The Eureka Junior High Tornado football team opened their 2024 season with a 30-0 victory over the Bluestem Lions last Thursday, Sept. 5 at Eureka. The Tornadoes played well at times, especially in the second half, but were still relatively inconsistent. This was due to the fact that they were playing their first game and initially struggled to adjust to the difference in tempo between practice and games.
The game started with Eureka recovering a short kickoff from the Lions. Seventh grader Brandon Cornett fielded the ball cleanly and advanced it five yards before being tackled. Eureka finished a short, four-play drive with a touchdown by eighth grader Eli Mason. The conversion failed and Eureka led 6-0. Eighth grader Maddox Hughes returned a Bluestem fumble for a touchdown on their first possession, scampering 36 yards to the endzone. The conversion, a run by eighth grader Cash Escareno, was successful and the Tornadoes led 14-0.
The second quarter began with Eureka forcing Bluestem to punt, then turning the ball over on downs. They again forced Bluestem to punt again before getting their offense going once again with a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback eighth grader Tate Scott to Hughes. The conversion, a run by Scott, was successful and the Tornadoes led 22-0.
The second half began with Bluestem again unable to gain a first down. The Tornadoes obliged them by fumbling the ball, but, despite surrendering a long drive, forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs yet again. Mason then scored again and, with the conversion by Scott, made the score 300. At this point, the Tornadoes played their younger players who managed to keep the Lions out of the endzone for the remainder of the game. The fifth quarter followed the game action. Multiple seventh grade Tornadoes got their first junior high football action and gained valuable experience.
Eureka’s junior high volleyball team claimed three of the four contests with the Lions. See related article.
The Eureka Tornado junior high volleyball and football teams will travel to Caney next Thursday, Sept. 12. Volleyball will begin at 4:30 p.m., with football slated for 6 p.m.
