LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Sterling (3-6) defeated Saint Mary (0-9) 21-3 on Saturday. Sterling rushed for 257 yards and three touchdowns while holding Saint Mary to 179 total yards.
Sterling opened with a 10-play, 28-yard drive that included a Ryan Morgan completion to Nicholas Trepton on third down, but Saint Mary stopped Bryance Sanders for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at the Saint Mary 39. Saint Mary appeared to score on Alex Aleman’s 53-yard pass to Kaylen Edwards Jr. at 6:28, but a holding penalty wiped out the play and Sterling forced a punt two snaps later. Sterling moved back across midfield behind Sanders runs of 7 and 11 yards before James Henisey punted to the Saint Mary 18. Saint Mary put together the final sustained possession of the quarter, with Aleman running for 17 yards and Kameron Smith gaining 9 to the Sterling 43 as the first quarter ended scoreless.
Sterling’s defense opened the second quarter by forcing punts on Saint Mary’s first two possessions, including a Brevyn Campbell breakup on third down. Starting at its own 14 at 10:59, Sterling put together a 10-play, 86-yard drive that included Steven Werking‘s 20-yard completion to Noah Khokhar and a 22-yard run before Werking scored from 4 yards out at 6:16, with Emmanuel Roman‘s extra point making it 7-0. Saint Mary moved into Sterling territory on Kameron Smith’s 28-yard run, but Dutton Taylor broke up a third-down pass and a holding penalty wiped out a fourth-down completion before Saint Mary punted. Sterling reached the Saint Mary 8 late after Werking hit Kevin Jones for 23 yards and Khyaire Hines for 51, but Roman’s 25-yard field goal went wide left, and Landon Pfannenstiel‘s sack on Saint Mary’s final possession sent Sterling into halftime ahead 7-0.
Sterling’s defense forced a quick punt to start the third quarter when Dutton Taylor broke up Alex Aleman’s third-down pass, and the offense followed with a drive built around Jordan McGowan runs of 17 and 13 yards. The possession reached the Saint Mary 19 before Emmanuel Roman‘s 36-yard field goal try missed, and Saint Mary answered with a 54-yard drive that included a 20-yard Kameron Smith run before Tyler Fassio and Turner Sampson stopped Anthony Horne Jr. for a 1-yard loss on third down. Joshua Bingham made a 44-yard field goal at 4:26, and Sterling began the next drive with a 21-yard Gabriel Corona run, a fourth-down McGowan conversion and an 11-yard Sanders carry before penalties and a sack left the Warriors ahead 7-3 after the third quarter.
Steven Werking moved Sterling into scoring position with a 38-yard completion to Hines, then finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at 12:44 before Emmanuel Roman‘s kick made it 14-3. Saint Mary answered with a drive to the Sterling 8, but Dutton Taylor dropped Keith Slaughter for a loss, Sean Watson and Jaquan Lowman broke up back-to-back passes, and Joshua Bingham missed a 27-yard field goal wide left. After Sterling punted on its next possession, Taylor intercepted Zavian Martinez and returned it 19 yards to the Saint Mary 25, giving Sterling a short field with 2:18 left. Morgan connected with Jordan McGowan for 12 yards and later scored from 4 yards out at :05, with Roman’s kick closing out Sterling’s 21-3 win.
Werking completed 6 of 9 passes for 138 yards and rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan McGowan rushed 11 times for 99 yards and added a 12-yard reception. Hines finished with four catches for 91 yards. Dutton Taylor recorded six tackles and an interception, returning it 19 yards.
Up next, the Warriors host Friends (KS) on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
