A&A defense dominated Central-Burden.

by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — Argonia-Attica was supposed to be rebuilding this year after two consecutive trips to the state championship 8-man division II football game. Instead it looks like they just reloaded, after opening the season with a 58-12 win at Central Burden.

The game was stopped with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and was never close.

The Titans of Argonia-Attica lit up the scoreboard, but offensive coach Luke Greenwood said it was the defense that shut down Central and set the tone. Argonia-Attica had a lot of holes to fill after most of last year’s team graduated, but the new players stepped up to the challenge.

A-A defensive coach Lance Vandeveer credited two sophomore defensive ends with playing well in their first varsity games.  Ezra Goodman and Brady Bohrer helped contain Burden’s offense and registered several sacks, never letting the Raiders get anything going.

There were just three defensive starters returning for Argonia-Attica, and that was the big question mark. Central did get two scores, and both were on long plays due to busted assignments.

Greenwood said he expected the skill position players to do well, and they did, even though it was the first varsity action some had seen. The offensive line was a question with a lot of new people there as well, and the coaches were pleased with how they dominated the line of scrimmage.

“It was a good first game. We wondered how the line would handle their size,” Greenwood said.

New quarterback junior Trevor Pierce answered questions early directing the offense to scores on their first three possessions. On the first series, he passed 11 yards to Blake Hamden for a score. On the second possession, he ran the option to perfection, and broke containment and raced down the sidelines for a 70-yard touchdown run on third and 15. On the third possession he scored on a run up the middle from 18 yards out, and A-A led 22-0 and there was still two minutes left in the first quarter.

He did throw and interception on the fourth possession, but managed another touchdown on a short run in the second quarter. In the second half, he threw two more touchdown passes, both to Brad Ricke, for scores of 15 and 31 yards. The last one ended the game with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. Pierce finished 6-11 for 107 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 102 yards.

Tailback Seth Hemberger rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries, with one touchdown, in the first half. He had cramps and didn’t play in the second half. Freshman Mason Miller stepped in and had 38 yards on eight carries, and kept a drive alive by catching a 14 – yard pass in the third quarter.

Greenwood praised the play of Miller, who he said “showed he wasn’t afraid to hit somebody.”

Central got its first score on a 16 yard pass from  Dustin Handlin to Cody Jiminez in the second quarter, and that was set up by a 30-yard run by Jiminez.

Late in the third quarter, Jiminez again was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass, this one was for 69 yards when he outran the defense.

Argonia-Attica ended up with 362 yards offense and held Burden to 180.

Argonia-Attica is to play at Caldwell next week, a team that beat Udall 52-6, in a game that was stopped in the third quarter.

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