HUNTSVILLE — Farmington clamped down on defense to get the best of Huntsville in a sloppy season opener at Eagle Stadium on Friday.
The Cardinals recorded six sacks, overcame four turnovers and stopped Huntsville on the Eagles’ last drive in the final minute to earn a 14-8 victory.
Huntsville’s final drive began at its own 39 with 2 minutes, 58 seconds left, and ended on an incomplete fourth-down pass with 26 seconds remaining.
Brennan Warren sacked Huntsville quarterback Mason Kositzke four times, once in each quarter, and Chris Simms had the other two sacks for the Cardinals (1-0).
“I just do what coach says,” Warren said. “I play my game. I can’t put it all on me. It’s the whole defensive line. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t do my job.”
Despite throwing three interceptions and finishing just 5-of-18, Farmington sophomore Keaton Austin accounted for all the Cardinals’ points. Austin threw two touchdown passes to Matt Brackett, and completed a two-point conversion pass to Spencer Boudrey, who rushed for 88 yards on 16 carries.
The majority of Boudrey’s yards came on a third quarter drive capped by Austin’s decisive 29-yard touchdown pass to Brackett. That broke an 8-8 tie and represented the only second-half points for either team.
GAMEBREAKER
Farmington 14, Huntsville 8
Why the Cardinals won
Farmington simply won with defense. The Cardinals sacked quarterback Mason Kositzke six times, held the Eagles to 47 yards rushing and shut Huntsville out in the second half.
Why the Eagles lost
Huntsville was unable to take advantage of turnovers. The Eagles scored off just one of Farmington’s four turnovers.
“Our defense played great all night,” Farmington coach Mike Adams said. “The only reason they scored is because we turned the ball over at least four times. They got the job done for us. Offensively, it was not very pretty.”
Kositzke completed 8 of 17 passes for 77 yards with one interception, and the Eagles finished with just 47rushing.
“We don’t believe much in moral victories,” Huntsville coach Tommy Tice said. “We just didn’t get the job, but they had a lot to do with it. Boudrey is an excellent back, and their sophomore quarterback is very impressive.”
Both teams recovered onside kicks in the opening three minutes, although neither could capitalize.
Huntsville (0-1) began the game’s first drive at the Farmington 48 after its recovery, but the Eagles punted the ball away after advancing just three yards. However, Huntsville took advantage of an errant snap that sailed into the end zone on the Cardinals’ second play as Will Anderson’s tackle for a safety gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals’ second possession ended just as quickly when Robert Hernandez intercepted a pass by Austin at the Farmington 20. That set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Taylor Phillips three plays later.
Farmington scored its first points on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Austin to Brackett and tied it 8-8 on the two-point conversion pass to Boudrey with 9:15 left in the first half.
Interceptions by Justin Myers of Huntsville and Chas Turner of Farmington and a fumble recovery by the Eagles preserved the 8-8 tie for the remainder of the half.