KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sterling lost to Avila (MO) 47-21 on Saturday at The “Z.” Sterling was shut out before halftime before scoring all 21 of its points after halftime, including 14 in the fourth quarter.
Sterling spent much of the first quarter trying to answer Avila (MO)’s 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive, which ended on Joseph Vick’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Chrishawn Adams at 7:45 before the extra-point kick failed. Earlier, Jordan McGowan‘s 30-yard opening kickoff return gave Sterling the ball at its 35, but a false start helped stall the first drive before James Henisey‘s 43-yard punt. Sterling’s defense produced a response on Avila (MO)’s next series, with Carlos Lujan making a tackle for loss and then combining with Sean Watson on a fourth-down stop that gave Sterling the ball at its 38. Ryan Morgan later converted fourth-and-2 with a 6-yard completion to Nicholas Trepton, and an Avila (MO) personal foul moved Sterling to the 31 before the quarter ended with Sterling facing fourth-and-9 at the 30 and trailing 6-0.
Sterling was held scoreless in the second quarter while Avila (MO) scored on three Joseph Vick touchdown passes and took a 27-0 lead into halftime. The quarter began with Steven Werking completing a fourth-and-9 pass to Gabriel Argott for 7 yards, leaving Sterling short of the marker before Avila (MO) drove for a touchdown at 10:20. After Sterling’s next possession ended with a punt, Turner Sampson stopped Patrick Anderson Jr. for a loss and Lujan sacked Vick for an 8-yard loss to help force an Avila (MO) punt. Sterling’s offense later picked up gains from Stephenson Kennard, Morgan and Ty Goans but was slowed by a false start, and Avila (MO) added touchdown passes at 1:52 and :39. Sterling moved late behind Werking runs of 4 and 8 yards and a 17-yard completion to Trepton, reaching the Avila (MO) 45 as the second quarter ended.
Sterling’s biggest third-quarter response was a 12-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, capped when Werking hit Noah Khokhar for a 32-yard score on fourth-and-7 and Emmanuel Roman added the extra point to make it 35-7. Earlier, Avila (MO) opened the quarter with a 64-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point pass to push the score to 35-0 before Sterling answered with completions to Trepton, Khyaire Hines and Kevin Jones on its scoring march. Sterling’s defense then limited Avila (MO) to 10 yards on the next series, with Dutton Taylor, Lujan and Messiah Ford involved in tackles for loss before a punt. After a later Sterling interception, the defense again pushed Avila (MO) backward, including stops by Marques Zenon and Ford, and Wyatt Newberry‘s 13-yard punt return gave Sterling the ball at the Avila (MO) 32. The quarter ended with Sterling at the Avila (MO) 25, facing third-and-3 and trailing 35-7.
Sterling scored twice in the fourth quarter, getting rushing touchdowns from Kennard at 13:47 and 3:16, but Avila (MO) answered with two touchdowns of its own in a 47-21 final. Kennard opened the quarter’s scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run after Werking completed passes to Hines and Khokhar to help move Sterling inside the red zone. After an Avila (MO) touchdown and two Sterling turnovers, the defense kept Avila (MO) out of the end zone on a red-zone series, with Kenny Dominguez breaking up a fourth-down pass at the Sterling 15. Sterling then went 85 yards in 11 plays, converting a fourth down on Argott’s 8-yard run before Kennard finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. Avila (MO) added a late touchdown, and Sterling’s final possession ended near midfield as the game closed.
Kennard rushed 15 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Werking completed 27 of 40 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown. Hines posted team highs with seven receptions and 74 receiving yards. Lujan led Sterling defensively with 10 tackles.
Sterling is 1-3 overall. Avila (MO) is 1-3 overall.
Up next, Sterling hosts Bethel (KS) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1:30 p.m. in Sterling, Kan.
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.
