Goldbugs lose senior night game to Newkirk, 28-8

Friday night the Alva Goldbugs finished the football season with a disappointing loss to Newkirk, 28-8. Before the game, the four seniors on the team and their parents were recognized: Dalton Hess, Reece Martin, Garrett Ritter and Todd Ruwaldt. Two of the seniors, Hess and Martin, were out with injuries during much of this season.

Though the final record of 3-8 for the season and 1-6 in district had to be discouraging for head coach Mike Shklar and the Goldbugs, the small number of seniors and high toll of injuries provided extra playing time experience for younger players. While celebrating the heart and determination of this year's team, fans are looking forward to seeing talented underclassmen stepping up to leadership next year.

Alva junior Gavin Perez was back on the field after a knee injury, and big Dominick Covert provided some strength to the front line despite a hand injury.

The Goldbug defense played strong throughout the game, but the offense had a tough time on the ground. Most of Alva's yards were gained through the air. But the air game carries extra risk, and Newkirk managed three interceptions against Alva. The score was close enough that the game could have gone either way up until the final quarter. Newkirk led 14-8 going into that final period.

First Half

Alva started off with the ball and made the first down on a pass from Kaden Slater to Drew Glass, taking the Goldbugs from their 30 to Newkirk's 40. A handoff to Ritter lost two yards, but a Slater pass to Wharton gained back two. When the pass to Perez was incomplete, Samuel Houston had to punt the ball away.

Tiger quarterback Garrett Stone went to his favorite ball carrier Clayton Sargent to make the first down in two plays. After another six yard gain by Sargent, the Goldbug defense stiffened the line. On the fourth down with only one yard to go, the Tigers went for it. Alva held firm and took over possession on their 26 yard line.

That possession was short-lived. Slater was faking a handoff to Wharton when the ball was knocked free and Newkirk recovered.

Regaining the ball, Newkirk made small but steady gains, aided by an encroachment call on Alva. Though the Goldbug defense made them work for it, the Tigers eventually made it across the line on a five yard carry by Stone. The conversion attempt failed, and Newkirk led 6-0.

Alva had the ball for three plays, losing five yards, gaining four and then Slater was pressured while looking for a receiver and sacked. Houston came on to punt. The ball was fumbled during the snap and ended up on the Alva 11.

Newkirk immediately earned a flag for too many players on the field, setting them back to the 16. Stone threw to Sargent who ran into a Newkirk player before being tackled, gaining only one yard. Stone tried another pass, but it was tipped by Alva, Austin Reed took down the receiver, and it was incomplete. Stone's next pass was also tipped, Reed hit the receiver, and Alva's Cole Wiersig grabbed the football.

The Goldbugs had time for only one play before the quarter ended. Slater handed the ball to Wharton who couldn't get around the left end and was tackled for a loss of two. As the second quarter began, Alva was still too close to their own goal line at the 11. Slater threw an incomplete pass. On the third play as Slater moved back looking for a receiver and being pressured, he backed into the end zone and was sacked for a Newkirk safety. The Tigers now led 8-0.

Newkirk couldn't make enough progress on their next possession and had to punt. Alva lost five yards on their first play and had two incomplete passes so had to punt.

In two carries, Sargent ran the ball from the Newkirk 25 to the 30. As Stone attempted a screen play pass to Ezra Mchaffie, the ball came out and Glass recovered for Alva.

Newkirk held Alva to no gain, and Houston came on to punt the ball away.

The Tigers drove from their 14 to the Alva 44 where Stone's pass was knocked down by Alec Ferguson. Another Stone pass was knocked away by Chris Johnson. Then Newkirk drew a 15 yard penalty for a personal foul. With 26 yards to cover, Newkirk could make no headway and had to punt.

Slater connected with Wharton for a nice gain, but a flag for holding set the Goldbugs back to the 28. After two plays with no gain, Slater threw to the ball to Reed who made it all the way to the Newkirk 40. Then Slater pitched the ball out to Wharton who couldn't get it. Newkirk fell on it and took possession.

Again the Alva defense hung tough, and Newkirk had to punt the ball away. With only seconds left in the half, Slater attempted a couple of passes before connecting with Perez for the first down. After another incomplete and a pass to Reed, time ran out. Newkirk led 8-0 at the half.

Second Half

Alva's kickoff was tipped and ended up barely in Newkirk territory. Stone gained nine yards on a quarterback keeper then gave the ball to Sargent for the first down. At the Alva 44, Newkirk was flagged for a false start and set back five yards. Stone passed to Mchaffie who found running room and made it all the way to the end zone. The conversion failed, and Newkirk led 14-0.

