CHURUBUSCO-Fans of Churubusco and Eastside filled Victor Field to full capacity to witness the Churubusco Eagles opening NECC Small-School Divisional play with a 19-14 win over their longtime rivals, the Eastside Blazers.
The anticipation was high as many might have been aware that the winner of this game has won the Small-School Division outright 91% of the time since the divisions returned in 2014. The offense perhaps wasn’t as sizzling as the pork burgers on the grill, or the warm Friday night temperatures in the middle of September. However, it suffices to say that the defense stole the show in this contest. It started the game with great defense, and it ended with crucial defensive stops.
“Our defense played a really good football game against a really good offense,” said Sade. “It certainly wasn’t always easy, and I know my defensive coordinator (Zach Dock) is probably going to need a nap after this because he’s a little worked up. We had two defensive scores, and that was critical.”
Eastside (2-2, 0-1 NECC Small-School) started off really well in the first quarter as the Blazers almost exclusively kept the ball within Busco (2-2, 1-0 NECC Small-School) territory, milking the clock, and turning to junior quarterback Job Richman-who led the way on the ground in addition to his play as a shot caller.
The scoring drive began with a 22-yard gain from Richman as he found room towards the Eastside sideline for a first down at the Busco 22. A couple plays later, Richman found a hole up the middle for a 16-yard TD run to make it 7-0 Eastside with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Richman finished the game rushing for 240 yards on 30 carries and 2 rushing touchdowns.
The first stance was dominated by Eastside’s time of possession and their ability to move the ball down the field. In fact, Busco punted twice in the first 12 minutes of game action.
When it comes to the history of Churubusco, there is a famous folk story being told of “The Beast of Busco” that resembles a large snapping turtle roaming in Fulk Lake-thus cementing the town’s “Turtle Town” nickname. Much like a snapping turtle, the Busco defense never lost its physical edge-which proved to be the momentum shifter that this team needed in a key conference game.
As Eastside was moving the ball down the Busco 35-yard line to begin the 2nd, Busco’s defense forced a Richman fumble. Bryce Lawrence then picked up the loose ball and returned it 65 yards to tie the score at 7 just 2:12 into the quarter.
Eastside’s next drive saw the Blazers going to work as they ran the ball with good field positioning down to the Busco 16-yard line. However, red zone mistakes started to cost Eastside opportunities to take control of this game.
What looked like a 16-yard touchdown run from Noah Dove was negated by an offensive holding penalty. This would eventually set up a 4th and 16 where Job Richman’s pass was overthrown and picked off by Bryce Lawrence. Lawrence then returned it 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:44 left in the 2nd quarter to lead 13-7 after the failed PAT.
Sade said his two scores were critical in the team’s success tonight and the turning the momentum in Busco’s favor.
“Bryce is the type of kid that can make plays,” said Sade on his performance. He’s a special kind of football player, and we’re grateful he is on our football team. If he’s locked in, we feel like he is as good as anyone in our league (NECC).”
Busco came into this matchup having lost to Lakeland and Garrett in consecutive weeks by 12 combined points, otherwise they would have entered this game at 3-0. Tonight, this felt like a moment where the team had learned from those two games and bolstered their confidence throughout this game.
At the end of the day, the outcome was going to be decided by their play in the trenches. On a later 4th down opportunity from the Busco 7, the Eagles’ defense once again held the fort by denying Job Richman of a first down by mere inches.
Busco received the 2nd half kickoff, and from there went to work. Busco finally got their first excellent chance in the red zone, and this time they made it count. After a couple unsuccessful attempts near the goal line, Brody Lawerence found his way through a pile to score a 1-yard QB sneaker that would eventually be the game-winning score with 6:36 left in the 3rd quarter. Busco’s 2-point conversion failed-which made it a two-possession game at 19-7.
However, you never got the sense Eastside was out of this contest. Literally, on the very next drive, Eastside’s Job Richman found a huge hole up the middle and ran 39 yards to the Busco 19-which that came very close to being another Blazer touchdown.
Following the Noah Dove 18-yard carry, Richman punched it in to cut it down to 5 at 19-14 with 4:13 left in the 3rd quarter. That would prove to be the final score of the game, but that’s not to say there weren’t opportunities for the remainder of this game. Busco nearly converted on a 3rd-and-11 passing play to Wes Ott that would have put the Eagles at the doorsteps of extending their lead.
The 4th quarter was highlighted by a series of 4th downs. Eastside’s first drive of the 4th quarter had the Blazers finding themselves in not one, not two, but three fourth down situations. The first two were successfully made by Richman. However, on 4th and 4 from the Busco 7, Busco’s defense made another key play when Quinn Blake denied Richman of a 3rd straight 4th down conversion.
Even then, the Eagles’ offense did not place them in the most ideal field positions for their defense. A punt gave Eastside one final golden opportunity at the Busco 26 with 2:26 left.
However, the game fittingly reached its conclusion with a 4th down and short situation and another Busco stop. Once again, it was Richman with the carry, but it was yet another defensive play to extinguish the Blazer offense.
Sade credits his seniors and the young Eagle players for sticking it together through the good and tough moments that allowed them to pick up a quality win against an Eastside team-they believe is the best they have seen all year.
“I think it takes a special unit to be able to stick together when things aren’t going well,” said Sade. “We have great leadership in our senior class. We have a lot of young guys that stepped up, and some of it is just in practice.
“I told my guys ‘we had a great week of practice’. It’s hard when you lose close games, and you have the opportunities to win some of those games. For our senior leaders to step up and keep everybody locked in and bring the energy in practice, it’s absolutely critical.”
Last season, Busco had started the season 0-3 before winning 4 straight in route of a Small School Division title. Some of the returnees like Wes Ott understand how to be utilized in various situations. Ott was critical in containing Jake Warstler who is Eastside’s top wide receiver.
Busco now knows they have taken the driver’s seat but cannot be satisfied. Coach Sade said his team has to the keep the energy and drive going to avoid any letdowns and being able to hang on to repeat as Small School champions.
They will be at Prairie Heights in Week 5. Meanwhile, for Eastside, they showed some great moments in the game but ultimately will look back at the failed 4th down conversions and the inopportune turnovers as big contributors to the losing outcome of this game. Eastside will need to regroup for Week 5, when they host DeKalb County rival Garrett in the ‘Train Trophy Game’.