The Eureka Junior High Tornadoes took on the Fredonia Yellowjackets Thursday in Eureka. They lost in a hard-fought contest 2420. The Tornadoes played well and played hard, but just couldn’t put the Yellowjackets away.
The Tornadoes took the opening kickoff at their own 12 yard line and marched down the field. In three plays they were well on the Fredonia side of the field. Long runs by Maddox Hughes and the passing of Tate Scott to Eli Mason set them up on the goal line, where Scott scored on a sneak.
The conversion, a pass from Scott to Mason, was successful. The Tornadoes then forced Fredonia to punt as the stout defense, led by JaKolby Robbins and Aiden Osborne, kept the ‘Jacket offense bottled up.
The Tornadoes turned the ball over on downs on their next possession but quickly got the ball back when they recovered a Fredonia fumble. They then scored on a pass from Scott to Wacey Ross as time expired in the half. The conversion failed but the Tornadoes took a 14-0 lead into the half.
Fredonia received the second half kick and drove down the field. Several missed tackles and blown assignments by the Tornadoes aided the Yellowjackets in this. Eureka’s defense stiffened on the conversion and it failed, leaving the score 18-6 in favor of the Tornadoes.
Eureka was unable to move the ball and promptly gave it back to the Yellowjackets, who once again scored on a long run. The Tornadoes could not match the speed of the Fredonia running back so once he got loose, they were unable to recover. The conversion failed again and the third quarter ended with Eureka clinging to a 14-12 lead.
The final quarter began with a Tornado fumble and another Fredonia touchdown on a breakaway run. This gave the Tornadoes their first deficit of the game, 14-18. They promptly answered with a drive of their own, culminating in a touchdown pass from Scott to Hughes, a failed conversion, and a 20-18 lead for the home team.
Unfortunately, Fredonia drove the field in the waning moments of the game for the winning touchdown. It was a disheartening loss for the Tornadoes because they played so hard and, for the most part, so well. They continue their season Thursday in Humboldt. Game time is 6 p.m.
