Golden Warriors Start Season With Rout

Many fans in attendance at Sterling’s first football game of the 2006 season planned on it being a one-sided contest. And it didn’t take long for those plans to be realized.

Visiting Chicago (Clemente) received the game’s opening kickoff and, faced with a staunch Golden Warrior defense, lost several yards before being forced to punt. Sterling’s Joe Schneiderbauer fielded the punt near mid-field and, thanks partially to a devastating block by teammate Eric Baker, scampered nearly untouched to the end zone. However, the touchdown was called back due to a penalty and the Sterling offense took the field.

Schneiderbauer didn’t have to wait long to visit the north end zone at Roscoe Eades Stadium again, as he took a pitch from QB Cory Renner and raced 39 yards to put Sterling on top 6-0 just 2:23 into the 1st quarter.

Sterling’s defense again stopped Clemente on their second possession and took over inside Wildcats’ territory. RB Aaron Cooksey was the next Golden Warrior to hit paydirt, displaying both speed and power on his way to a 29-yard TD run - his first in a Sterling uniform. The PAT by kicker Raciel Ocampo put Sterling ahead 13-0 with 7:25 left in the opening quarter.

The Warriors would add two more scores in the 1st quarter to take a commanding 26-0 lead. RB Codtey Albright scored on a 13-yard run and LB Colt Preston scooped up a Clemente fumble and returned it 20 yards for a score.

The second period was much like the first, with Sterling dominating on both sides of the ball. Renner and Schneiderbauer connected on a 14-yard TD pass and Albright sprinted 39 yards for another score to push the Golden Warrior lead to 40-0 with 6:42 left in the half.

Clemente finally got on the board with a 1-yard TD run by Larry Hairl late in the 2nd quarter. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Cooksey took the ball on the Sterling 22 yard line and proceeded to run over, through, and by the Wildcats’ coverage on his way to an electrifying 78-yard TD return. Another PAT by Ocampo made the halftime score 47-6 and ensured that the running clock would be in effect for the entire second half.

The Golden Warriors added two more touchdowns in the second half to close out the scoring. Dan Megli had a 37-yard TD run in the third quarter and Caleb Rodriguez added a 39-yard scamper late in the 4th to put the finishing touches on a 59-6 Sterling victory.

As a team, Sterling rushed for 330 yards on just 36 carries. Cooksey led the way with 74 yards on 3 carries. Megli (60 yards), Schneiderbauer (54), Rodriguez (53), and Albright (52) each topped the 50 yard mark with none of them having more than six carries.

Sterling held Clemente to just 18 rushing yards on 25 attempts and forced the Wildcats’ quarterbacks into a 0 for 15 performance and also picked off three passes.

The Golden Warriors (1-0) have a tough Week 2 opponent, as they will travel to Lemont on September 1st, to take on the 5th ranked team in Class 6A. Sterling, ranked 9th in the pre-season, is now ranked 6th in Class 5A.

Sterling Vs. Clemente Boxscore