The Goldbug offense seemed to be a different team. Starting at the Alva 20, Slater threw to Perez for a first down. Another pass to Glass counted another first down. Slater connected with Perez who carried the ball across midfield to the Newkirk 36. Another Slater pass, this time to Wharton, resulted in another first down and a spot on the Newkirk 19.

Slater's next throw to Ritter was incomplete. Another try was in and out of Ritter's hands. Newkirk earned a personal foul, and Alva was moved to the 9 yard line. With the goal in sight, Slater's pass to Perez was incomplete. Slater's next pass was picked off for a turnover.

Newkirk took possession on their 2 yard line. Quarterback Stone was tackled in the end zone by Ritter, scoring a safety for Alva. The score was now 14-2 with the Tigers leading.

After the kickoff, as the teams lined up on the Alva 40, multiple flags were thrown. Each team was tagged for a personal foul with negating penalties. After losing a little ground on the first two plays, the Goldbugs finally scored on a Slater pass to Perez who found open running room for a 62 yard touchdown. Houston's kick was blocked. Alva was down by six at 14-8.

Newkirk made six yards on two plays. Then Stone decided to run the ball himself. As he was taken down, the ball was fumbled and Alva recovered.

Unfortunately, Alva couldn't make any progress on their possession and had to punt.

This time, Stone started off with a nice pass to Tate Cline for a gain of 30 yards to the Newkirk 43. Stone lost a yard on a keeper, and then Johnson hit him for a loss of four on the next play. On the third play with 15 yards to go, Stone tried a pass but Johnson batted it away, and the Tigers had to punt.

Starting on the Alva five yard line, Slater threw to Perez for a first down. Another pass to Reed gained six yards. Slater's next two passes were incomplete, and Alva had to punt.

With less than a minute left in the quarter, Stone threw the ball to Shane Pankey for a big gain to the Alva 12. A holding call on Newkirk set the ball back to the 19. A 12 yard run by Sargent moved the ball to the Alva five as the quarter ended.

On the opening play of the final quarter, Stone made a jet sweep pass to Pankey who scored the five yard touchdown. The conversion attempt failed again, and Newkirk led 20-8.

After the kickoff, Alva was on their 32 when a Slater pass was picked off by Pankey for a turnover.

Starting on their 42, the Tigers gained two yards. Then Sargent broke loose, running the ball to the Alva 30. Aided by a roughing the passer call on Alva, Newkirk moved to the Alva 15. An unsportsmanlike penalty on Alva put Newkirk on the Alva 8 yard line. From there Stone threw the ball to Sargent for the touchdown. This time the conversion worked, and Newkirk led 28-8.

Alva's next drive started at their 26. Slater's pass to Reed gained 18 yards. Passes to Perez and Glass made another first down. After an incomplete pass, Slater threw to Perez who made a tough catch between two Tiger defenders for five yards. Following another incomplete, Slater passed to Reed for an eight yard gain and the first down.

On the next play Slater was sacked and lost six yards. Slater then connected with Reed for the first down and a big gain to the Newkirk 12. After two incomplete passes, Slater was looking for a receiver under pressure and taken down for a loss of one yard. Slater's fourth down pass into the end zone was incomplete, and Newkirk took over near their goal.

Sargent broke loose to run the ball to the Newkirk 38. Another big run by Sargent took the ball to the Alva 45. On the next handoff, Sargent was hit for a loss and a holding call on the Tigers added to the deficit. Suddenly Newkirk was at second and 18. They couldn't make the first down, and Alva took over on a punt.

With less than a minute left in the game, the Goldbugs were on their 20 yard line. Slater threw an incomplete pass. Another pass was nearly picked off before being ruled incomplete. On the third try, Slater handed the ball to Wharton who ran for five yards. Time ran out, and Newkirk won 28-8.

Wrap-Up

Looking at some Alva stats, Slater completed 22 of 47 pass attempts for a gain of 314 yards and had three interceptions. Perez made eight catches for 142 yards. Reed had eight catches for 105 yards, and Glass caught four passes for 50 yards. Ruwaldt led in tackles with 14 followed Ferguson with eight and Glass with seven.

In other Class 2A-1 games, Chisholm beat Hennessey 61-8, Luther shutout OCS 41-0 and Perry topped Thomas Fay Custer 21-14.

In area games, Waynoka defeated Balko 38-6, Cherokee beat Pioneer-Pleasant Vale 42-30, and Timberlake overran Tyrone 54-6.