Evanston’s defense again stopped the Wolves on three plays. A defensive struggle ensued, with the teams trading possession on their next drives.

Evanston ended the half after being stopped in their scoring drive. Their 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Anthony Mitchell.

The Wolves got the ball to start the second half and after a 23-yard kickoff return, the Wolves mounted an 11-play drive, but came away with no points. King carried the ball eight times in the drive for almost 40 yards and senior Kyle Ivie ripped off a big 16-yard run.

Evanston then mounted a long drive of their own, with eight running plays and a 15-yard penalty, ending with a 2-yard run into the endzone. This time the P.A.T. kick was good and Evanston had a 19-0 lead.

On the kickoff, senior Mathew Bernal returned the ball 31 yards. Serrano threw to Johnson for 12-yard pass completion and the took the ball himself for a 13-yard run. After the third quarter ended, Evanston’s defense again rose to the occasion and stopped the Wolves.

The Red Devils ran six plays, which included two holding penalties against them and good defense from the Wolves led by senior Michial Anderson and sophomore Canaan Eslick. Green River came up with a big play on defense when Mitchell blocked the punt, which was recovered by Gawaltney on the 2-yard line. On the next play Ivie took the ball in for the score and with the P.A.T good, the Wolves were on the board 19-7.

Evanston got the ball and the Wolves defense played strong holding Evanston to 4 yards on three plays. After a holding call, Green River started the drive on their 6-yard line. King ran 11 yards, but fumbled, which was recovered by Tayler Jensen. King then picked up 18 yards on a great run before picking up another 6 yards.

The Wolves went on a 14-play drive with another 8-yard run by King a 13-yard run by Serrano and a pass completion to Reese Allison, with the long drive ending in a 1-yard run touchdown by Serrano with the P.A.T. by Gawaltney cutting the score to 19-14.

Green River’s onside kick was recovered by Evanston and the Wolves strong second-half comeback ran out of time as Evanston ran out the clock for the 19-14 victory.

Green River will take on Powell in their next game who is known for a strong run defense and a team which continues to improve according to head coach Marty Wrage.