By Larnce Barker
Special Contributor
Giddings: Friday the 13th would prove to be in the Eagles’ favor on the night. The Salado Eagles came into Friday night’s non-district contest 0-2, but their complete effort of football on offense and defense would show otherwise. The Eagles lost the coin toss and kicked off to start the game with the Buffaloes receiving. The Giddings Buffaloes expected to drive the field and score first. The Eagles defense played tough, stingy and sure tackling in the first Giddings offensive series and got the football for the Eagles offense.
Quarterback Lincoln Hossfeld engineered the drive for the first Eagles offense series, scoring on a 27-yard run. Townes Sather PAT at the 6:46 mark in the first quarter to make the score 7-0.
On the ensuing kickoff by the Eagles, Anthony Angel lit up the Buffaloes’ return man, causing him to fumble, recovered by Devonte Foster.
With a short field, it didn’t take long for Hossfeld to connect with Luke Bingham for 12-yard pass at the 6:34 mark in the first quarter. Sather’s kick increased the lead to 14-0.
The Eagle’s defense was like a team on a mission with 14 point lead after the kick-off to the Buffaloes. Giddings return team had a good return, but defensive play of Eagles would stifle the Buffaloes offense with great form tackling and total team effort to force the Buffaloes to a Field Goal attempt on fourth down in Eagle territory, but the attempt would be no-good. So, with a turnover on downs by close-fisted Eagles defense after the field goal attempt, the Salado Eagles were back in business on offense.
The next Eagles offensive series, Hossfeld would lead the Salado offense down the football field to the redzone and link a 6-yard TD pass to #16 TE Landon Noske at the 11:18 mark in the 2nd quarter with a Sather PAT to improve the Eagles score 21-0.
The Eagles defense would play tough against the Buffaloes offense to give the football back to the Salado Offense. Hossfeld would expand the Eagles lead by connecting with tight end Landon Noske for 62-yard touchdown pass and the PAT failed to bring the score 27-0.
Cade Fenoglio intercepted a Giddings pass with 0:19 seconds left in the first half to give the Eagles the football back and run the clock out to have a 27-0 lead at halftime.
Salado would set up the start of the third quarter on offense and strike quick. Hossfeld would execute and perfect TD pass to the speedy Brendan Wilson for 62 yards and with the Kicker Townes Sather PAT to surge the score 34-0 with 11:49 left in the third quarter.
After getting the football back for the Salado Offense, Wilson and Hossfeld would unite on a 26-yard TD Pass and with the Sather PAT the score would be 41-0 with 8:53 in the third quarter.
Giddings would take their next offensive series after the Eagles kick-off and maneuver their offense down the field to score their first touchdown of the game and with the point after touchdown the score would become 41-7 with 1:11 left in the 3rd quarter.
After receiving the Buffaloes kick-off, the Eagles offensive line (Center Brooks McLane, quick guard Robert Grant, strong guard Tyler Blackwell, quick tackle Daniel Flas, strong tackle Ethan Van De Plas and Noske) provided great run and pass blocking. Hossfeld scored again on a 23 yard TD run and a Sather PAT with 9:31 left to play and a lead of 48-7.
Giddings would muster-up one more touchdown and PAT with 4:31 left to play.
The Salado Defense tightened up on their next defense series with to keep the Buffaloes out of the endzone for the rest of the game with effort throughout the game with total tackles from Devonte Foster 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble; Michael Edmondson 12 tackles and one forced fumble; Cade Fenoglio 10 tackles with one interception; Anthony Angel six tackles with one forced fumble; Caine Cruddas, Luke Bauser, Justin Blackwell, four tackles each, Gabe Hughes, two tackles; Dylan Jimenez, a TFL; Ethan Robledo with a fumble recovery.
The Eagles had a change of Quarterback Devonte Foster who threw a strike to Gabriel Merriman for 70 yards. Sather would tack on the extra point for the final score of 55-14.
• Hossfeld: Threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns
• Wilson had 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
• Giddings’ record: Drops to 1-2, with their fifth straight loss at home
• Salado’s record: Snaps their ten-game losing streak, and they also have a 1-2 record
Next up for Giddings is a game against Rockdale, and for Salado, it’s a game against Little River Academy on the road Sept. 20. The Bees are 0-3.