Stanton/Essex begins FB season with non-district win

The Stanton/Essex football team began its first season together with a 40-6 rout of Murray on Friday, Aug. 23, in Murray.
“Both the Stanton and Essex communities can be proud of the way the team played,” Stanton/Essex head coach Jeff Grebin said. “The effort was great, the attitude was excellent, and the team togetherness was very apparent.”
Starting QB for the Vikings, Keygan Day scored the first TD on an 11-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.
The Vikings followed that up with a 44-yard pass from Day to Colton Thornburg to end the first quarter 12-0.
Second quarter action continued to favor the Vikings, as Logan Roberts took the rock two yards for an 18-0 lead, and followed it up with a 29-yard run less than two minutes later for a 24-0 jump start to the season. The Vikings converted successfully and extended the lead to 26-0.
With just 29 seconds left in the first half, Murray scored on a four-yard pass from QB Zach Belden to Reece Held, and the Vikes held a 26-6 lead heading into halftime.
“The stiffening of our defense for the great goal line stands in the first half was great,” Grebin said. “They kept Murray from scroing until we had scored four touchdowns.
The second half was all Stanton/Essex. Jack Roberts recorded an interception and Day and C. Thornburg connected again for a 32-yard TD pass. Again, not being able to convert the extra points, the Vikings extended the lead to 32-6.
Quentin Thornburg sacked the Murray QB in the end zone on the next set of plays for a safety, which widened the gap to 34-6.
The Day, C. Thornburg connection worked again, this time on a 42-yard pass for a Viking lead of 40-6 to end the third quarter. The fourth quarter was continuous clock and the Vikes held on for the victory.
“The Day-Thornburg connections were fun to watch,” Grebin said. “Any time you can get the ball to Colton in the open space it is exciting to watch. Other guys had catches too, and it will be interesting to see the offense in action when it is hitting on all cylinders.”
Day completed a dozen passes on 17 attempts for 248 yards and three TDs with one interception. Colby Royal completed two passes for 19 yards.
C. Thornburg led the rushers with 56 yards on 13 carries; Logan Roberts went 40 yards on eight carries for two TDs; Tucker Hadden added 36 yards on seven carries; Day 11 yards, one carry for one TD.
C. Thornburg ended with 150 yards on five receptions with three TDs; Royal 34 receiving yards; Easton Hultman and Jack Roberts 33 receiving yards each.
The Vikes had 15 players with at least one assisted tackle. L. Roberts led with 15 total tackles, two solo for loss; Hultman 11.5 tackles, one for loss; Royal 11 tackles; Day and Q. Thornburg one sack each.
Day, Carter Johnson, J. Roberts, and C. Thornburg nabbed an interception each and Royal recovered a fumble.
C. Thornburg had seven kick offs for 240 yards, one 10-yard punt, and he returned two kick offs for 40 yards and two punts for 45 yards.
“Getting most of the snaps in the O-line and giving Keygan time to pass or giving him a running alley were Tristan Frank, Quentin Thornburg, and Colby Royal,” Grebin said. “We have had less time and less repetitions per play with more new people having to learn a new system. I am just pleased we executed as well as we did. Murray defense was a handful.”
The Vikings (1-0) travel to Lamoni (0-0) for a non-district game on Friday, Aug. 30, beginning at 7 p.m.
“We must be better prepared and execute better this Friday, as Lamoni returns all of their starters except the center from last year’s team that we narrowly beat 46-42,” Grebin said. “Every minute of practice this week will need to be utilized to the max.”