Football squad gets bested 17-7 in season debut.
by Jake Hazan
photo by Kevin Fleming
The revamped Spartan football team had a rough introduction to the 2008 season, as they were defeated by the Monarch Coyotes 17-7 at Warrior Stadium in Lafayette Friday night.
The Spartans were victims of the persistent Coyote team that ran 70 offensive plays, and in turn only allowed the TJ offensive attack on the field for 30 plays of their own. Monarch rushed the ball a total of 66 times Friday night, permitting their patient, steady attack to drive them down the field against the TJ defense.
The Spartans got off to a bumpy start with a 14-0 deficit towards the end of the second quarter due to short touchdown runs by Brandon Vaughn and quarterback Ryan Eisenach, only to have that lead grow to 17 after a 20-yard Monarch field goal that finished off the first half.
TJ did have some bright spots during the game, namely a 65-yard blocked punt return by Junior Billy Sprague that brought the Spartans within 10 points midway through the third quarter, reviving hopes for a comeback. Unfortunately, this was as close the boys would get, dropping the season opener 17-7.
The Spartan football squad takes to the field next on Thursday, September 4th at 7:00pm against a very strong and perennial rival, Columbine, at Jeffco Stadium.
| Thomas Jefferson | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Monarch | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
First quarter
M – Brandon Vaughan 7 run (Casey Patrick kick).
Second quarter
M – Ryan Eisenach 2 run (Patrick kick). M – Patrick 20 FG.
Third quarter
TJ – Billy Sprague 65 blocked punt return (Keenan Moore kick).
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:
Rushing – TJ, Jordan Pruitt 7-45, Jordan McGee 5-14, Michael Craig 6-23, Kevin Reza 1-3, Brandon Lowe 2-(minus 1). M, Vaughan 31-179, Sean Fox 19-72, Nick Rothchild 10-76, Eisenach 5-(minus 7), Chad Elder 1-3.
Passing – TJ, Zach Jackson 6-9-0-56, Lowe 0-1-0-0. M, Eisenach 1-4- 0-10.
Receiving – TJ, Sprague 2-26, Pruitt 2-5, Andrew Brown 1-18, McGee 1-7. M, Tyler Jacobs 1-10.
