Fumbles leave no hope for Rural Vista football
Staff writer
The Bluebirds turned the tables in this week’s football game against Rural Vista. On a quiet, soggy evening, Eddie Gaeddert started the heroics for the Bluebirds with a fumble recovery. Zach Zogleman punched in a Bluebird score.
On the next play, returning the football after kick-off, Rural Vista fumbled again, and Jacob Hagewood took the pigskin across the goal line. Goessel’s defense stopped a Heat drive and the Bluebirds led at the end of first quarter 14-0.
The Bluebirds marched down the field with a mixture of running and passing plays. Zogleman plowed ahead for another score. On another Rural Vista fumble, Dylan Lindeman returned the ball for another score and Goessel had a 26-0 lead.
Gaeddert fell on yet another Heat fumble and this time Lindeman connected with Kale Funk for a touchdown to lead 34-0.
Rural Vista put together a long drive, churning up yards and scored their first touchdown with 3:24 left in the first half.
Rural Vista attempted an onside kick, but the Bluebirds recovered. After several plays, Zogleman ran in from four yards and Luke Wiens caught a Lindeman pass for the extra points. Goessel led 42-6 at half time.
Rural Vista opened the third quarter with an onside kick attempt that Goessel again recovered. Hagewood sprinted 40 yards for a score and Zogleman added the two point conversion to give the Bluebirds a 50-6 lead.
After several exchanges, the Bluebirds punted for the first time, pinning the Heat deep in their own field. Goessel’s defense held and took over on downs at the 11-yard line. The 45 point rule came into play as Funk scooted around the end for the final score 56-6.
Rural Vista was bigger than the Bluebirds, but speed prevailed in this contest. Goessel’s line of Justin Johnson, Luke Freeman, Kris Strecker, and Eddie Gaeddert held up the defense, giving the running backs time gain long sideline gains.
The Heat fumbled five times and the Bluebirds recovered all of them.
“Goessel was able to force so many fumbles, because the bigger runners from Rural Vista would not go down and by the time the second and third Bluebird arrived to help make the tackle, we were able to rip the ball loose from the runner,” said head coach Garrett Hiebert.
Goessel will have their first home game Friday with Wakefield. The Bluebirds are 1-1 for the season.