Victory keeps GHS undefeated
Sports writer
Goessel High School fans were wondering Friday when the Bluebird football team would find their match and have to play hard for four quarters.
The beginning of Friday’s game against Fairfield looked like a close contest was in store.
Goessel received the opening kick, but its first possession stalled and Fairfield took over after fourth down.
On Fairfield’s second offensive play, the quarterback dropped the snap from center, but had enough time to pick up the ball and throw downfield to a wide open receiver and the Falcons were on the board 6-0.
Goessel was stopped on several running plays, but Austin Unruh broke free down the right sideline and was forced out of bounds on the 18-yard line after a long run.
After a Falcon quarterback sack, Unruh connected on a perfect pass down the right sideline to Cameron Stultz for a 29-yard score.
Craig Banman caught an Unruh pass for the extra points.
A short time later, on fourth down and a short distance to go, the Bluebird defense swarmed the quarterback in the Fairfield backfield and took over on downs.
Fairfield never recovered.
Travis Fensky finished a Bluebird drive with a six-yard run for a score, and caught a pass for the extra points.
Six seconds into the second quarter, Unruh faked a handoff to Fensky, kept the ball, and ran 20 yards straight ahead for a score.
Banman went seven yards for another score, changing directions several times and senior Kendall Voth got involved with the scoring as he caught an Unruh pass for the extra points.
The defensive line of Alex Ross, Nathan Walker, and Weston Hiebert controlled the line of the Falcons.
Weston Hiebert got into the Falcon backfield on a fumbled snap from center to give the ball back to the Bluebirds.
A nine-yard, tackle-breaking run by Travis Fensky advanced the ball to the 14-yard line.
Unruh faked another handoff to Fensky and took the ball into the end zone, giving the Bluebirds a 36-8 lead.
With time running down in the second quarter, Unruh led Banman with a high arching pass, and the senior teammates hooked up for another 26-yard score.
Fensky took the ball in for the extra points. The halftime score found Goessel ahead 44-8.
Ten seconds into the second half, the Falcon snap again went over the head of the quarterback and the ball was batted out of bounds from inside the end zone resulting in a point safety for the Bluebirds.
On the ensuing drive, Unruh kept the ball, running 18 yards around the left end for another score. The game ended with 10 minutes, two seconds in the third period with Goessel ahead 54-8.
The combination of a good passing and effective running games kept the Falcon defense off balance.
Goessel’s offense accumulated 226 yards in rushing, and 90 in passing. The defense for the Bluebirds only allowed three first downs. Hiebert led the team in tackles.
Goessel will be at home Friday for another district game with Claflin.
The Wildcats defeated Little River 54-6 Friday.
Goessel is now 1-0 in district play and 3-0 overall.