Hayden football wins stormy season opener on home field
Leah Vann
HAYDEN — Lightning could be seen in the distance, but the thunder could be heard by the pounding of feet on the Hayden High School football field. Some fans sat in their garage, some watched from their lawn chairs at the endzone, while others packed the stands with ponchos handy, gazing at every flash of lightning.
Hayden opened their season against Justice High School, winning 52-26.
With senior Daylon Frentress in the backfield, the Tigers drove the ball forward, fumbled a snap for a 15-yard loss, then made up for it all in the same drive. Frentress scored the first touchdown rounding to the left side, then high-stepping up the middle as the Phoenix players fell behind him for a 8-0 lead.
Hayden senior Patrick Hunter’s breakout 12-yard run aided in that opening drive, and he continued to show he was also a key weapon for the Tigers’ offense.
Both teams went three and out, and the Phoenix failed to complete a pass before the Tigers’ next scoring drive. Frentress and Hunter backed another drive, this time ending on Hunter’s reverse run on the left, which sent him into a wide-open path on the weak side for a touchdown to lead 14-0 after a failed conversion.
A sideways rain blew across the field on Hunter’s touchdown as the announcer told the audience the booster club was selling ponchos. The game wasn’t canceled, but it started to get messy.
Justice fumbled twice in the first half and both were turned over by the Tigers. Senior Mason Brewer recovered the first, giving the Tigers the ball on the Phoenix 48. Junior quarterback Reese Kern burst up the middle for an 18-yard run, then Frentress followed up with a touchdown. Hunter added a conversion to make it 22-0.
The second fumble came when Justice was deep in Tigers’ territory. The ball was ripped away from Justice senior Izzy Farah’s grasp as he fell into a pile of Tigers at the 13 yard-line.
Aug. 31: vs. Justice, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Simla, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14: vs. Gilpin, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Plateau Valley, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28: vs. Vail Christian, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: vs. Rangely, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12: at West Grand, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19: vs. Rocky Mountain Lutheran, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26: at Soroco, 7 p.m.
Hunter responded on offense with a 52-yard run, followed by a touchdown, which brought the score to 28-0.
Phoenix senior TyShawn Silva fought for a a 15-yard touchdown reception to add to the score with 1:36 left in the first half to make it 28-6.
The Tigers fumbled on their next drive, giving Justice possession, which set up a score on a 30-yard pass to Silva, 28-12.
To reach Leah Vann, call 970-871-4253, email lvann@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @LVann_Sports.
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