Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Connell wins SCAC East title

By the Herald staff

ROYAL CITY -- Matt Hadley ran for 126 yards and three second-half touchdowns Friday night as No. 2 Connell pulled away to defeat sixth-ranked Royal 30-14 and clinch the SCAC East's top seed to the regional playoffs.

The Eagles clinched a share of their third league title in four years and can claim the outright title with a win next week over Warden.

The Knights are the No. 2 seed.

Ivan Barragan kicked three first-half field goals as Connell led 9-7 at halftime. Hadley scored on runs of 35 and 2 yards in the third quarter as the Eagles took control, then added another 2-yard TD run early in the fourth.

Connell 3 6 14 7 -- 30

Royal 7 0 0 7 -- 14

SCORING PLAYS

C -- FG Ivan Barragan 26

R -- Ben Singer 8 pass from Marc Albertson (Will Christensen kick)

C -- FG Barragan 34

C -- FG Barragan 46

C -- Matt Hadley 35 run (Barragan kick)

C -- Hadley 2 run (Barragan kick)

C -- Hadley 2 run (Barragan kick)

R -- Singer 21 pass from Albertson (Christensen kick)

STATISTICS

RUSHING--C, Hadley 20-126, Dyrel Whitby 16-93, Nate Martinez 9-(minus 3). R, Albertson 9-49, Christensen 12-24, Dylan DeLay 3-9, Kris Rice 1-3, Jeremy Edwards 5-16.

PASSING--C, Martinez 4-9-0-60. R, Albertson 10-29-1-136.

RECEIVING--C, Hadley 2-9, Kraymer Eppich 1-21, Bryant Anderson 1-30. R, Singer 6-80, Kyle Spartveit 2-10, Rice 1-30, Edwards 1-16.

FIRST DOWNS--C 10, R 11. FUMBLES-LOST--C 3-1, R 2-2. PENALTIES-YARDS--C 3-20, R 3-20.