Golden Warriors Dominate Dukes

Coming into Friday night’s Homecoming showdown with NCIC Reagan rival Dixon, the Sterling Golden Warriors needed to make a statement. A tough loss to Geneseo in Week Six left many of the Sterling faithful wondering how the Warriors would deal with the Dukes, who came in to the contest with a 4-2 record and looking to overtake Sterling for 2nd place in the Reagan division. Forty-eight minutes of dominating Golden Warrior football later, the Sterling fans were celebrating a 42-10 victory.

Things didn’t start off well for Sterling (5-2, 3-1) as they turned the ball over with a fumble on their first offensive play at their own 13-yard line. Dixon (4-3, 2-2) couldn’t advance the ball, but did manage to score the first points of the game as Saul Capilla drilled a 32-yard field goal with 7:03 left in the 1st quarter.

After that, it was all Sterling.

The Golden Warriors responded with a 12 play, 64-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by Mason Temiquel’s 2-yard TD plunge. Raciel Ocampo would connect on the first of his six PAT kicks of the game to make the score 7-3 in favor of Sterling with 1:31 left in the 1st.

An interception and return by Michael Vercillo on Dixon’s next possession gave Sterling great field position at the Dixon 45 yard line. Six plays later, Codtey Albright went untouched into the end zone from 1 yard out to give the Golden Warriors a 14-3 lead.

Sterling’s next possession lasted 11 plays and covered 63 yards and culminated in another short TD run by Temiquel, his second of three TDs on the game. Ocampo’s PAT made it 21-3 with 2:19 left in the 2nd quarter.

Dixon was held to a three-and-out of their next possession and lined up to punt with 1:15 left in the half. A high snap and a strong rush by Sterling’s Colt Preston and Jake Hermes was too much for Dixon punter Andrew Burnell to overcome and he was dropped at the Dixon 21-yard line. Three plays later, Joe Schneiderbauer capped off the first half with a 4-yard TD run to put Sterling up 28-3.

Sterling added two more TDs in the second half to put the game away. Aaron Cooksey sprinted in from 19 yards out with 9:04 left in the third quarter and Temiquel blasted in from one yard out to give the Golden Warriors a 42-3 advantage heading into the final period.

Dixon’s Mike Ridgway would score the Dukes’ only touchdown of the game late in the fourth period to make the final score 42-10.

The Golden Warriors dominated all aspects of the game. Sterling out-gained Dixon 349-113 in total yards and ran 62 plays, compared to just 45 for the Dukes. The Warrior defense allowed just six first downs and held Dixon to 3 of 11 on third down conversions.

Temiquel led Sterling with 75 yards and 3 TDs on 13 carries. Schneiderbauer added 12 carries for 55 yards and a TD and Cooksey ran 8 times for 50 yards and a score. Cory Renner completed 2 passes (in 2 attempts) for 69 yards.

Sterling will close out NCIC Reagan play at LaSalle-Peru in Week 8. L-P, winless in conference action this season, nearly upset Geneseo on Friday night, falling 10-7 at home.

Sterling Vs. Dixon Boxscore