No Letdown at Dixon

The Sterling Football team ventured to Dixon on October 7 trying to avoid a letdown after the huge win at Geneseo the week prior. Mission accomplished. Despite a few rough stretches, Sterling handled Dixon 35-14, clinching the at least a share of the NCIC-Northeast championship for the Golden Warriors.

Sterling was able to score on its first drive for the sixth time in seven games as the Warriors took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead. RB Brandon Rodriquez would make two huge plays on the drive – an eight-yard run on a third and six play early in the drive and a 16-yard pass reception on a fourth and seven play from the Dixon 21. Two plays later, fittingly, it would be Rodriquez who would score the touchdown on a five yard run.

Sterling would go the air on its second touchdown drive. After recovering a Dixon fumble at the Sterling 27, QB Cory Renner would hook up with FB Graham Hall on a 20 yard swing pass. On the next play, Renner would find TE Michael Trobaugh for 30 more down the Dixon 15. Hall would then navigate the final 15 yards into the end zone on the ground, staking the Warriors to a 14-0 lead.

The lead would grow to 21-0 just moments later, as Dixon would fumble on its next play from scrimmage. On the first play after the fumble, Renner connected with Rodriquez for 24 yards to the Dixon 2. Christian Temiquel would then find the end zone to put Sterling up three scores and four-seconds into the second quarter.

Dixon would then put together a 13 play, 81 yard touchdown drive that saw the Dukes convert on 4 th down twice.

Down 21-7 - with momentum on its side - the Dixon defense would then force Sterling to punt from its own end zone, giving the Dukes the ball back at the Sterling 35. The Dukes failed to capitalize of the great field position however, as they fumbled again just four plays later.

Sterling would regain its three touchdown lead shortly thereafter, as Hall would take off on a nifty 58-yard touchdown scamper – his longest run of the year.

Down 28-7, Dixon was able to score one more time late in the first half on a penalty aided 56 yard touchdown drive.

Dixon got the ball first to start the second half trailing 28-14. Faced with a 4 th and one from his own 44, Duke coach Ryan Reade rolled the dice and went for it. The Sterling defense rose to the occasion, stuffing RB Mike Ridgeway for no gain.

Sterling immediately went to work on offense. Rodriquez, Hall and Temiquel would all have solid runs on the drive before Renner would connect with Trobaugh on another 4 th down conversion pass play to the Dixon 5. Hall would tally his third rushing touchdown of the game and his 12 th on season on the next play.

Staked to a 35-14 lead, the Sterling defense would limit Dixon to just three first downs and no-points the rest of the way.

Hall went over the 100 yard rushing mark for the third straight game and for the sixth time in his varsity career with 126 yards on 14 carries. Renner completed five of 11 passes for 98 yards – a Golden Warrior season high. Sterling out gained Dixon 345-203.

Sterling will try to complete an undefeated run through the NCIC-Northeast October 14, at home, against LaSalle ( Peru).