In a week 2 matchup of Big 7 foes, the Riverside Cyclones took on the Sabetha Bluejays at Highland Community College Friday night. The Bluejays, who are on their defending class 3A Championship run, had no problem handling the Cyclones by a final score of 55-0. The entire second half of the ball game had a running clock due to the fact that Sabetha was up 42-0 coming out of the halftime break.

Sabetha won the coin toss and differed until the second half. The Cyclones quickly went three and out and were forced to punt. The Bluejays didn’t take any time at all, only using four plays on their first drive to have Mason Engelken scamper away from the Cyclone defense for a 45 yard touchdown run.

The Bluejay defense showed up for the entire game and never let up as the force the Cyclones to punt after going three and out on their second drive of the game as well. Sabetha would the start with the ball on the Cyclones 47 yard line, where it only took five plays for Joel Hackney to take it into the endzone from just 2 yards out to put the Bluejays up 14-0.

The Bluejays did throw the ball more than normal last night trying to perfect the passing game a little bit. Gabe Garber found David Dyke from 11 yards out on the Bluejays third possession to put the Bluejays up 21-0 on only eight plays. The Cyclones would then be forced to go three and out again, and Joe Gruber would receive the punt and take it all the way up the far sideline and into the endzone for a 51 yard return and put the Bluejays up 28-0.

Bradley Libel for the Cyclones would then throw an interception, which was made by Joel Hackney. That interception then led to a 2 play drive which started from the Cyclone 22 yard line, were Mason Engelken would find the endzone for a second time on a 18 yard touchdown run. Sabetha would again force another Cyclone punt, which gave the Bluejays excellent field position which we saw all night. The Bluejays would return the punt to the Cyclone 14 yard line, and use 4 plays for Gabe Garber to run in from 6 yards out to put the Jays up 42-0 going into halftime. 

Coming out after halftime Sabetha would start with the ball, and use just 3 plays for Joel Hackney to break away and go 45 yards for the score which put the Jays up 48-0. With just 4:22 left in the third quarter, Quenton Barron would lose the handle on the punt and try to get it off after picking it up in the endzone, but the Sabetha defense was right there to get the ball right before he could and that would give the bluejays their final score of the game which put the Jays up 55-0.

Due to excellent field position all night the Bluejays only racked up 219 total yards offensively. They were led once again by Mason Engelken on the ground who ran for 100 total yards and 2 scores. Joel Hackney ran for a total of 53 yards and 2 scores, while Garber ran for 40 total yards and 1 score. Gruber also had the 51 yard punt return for the score. Garber also had the touchdown pass to David Dyke for 11 yards, and threw for a total of 38 yards in the game.

Next week the Riverside Cyclones (0-2), will go on the road to take on the Panthers of Royal Valley who are also (0-2). The Bluejays now 2-0 will return home next Friday night for their homecoming game as they will play host to possibly their biggest matchup and toughest opponent as they will play host to the Kaws of Perry-Lecompton who are also (2-0).