Staff writer
In an eight-man District 8 game, Goessel ran into a rushing machine Friday that churned out 649 yards on the ground, leaving the Bluebirds on the losing end, 84-60.
Solomon depended on the run, rushing for 10 touchdowns, and passed only three times in the game. Although the Bluebirds were successful scoring four rushing touchdowns and four passing touchdowns, the defense was not able to cage the Gorillas.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first part of the game with Solomon scoring first followed by a 15-yard scoring run by John Berkholz. After another Gorilla touchdown, Berkholz again had a chance to take the ball 34 yards for a Bluebird score. Solomon scored again on a 23-yard run. The Bluebirds were able to get deep into Solomon territory where the Gorillas intercepted a pass in the end zone.
After another touchdown, Solomon led 28-12.
Goessel scored on a 33-yard pass from Neal Brubaker to Nic Buller with Jake Smucker catching the ball for the extra points. The first quarter ended with a 28-20 lead for Solomon.
The momentum shifted to the home team in the second quarter. Solomon scored three touchdowns and tackled Goessel in the end zone for a safety to amass a 52-20 lead. Brubaker connected with Berkholz for a 14-yard touchdown pass and Trey Schmidt caught the pass for the extra points. Goessel trailed at halftime, 52-28.
Goessel picked up a Solomon fumble in the second half and Berkholz out-ran the defense for a score from 18 yards. After a Goessel touchdown was nullified by a penalty, the Bluebird fans watched Solomon score two more times to stretch their lead, 68-36.
Smucker caught a 38-yard pass getting the ball to the 1-yard line where Berkholz was able to carry across for a touchdown. Drake Sterk was on the receiving end of a pass for the extra points. Again, the Gorillas scored two more times, taking an ominous 84-44 lead.
Berkholz settled under a Brubaker pass for a 44-yard score with Smucker earning the extra points. With less than 40 seconds in the game, the Bluebirds stopped Solomon on fourth down and the combination of Brubaker to Berkholz worked again for a 34-yard score to make the final tally 84-60.
Brubaker passed for 367 yards with four touchdowns. Buller caught six passes for 130 yards, Berkholz five passes for 98 yards, Smucker five passes for 94 yards, and Schmidt four passes for 45 yards. Alex Ross, Buller, and Shane Goerzen each recovered a fumble.
Berkholz led the team with 16 tackles followed by Ross with 14, Smucker 11, and Sterk nine.
The Bluebirds are now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in district play.
Goessel will be on the road next Friday at Little River for another district and Wheat State League game.