The Axtell Eagles knew their week 1 game against Cair Paravel was going to be a fight. They knew their best bet was to get out of the gates fast and put CP on their heels a bit. Now they could have waited a couple of minutes of into the game, they could have worked slowly and methodically down the field. But instead, Brandon Schmelzle said "No, let's start this year out with a bang" and on the opening kick he goes 77 yards for the TD and put Axtell up 6-0. Schmelzle would add a 5-yard run later in the quarter and after 1, the Eagles led 14-0
Paravel wasn't discouraged though, and they would answer back in a big way, as Junior Quarterback Jase Pavlik would throw for 3 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter alone. Pavlik was 22 of 32 for 201 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air. Axtell would get the last laugh of the 2nd as Landon Schmitz would rumble in for a 34-yard TD run, his lone carry of the night and at halftime Axtell led 28-22.
A great first half for both teams took a back seat to what was a bonkers final 2 quarters, however. Axtell's small lead disappeared just moments into the 3rd quarter after a 30-yard pass from Pavlik to Evan Will and we were once again tied. Axtell would then put together 3 great drives. One ending with a 33-yard pass from Rilyn Buessing and the others ending with back-to-back short yardage runs from Schmezle and Eli Broxterman. Broxterman finished as the Eagles leading rusher with 95 yards and suddenly Axtell had their biggest lead of the night at 44-28.
But CP was not going away, Pavlik would throw for1 more score in the 3rd but the Paravel rushing game came alive behind a strong night from Jesiah Bonura who totaled over 150 all-purpose yards and again a 16 point Axtell lead had been reduced to a tie ballgame as we were headed to the 4th knotted at 44.
Still there was no panic on the Axtell team and they would once again separate themselves with back-to-back touchdowns, the final dagger coming on a 13-yard trot from Schmelzle. His final line 3 total TDs (2 rushing, 1 passing) 92 rushing yards and a pair of interceptions defensively as the Eagles take the 60-44 win.
Rilyn Buessing led the Eagles in tackles with 12, while 4 players picked up sacks, Wyatt Detweiler and Lucas Talbot with 1 each with Grant Buessing and Sawyer Deters combined for another.
Axtell moves to 1-0 on the season. Next up for the Eagles is a trip to Hartford. Hartford was shut out by Madison-Hamilton in week 1 46-0.
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