The Arlington High School football team came out firing Friday at Yutan, but the Chieftains put together second-quarter answers.
Coach Troy Schlueter's Eagles (2-5 overall) led 16-0 after one quarter, trailed 28-16 by halftime and, ultimately, fell on the road — 34-24.
“The difference in the end was Yutan making some huge plays at crucial times,” AHS' coach said. “Give credit to them for scoring quickly at the end of the half and on a fourth down and 9 (yards) play.”
Chieftains quarterback Nathan Daniell threw three second-quarter touchdown passes to dig his team out of the 16-point hole it found itself in. Arlington, however, attacked its opposition to dig that hole in the first place.
On the first play from scrimmage, Schlueter's team called a toss pass to take advantage what they believed would be aggressive Yutan safeties. Sure enough, Cooper Staats connected with Luke Sharp for the 57-yard score before no more than a few seconds had ran off the game clock.
“The kids executed that play very well,” Schlueter said.
AHS built on its first-quarter advantage, too, when Killian McIntosh took off on a 66-yard touchdown run. After a second successful 2-point conversion play, the Eagles were firmly ahead early.
“We were mentally ready to play this week as we noticed how a bad start last week made it much more difficult than it had to be,” Schlueter said, referencing Arlington's homecoming victory against North Bend Central.
Like the Eagles had against the Tigers, though, Yutan responded to the visiting team's challenge and won.
“They came out on top as a result of all the big plays,” Schlueter reaffirmed after the game.
AHS' Dallin Franzluebbers added one more of his own during the third quarter. The 60-yard touchdown run cut the Eagles' deficit to 10 points, but it was as close as they would get.
McIntosh finished with 87 rushing yards, while Franzluebbers had 79 and Ben Flesner added 34. Owen Ladehoff had two 2-point conversion runs for Arlington, while Franzluebbers caught the third.
The Eagles next play at Tekamah-Herman on Friday. The Tigers are 1-6 overall. They, too, have a win against North Bend Central this season.
YUTAN 34, ARLINGTON 24
AHS (2-5) 16 0 8 0 — 24
YHS (4-3) 0 28 6 0 — 34
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
A: Luke Sharp 57-yard pass from Cooper Staats
A: Killian McIntosh 66-yard run
Second Quarter
Y: AJ Arensberg 21-yard pass from Nathan Daniell
Y: Owen Egr 1-yard run
Y: Carson Jurey 39-yard pass from Daniell
Y: Arensberg 52-yard pass from Daniell
Third Quarter
Y: Jason Neukirch 13-yard run
A: Dallin Franzluebbers 60-yard run
