Antelopes outlast Central

&emsp;&emsp;Two times as members of the same conference, and once last year in non-conference play, the Avonworth Antelopes football team was outplayed by Central Valley, and that set the stage for the fourth consecutive meeting when the 'Lopes hosted the Warriors in non-conference play last Friday.&emsp;&emsp;Although Avonworth frittered away an early two- touchdown lead, this time would be different, as they fought hard from start to finish and outlasted Central Valley 28-20.&emsp;&emsp;"Our kids played lights out tonight," said 'Lopes coach Duke Johncour. "They played physical, and they executed our game plan."&emsp;&emsp;A sack by Mason Metz forced a punt by the Warriors to end their first possession, and that led to a touchdown for the Antelopes when they began their second drive from their own 20 yard line. Carson Bellinger completed a 6-yard pass to Andrew Kuban, and then found Kuban open over the middle on the next play, which resulted in a 74-yard catch and run TD. Aiden Osekowski added the extra point kick that gave Avonworth a 7-0 lead with 7:35 to play in the first quarter.&emsp;&emsp;Luca Neal recovered a fumble to end Central Valley's next drive, but Avonworth was not able to take advantage of the prime real estate at the Central Valley 33 when Bellinger's fourth down pass was intercepted for a change of possession.&emsp;&emsp;Luke Hollywood recorded a sack on the first play of the ensuing Warrior drive, but Central Valley completed a 17-yard pass, and had success running the ball with seven consecutive plays to reach the Antelopes' 4 yard line.&emsp;&emsp;That drive would end when Nico Neal came up huge for the defense, stuffing a fourth down run for a 1 yard loss, and a change of possession at the Avonworth 5.&emsp;&emsp;The 'Lopes went heavy with runs by Brandon Biagiarelli, and a couple by Hunter Blackson, but the highlight was Blackson's pass completion to Ben Barnes that went for 57 yards to the Warriors' 2 yard line. Biagiarelli took the ball in from there, Osekowski made good on the kick that followed, and Avonworth led 14-0 with 9:01 left in the second quarter.&emsp;&emsp;Central Valley had a decent return on the ensuing kick off to reach the Avonworth 36, converted a fourth down run, and then ended up at the Antelopes' 15. A busted play resulted in a fumble during a run, but the ball was scooped up by the same Warriors player who fumbled, and scored on a 15-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt failed, so the lead by the 'Lopes was 14-6.&emsp;&emsp;A fumble occurred on the ensuing kickoff, that led to a change of possession to Central Valley at the Avonworth 25.The 3 play drive consumated with a 7-yard TD pass, and a pass completion on the 2-point try would send the teams to halftime deadlocked at 14-14.Neal and Metz had big plays for the 'Lopes defense to stall the opening drive by the Warriors to start the third quarter, but a high snap from center was recovered by John Smallwood and set up the Avonworth offense at the Central Valley 27. That drive fizzled after a fourth down incomplete pass, but the Antelopes went back on offense when a hit by Blackson on the Warriors' quarterback on first down forced a fumble that was recovered by Barnes at the Central Valley 25.&emsp;&emsp;The five-play possession culminated with a 7-yard TD run by Biagiarelli, followed by Osekowski's kick that gave Avonworth a 21-14 lead with 1:36 left in the third quarter.&emsp;&emsp;The fourth quarter was insane, with the Antelope defense able to bend, but not break on several occassions.&emsp;&emsp;The Warriors started a drive at the 'Lopes 40, but that possession ended with a fourth down stop at the Avonworth 2 yard line.&emsp;&emsp;Central Valley got the ball back after a 3-and-out, and a short punt and return to set up on offense at the Antelope 11. The Avonworth defense initially stuffed a running back at the line of scrimmage on fourth down, but the back flipped the ball to the quarterback, who scampered left 2 yards for a touchdown.&emsp;&emsp;The Warriors gambled with a run for the two-point try, but the ball carrier was forced out of bounds a hair short of the left pylon at the front of the end zone, and the 'Lopes maintained their lead 21-20 with a little over three minutes remaining.&emsp;&emsp;An onside kick followed, but Avonworth made the recovery at the Central Valley 46.&emsp;&emsp;Kuban took a direct snap from center on first down, and churned 44 yards to the Warriors' 2. The Antelopes ran some time off the clock over the next several plays, and Kuban scored on a 3-yard run, followed by Osekowski's kick to give Avonworth a 28-20 lead with 1:35 to play.&emsp;&emsp;The Warriors were still alive when they returned the ensuing kick to the Antelopes' 25, but Kuban sealed the deal five plays later with an interception to preserve the win.&emsp;&emsp;Johncour spoke to the players afterwards, saying, "Those goal line stands were unbelievable. Enjoy this one, man! It was a good night and a total team effort."&emsp;&emsp;Avonworth (2-0) will meet Sto-Rox (0-1) away in a non-conference game tonight at 7 p.m. &emsp;&emsp;