Opening up Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV play was the Circle Thunderbirds at the Augusta Orioles at Hiller Stadium, with the T-Birds taking over in the second half, en route to a 31-14 victory.
Circle got things started as sophomore running back Trey Davis scored from 3 yards out to make it 7-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter. Augusta tied the game on a three-play 23-yard drive with 5:39 left in the second quarter as junior quarterback Tristan Finch threw an 18-yard reception to junior running back Anthony Castillo, to make it 7-7. Circle scored three minutes later as sophomore quarterback Garrett Hutson, connected to junior wide receiver Paul Richard for a 28-yard touchdown pass, making it 13-7 with 2:39 left in the half.
Circle turned the ball over with 38 seconds left and Augusta struck on the first play of the drive as Finch connected to sophomore wide receiver Connor Hurst from 53 yards out. Augusta went into the locker room with a 14-13 lead.
Circle took over, scoring twice in the third quarter, the first on an 11-play 87-yard drive that lasted over five minutes, and ended on a pass from Hutson to senior wide receiver Zach Nelson. The second came on a 12-yard pass from Hutson to junior wide receiver Jake Smith. Circle capped the night off as Hutson connected to Richard for his second touchdown of the night.
Circle Coach Bob Pool said Augusta played really good ball.
“They are a much improved team,” Pool said. “We made adjustments in the locker room and came out striking in the second half.”
Pool said one of his key players of the night was sophomore running back Jacob Wright who ended the night as the leading rusher for Circle with 14 carries for 77 yards.
“We have are two big running backs Jacob (Wright) and Trey (Davis), they are called ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lighting.’”
Hutson was 8 of 14 for 153 yards and 4 touchdowns. Circle’s leading receiver was Richard with 5 catches for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. Finch was 6 of 19 for 150 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Finch was 0 for 7 in the second half. Finch was also the Orioles leading rusher with 17 carries for 60 yards. The leading receiver for Augusta was Hurst with 3 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Circle got things started as sophomore running back Trey Davis scored from 3 yards out to make it 7-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter. Augusta tied the game on a three-play 23-yard drive with 5:39 left in the second quarter as junior quarterback Tristan Finch threw an 18-yard reception to junior running back Anthony Castillo, to make it 7-7. Circle scored three minutes later as sophomore quarterback Garrett Hutson, connected to junior wide receiver Paul Richard for a 28-yard touchdown pass, making it 13-7 with 2:39 left in the half.
Circle turned the ball over with 38 seconds left and Augusta struck on the first play of the drive as Finch connected to sophomore wide receiver Connor Hurst from 53 yards out. Augusta went into the locker room with a 14-13 lead.
Circle took over, scoring twice in the third quarter, the first on an 11-play 87-yard drive that lasted over five minutes, and ended on a pass from Hutson to senior wide receiver Zach Nelson. The second came on a 12-yard pass from Hutson to junior wide receiver Jake Smith. Circle capped the night off as Hutson connected to Richard for his second touchdown of the night.
Circle Coach Bob Pool said Augusta played really good ball.
“They are a much improved team,” Pool said. “We made adjustments in the locker room and came out striking in the second half.”
Pool said one of his key players of the night was sophomore running back Jacob Wright who ended the night as the leading rusher for Circle with 14 carries for 77 yards.
“We have are two big running backs Jacob (Wright) and Trey (Davis), they are called ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lighting.’”
Hutson was 8 of 14 for 153 yards and 4 touchdowns. Circle’s leading receiver was Richard with 5 catches for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. Finch was 6 of 19 for 150 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Finch was 0 for 7 in the second half. Finch was also the Orioles leading rusher with 17 carries for 60 yards. The leading receiver for Augusta was Hurst with 3 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.
