The Springlake-Earth Wolverines’ varsity football team lost their home bout with Paducah last Friday, falling to the Dragons, 7124.
With the loss, the Wolverines fall to 1 -1 overall on the year.
The opening kick-off from Isaac Harrison rolled out of bounds, giving the Dragons the ball at their own 36-yard line to begin the game. Paducah’s Ethan Garibaldi picked up three yards on a first-down carry and after an incomplete pass on second down, Garibaldi carried the ball up the middle on the next play, cutting it out to the right, before breaking free for a 41-yard touchdown with 9:05 to play in the opening quarter. The kick from Hudson Tucker was good, putting the Dragons in front, 8-0.
Springlake-Earth took over at their own 39-yard line, but they were unable to get anything going offensively. Faced with a fourth and 10 at the Paducah 34yard line, they elected to go for it, but Josiah Castillo was picked off by Jordan Pina with 6:50 to play in the first quarter.
Paducah took over at their own seven-yard line and wasted no time moving the ball, as Garibaldi carried it around the right side for a first down, before being brought down by Kaylob Frietze at their 23-yard line. Ben Cruz picked up four yards on a first down run, and on the next play, Garibaldi took a run up the middle, cutting out to his left for a big gain up to the Wolverine’s 31 -yard line to move the chains again for Paducah.
Two plays later, Garibaldi would connect with Cruz for a 16-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes to play in the quarter. The kick from Tucker was blocked by Frietze, leaving the score, 14-0.
The Wolverines took over after the kick-off at their own 34-yard line, as Levi Hill carried the ball on first down. The Dragons were flagged for a facemask penalty, taking the ball into Paducah territory at the 30yard line. Hill took a toss to the right, but was stopped for a loss on the play. Two plays later, faced with a third and long, Frietze would draw a defensive pass interference penalty on Pina to move the ball down to the 16-yard line, moving the chains for the Wolverines.
However, on the next play, Castillo was picked off by Pina, looking for Frietze over the middle with 2:40 to play in the first quarter.
Paducah's next drive started in Springlake-Earth territory at the 3 3-yard line and after a first-down run by Garibaldi took the drive down to the 13-yard line to set up first and goal, Isaiah Perez rolled out to his right and connected with Maverick Monroe for the touchdown with 1:51 to play in the quarter. The kick was no good from Tucker, making the score, 20-0.
The Wolverines’ struggles continued, as the kick-off was muffed by Frietze and recovered by Monroe to give Paducah an extra possession with 1:45 to play in the first quarter.
The Dragons drive that started in Springlake-Earth territory would extend into the second frame, but on fourth and two from the Wolverine 12-yard line, Pina was stuffed short of the line to gain by Victor Juarez Jr for a turnover on downs with 9:54 to play in the half.
Springlake-Earth took over at their own 11-yard line and they were able to drive it up to their 3 3-yard line, but on fourth and long, Castillo overthrew Frietze over the middle, giving the ball back to Paducah at the Wolverine 3 3-yard line with 7:44 remaining in the half.
The Dragons needed just three plays to find the endzone, capping off the drive with an 11 -yard touchdown run from Pina with 7:22 to play in the second frame. The kick was off the upright from Tucker, leaving the score, 26-0.
Springlake-Earth’s offensive struggles continued into their next drive, as they went four and out, turning the ball over on downs.
Paducah took over deep in Springlake-Earth territory and on second and goal from the 11-yard line, Garibaldi connected with Cruz on the left side for the touchdown with 5:25 to play in the half. The kick was no good, as Paducah stretched the lead to, 32-0.
Springlake-Earth took over after a touchback at their own 20-yard line, and on their first play from scrimmage on the drive, Castillo connected with Frietze on the right side, who broke loose for a 60yard touchdown to get the Wolverines on the board. The kick from Jacob Alvarez was no good, trimming the lead to, 32-6, with 5:07 to play in the second quarter.
Paducah remained efficient on offense after taking over at the Springlake-Earth 36-yard line, they needed just three plays to get back into the endzone, as Garibaldi broke loose up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown run with 3:28 remaining in the half. The snap on the kick was bobbled as Nico Zapata rolled out and found Braylon Wright for the one-point conversion, pushing their lead to, 39-6.
The Wolverines got the ball back after the kick-off at their own 14-yard line, and on first down, Castillo dropped back and connected with Frietze for a 66yard touchdown pass with 3:05 remaining in the half. The kick from Alvarez was no good, trimming the lead to, 39-12.
The Dragons would add two more scores in the final minutes of the half to make the score, 53-12, going into the locker room at halftime.
The Wolverines got the ball to begin the second half, as they got a good return from Hill, giving them the ball at the Paducah 26-yard line.
The Wolverines had backto- back passes fall incomplete, before Paducah was flagged for a facemask penalty, moving the ball down to the Paducah 20-yard line for a fresh set of downs for Springlake-Earth. Three plays later, Castillo connected with Frietze, who took the ball down the fouryard line to set up first and goal.
After getting backed up to the nine-yard line, Castillo would hit Juarez for the touchdown with 7:42 left to play in the third quarter. The kick from Alvarez was no good, leaving the score, 53-18.
Paducah would answer on their next drive, as Perez connected with Monroe on the left side for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:11 to play in the quarter. A bad snap on the kick after was covered by Hill, leaving the score, 59-18.
After a turnover from each team, Springlake-Earth took over at their own 16-yard line, as Hill took a carry up the middle for seven yards. Paducah was called for a horse collar tackle on the next play, moving the ball up to the 37-yard line for a fresh set of downs. The drive would stall and on fourth and long, Paducah was called for another facemask penalty, giving Springlake-Earth a first down at the Dragon’s 39yard line.
Two plays later, Castillo hit Frietze for a big gain down to the four-yard line to set up first and goal as the game headed to the fourth quarter. On third and goal from the two-yard line, Castillo hit Ethan Mosqueda for a touchdown with 9:56 to play in the game. Alvarez’s kick was no good, making the score, 59-24.
Paducah would answer with back-to-back scores to close out the game with 3:40 remaining, as the Dragons 45'ed the Wolverines, 7124.