LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (SCWarriors.com) – Warrior football gave themselves a hole to dig themselves out of early. Late in the first quarter, Sterling trailed 16-0 to the University of Saint Mary Spires. But Kendrick Bell found paydirt on a hard 2 yard run making the first quarter score 16-7. Sterling gave up another score in the first half and trailed by 15 at the break.
Bell ran for another TD in the third quarter. This time it was a 4 yard run that brought the game back to within a score midway through the third quarter. Sterling scored again in the third with just over a minute to play. Rocklin Baptista found Trevor Carr for the 14 yard TD, the first of his career. The Warriors were down just three with all of the fourth quarter to play. Saint Mary answered with a field goal, but it was still just a six point game at 25-19. Baptista would get the last laugh when he called his own number and ran the ball 15 yards into the endzone to give the Warriors their first lead of the day. As time wound down, Saint Mary had one last chance on a field goal attempt with 10 seconds to play, but the Warrior’s special teams made a play when they needed to and blocked and recovered the kick. Sterling ended in victory formation with a 26-25 win on the road.
Sterling had 322 yards of total offense for the day; 219 yards passing and 103 yards rushing. Baptista was 19-25 for 219 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Cameron Williams had the best day of his career with 111 yards on 6 receptions to lead all receivers. Carr was the lone receiver with a TD. Bell was the leading rusher with 61 yards on 22 carries and had the 2 touchdowns.
The Warrior defense had a great day with 3 interceptions and 2 sacks. Hunter Pullen, Jakobi Spence, and Fisher Pullen were credited with the picks. Flin Cameron picked up 1.5 sacks and Alan Garcia had the other half of a sack. Cameron also filled in as the punter with Mason Cobb out with an injury. Spence led the Warriors with 9 tackles, and he added 2 breakups to his interception and had 2 blocks as well.
Sterling improves to 2-7 (2-1) this season with two more weeks left to play. They are still in the hunt to win the division and make the NAIA National tournament.
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