By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
On a night when CJ Hamilton was honored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association for building Silver Lake into a football powerhouse, the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, defeating Perry-Lecompton 19-6 on the field named for the legendary coach.
Legendary Silver Lake coach CJ Hamilton was welcomed into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame Friday by former KSHSAA executive director Gary Musselman (left) and current executive director Bill Faflick. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Silver Lake spent all night in the red zone, while Perry-Lecompton ran just one play in their opponent’s territory all night. Yet the game remained in doubt until late in the fourth period because the Eagles just couldn’t deliver the knockout punch. The home team saw four drives end on fourth-and-goal situations at the 1, 9, 3 and 6-yard lines.
“I’ve got to be better in the red zone as a play caller, so that’s nothing on the kids,” said Silver Lake coach Logan Pegram. “There’s no reason we should be able to walk down the field and then get inside the red zone and not be able to move them. So that’s on the (offensive) line coach, and that’s me.”
The Silver Lake defense more than made up for the offense’s struggles in the first half. Defensive end Jayden Waterer was a one-man wrecking crew. The senior blocked a Kaw punt at midfield on the first drive of game, recovered the ball and returned it to the Perry-Lecompton 13-yard line. The Eagles took advantage of the short field to punch in a 2-yard touchdown run by Bryson Burgos.
Later in the first period, Waterer sacked the Kaw quarterback in the end zone for a safety.
On the ensuing possession, a long Silver Lake drive culminated with a Dayne Johnson touchdown on a jet sweep. The Eagles led 16-0 early in the second period and appeared on their way to a blowout.
The Kaws punted on their next possession, but were helped by Silver Lake penalties to continue the series at the Eagle 43-yard line. On the only play the Kaws ran in Eagle territory all game, quarterback Garrett Metcalfe connected with Kayden Baker on a bomb that gave the visitors their only score.
The Eagles did not reach the end zone again, but moved the ball freely up and down the field behind freshman quarterback Kip Kruger.
In his third varsity game, Kruger completed 30 of 35 attempts for 264 yards.
Silver Lake freshman quarterback Kip Kruger passed for 264 yards in Friday's 19-6 win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Senior Dayne Johnson caught 17 passes for 158 yards in Silver Lake's 19-6 win over Perry-Lecompton. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Johnson hauled in 17 passes for 158 yards. Fellow senior Grady Bergmann caught eight passes for another 78 yards. Kruger connected with six different receivers during the game.
“I get to throw to a lot of good receivers,” Kruger said. “They’re really easy to throw to. That helps me. They get open and I trust them. They’ve helped me to get through the hard times.”
Kruger endured the first two losses – an overtime loss at Rossville and a humbling 42-7 defeat at Nemaha Central – to get his first win.
“I’m feeling comfortable with the team,” Kruger said. “I’m comfortable with the huddle. First game, there was a little pressure when I got in. I’ve been just going with the flow in practice, getting reps with the varsity guys. I’ve tried to just keep my head up … body language is big. I’ve just had to push through it and keep moving.”
“We were looking at the wrong side of 0-2, which doesn’t happen around here a lot,” Pegram said. “I thought the kids had a great week of practice to prepare them to win tonight. We’ve still got a lot of things to clean up, but good job being on the right side of one.”
SILVER LAKE 19, PERRY-LECOMPTON 6
Perry-Lecompton (0-3, 0-3) 0 6 0 0 -- 6
Silver Lake (1-2, 1-1) 9 7 0 3 -- 19
Silver Lake – Burgos 2 run (VanVactor kick)
Silver Lake – sack by Waterer for safety
Silver Lake – Johnson 1 pass from Kruger (VanVactor kick)
Perry-Lecompton – K. Baker 43 pass from Metcalfe (run failed)
Silver Lake – VanVactor 31-yard field goal
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Perry-Lecompton: Brackenhoff 16-93, Metcalfe 7-5, Hays 1-3. Silver Lake: Burgos 15-40, Monhollon 11-28, Kruger 3-minus 1.
Passing – Perry-Lecompton: Metcalfe 4-6-0, 60 yards. Silver Lake: 30-35-0, 264.
Receiving – Perry-Lecompton: Ross 2-10, K. Baker 2-50. Silver Lake: Johnson 17-158, Burgos 1-5, Ross 2-11, Bergmann 8-78, Eisenbarth 1-5, Monhollon 1-7.
Punting – Perry-Lecompton: R. Baker 3-30.3. Silver Lake: none.
