The Sudan Hornets’ varsity football team stung the Vega Longhorns on the road Friday night, 35-6, to improve to 3-1 overall on the year.
Vega won the coin toss and elected to play defense to start the game. Sudan took over at their own 42yard line after a solid kick return from Brian Delgado.
The Hornets ran the ball on first down, taking it across midfield to the Vega, 43-yard line and on the next play, they kept it on the ground again, this time the quarterback, Caleb Groetken, kept it himeself, picking up another chunk of yards to move the chains for the Hornets. Back-to-back runs by Cal Carter set the Hornets up with third and two and Kyler Edwards kept the rushing attack going with a carry up the middle to move the sticks once more for Sudan.
The three-headed attack of Groetken, Kyler Edwards and Carter kept pounding the ball on the ground and on second and goal, Kyler Edwards punched it in for the short touchdown run, making the score, 7-0, after the PAT by Groetken, with 8:53 to play in the opening quarter.
Vega would get a huge kick return from Caige Van Dyke, setting them up with first and 10 from the Sudan 11-yard line, but the Hornet defense would not budge, as they stood strong forcing Vega with a decision to go for it on fourth down. The Longhorns would elect to go on fourth and four from the six-yard line, but Kase Vogler’s pass over the middle fell incomplete looking forCruce Cook for a turnover on downs with 6:46 to play in the first quarter.
Vega would get the ball back with 5:57 to play in the quarter, after the Hornets went three-and-out, but on their next offensive possession, Vogler would be picked off by Zach Montes, who returned it back to their 41-yard line with 4:30 to play in the quarter.
Sudan’s offense took over and after a run on first down by Kyler Edwards picked up just a yard, Groetken would keep it himself on back-to-back plays, taking the ball across midfield to the 35-yard line to move the chains. Kyler Edwards got loose around the right side moving the chains again for Sudan, as he took the ball down to the 17-yard line. On the next play, Kyler Edwards would take a carry around the left side for the 17-yard score with 2:59 remaining in the quarter. The PAT from Groetken was good, making the score, 14-0.
Vega would get another big kick return from Van Dyke, giving the Longhorns possession at their own 47yard line to begin their next drive.
Vogler kept it himself on first down, and was stuffed for just a three-yard gain, but on the next play, he connected with Cook on a pass to the left, as he took it down to the Sudan 22-yard line to move the sticks for Vega. Vogler wa tackled for a loss on first down by Max Lopez, but on the next play, Vogler connected with Van Dyke for a pass, as he picked up nine yards to close out the first quarter for Vega.
The Longhorns opened the second frame with third and three from the Sudan 20- yard line, as Vogler plunged ahead up the middle to move the chains and three plays later, Vogler would find Van Dyke in the endzone for the 20-yard touchdown with 9:45 remaining in the first half. The PAT by Van Dyke was missed, leaving the score, 14-6.
Sudan got the ball back after the kick-off, but after running over three minutes off of the clock, their drive would stall out, and on fourth and long, Groetken’s pass fell incomplete looking for Carter for a turnover on downs with 6:15 remaining in the half.
Vega was unable to get anything going on their next possession, as Van Dyke was forced to punt it away with 3:36 to play in the half.
Sudan took over at their own seven-yard line, as Groetken took a carry around the left side, breaking into the open field for a huge gain, taking it across midfield to the Vega 28-yard line before being brought down. Back-to-back runs from the Hornets set them up with first and goal and from the eight-yard line, Groetken called his own number on a run up the middle for six yards. Two plays later, Kyler Edwards would take a sweep around the left side into the endzone for the two-yard score with 1:04 to play in the half. The PAT was good, making the score, 21-6.
Vega took over after the kick-off at their own 22yard line, but with time winding down in the half, Vogler was picked off by Carter to close out the first half with the Hornets in front, 21-6.
Vega received to open the second half, and after running over eight minutes off of the clock in the third quarter, Vogler’s pass on fourth down fell incomplete looking for Omar Segovia for a turnover on downs with 3:43 left to play in the third.
Sudan took over at their own 27-yard and wasted no time finding the endzone, as Groetken dropped back and delivered a strike to Aspen Reyher, who took it across the goal line for the 73-yard touchdown. The PAT from Groetken was good, pushing their lead to, 28-6, with 3:30 to play in the third quarter.
Vega next drive would extend into the fourth quarter, but they would turn it over again on downs, as Vogler’s pass on fourth and eight was dropped by Van Dyke with 8:56 remaining in the contest.
Sudan took over at their own 31-yard line, but would go three-and-out, as they punted the ball away with 7:18 to go in the game.
After another turnover on downs by Vega, Sudan took over at their own 39-yard line, as Kyler Edwards carried the ball on first down. The Longhorns were flagged for a facemask penalty on the play, taking the ball down to the Vega 44yard line to set up first and 10 for Sudan. Carter carried the ball on first down, but it was called back for a holding penalty, making it first and 16 for Sudan.
Kyler Edwards pounded the ball on back-to-back runs to make it third and five and on the next play, Groetken called his own number starting out to his right, before cutting it back across the field to his left for a 40-yard touchdown run, making the score, 356, with 1:45 to play in the game.
The score would stand, as Sudan went on to defeat the Longhorns on the road, 356.
The Hornets will host Plains on Friday for Homecoming.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.