Vandals Power Their Way to Second Win of The Season

A good ground game powered Eureka to their second win of the season, 38-6, at Carlin last Friday. “We were able to run the ball at them,” said coach Fred Minoletti, “so we didn’t have to go to the pass too much, kind of just ground and pound. The first game that we have been really consistent. The first time we’ve been able to put it all together for a complete game and not have to worry about the other team’s fourth-quarter comeback.”

The Vandals accounted for 301 yards rushing with Garrett Todd responsible for 106 yards. Quarterback C.W. Landry had 68 yards rushing on 10 carries and Mikey Lacovara rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. Minoletti said Lacovara played really well on both offense and defense, recording a team high seven tackles. Landry attempted only six passes and completed two. “Mostly, we were moving the ball slow and steady down the field. Garrett (Todd) had two long runs of about 35 yards each.”

Eureka scored once in the first quarter, twice more in the second quarter for a 22-0 halftime lead. And they scored twice more in the second half. Carlin however, was not able to score until the third quarter.

The Vandals were able to contain Carlin’s Eddie Gomez for the most part. Minoletti said, “Carlin really never posed a serious threat, just that one time with Gomez. His best run was only about 20 yards which was on the one touchdown they scored. He usually just got short yardage most the other times. We did a good job of not letting them get anything big.”

Turnovers and penalties, which have been a bugaboo Eureka in past games, but not this time, was the misfortune of the Railroaders. Minoletti said they fumbled three times and (quarterback Jimmy Payne) had two interceptions.

“We didn’t commit any turnovers ourselves,” Minoletti said. “We did a really good job that way. This was the first game to not have any turnovers, a few penalties, but nothing that ended our drives.”

Eureka (2-3, 2-0), first place in the 1A North-east, has three more games on the schedule. This week hosting McDermitt (1-3, 1-1), in Elko against Independence Oct. 13, and hosting Owyhee Oct. 20.

The Vandals are 12-2 against McDermitt since 2004 and have won the last six meetings.