Fallon quarterback Avery Strasdin celebrated hits 18th birthday, but it was Levi Andrews who blew the candles out on Spring Creek at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex.
Fallon opened its abbreviated COVID-19 schedule on Saturday with a 44-7 win over Spring Creek before one of the smallest home crowds for a Greenwave football game since the last pandemic in 1918-1919.
Andrews had a career game as he rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. The Fallon senior, though, attributed his afternoon’s success to the offensive line.
“They were working hard,” he said. “We have the best line in the league.”
Fallon may have proven that point of “best” by opening the holes for 307 yards rushing and now allowing a quarterback sack. Additionally, Strasdin took off from his pistol formation and carried the ball seven times for 88 yards.
“I thought the kids executed well on both sides of the ball,” longtime Fallon coach Brooke Hill said.
The defense allowed 177 yards with 134 yards coming through the air. Hill said Fallon played a good game and improved from the scrimmage against Sparks earlier in the month. He said the Wave had some problems with jumping offsides and missing tackles.
Thomas Ranson/LVN Madeline Manning and the Fallon cheerleaders support the Greenwave.
“I thought the execution on each side of the ball was excellent,” Hill said.
Andrews scored twice in the first quarter to give Fallon a quick 14-0 lead. He first scored from 16 yards out, but the backbreaker was a 58-yard run with 7:03 left in the quarter. Andrews took the handoff and hit the line hard, first running straight and then snaking his way behind several key blocks to the left side.
“I followed my blocks and reads,” he said of Fallon’s line — Jace Nelson, Garrett Jarshcke and Dylin Valero. “Levi had a really good game,” Hill said. “The offensive line … big, strong kids did a really good job executing the scheme.”
Fallon’s defense, though, set up the first touchdown.
Spring Creek received the deep opening kickoff and Q Boyd returned it to the Spartans’ 22-yard line. Fallon forced Spring Creek to punt on fourth down. The Wave recovered a muffed snap and took over on the 25-yard line. On the first play Andrews worked himself to the right side of the line and then outraced the Spartans along the sideline. Sam Robertson, who kicked four extra points, also nailed a 33-yard field goal with 21 seconds left before halftime to give Fallon a 38-7 lead.
After Andrews’ second touchdown, the Spartans cut the Fallon lead in half.
Spring Creek recovered a fumble on the Fallon 33-yard line.
Thomas Ranson/LVN Levi Andrews (6) of Fallon gained almost 200 yards against the Spartans.
Quarterback Grant Brorby fired a pass to Kayden Boule for a 7-yard gain, and the Spartans ran the ball twice for 5 yards. Brorby then threw an 11-yard pass to give the Spartans a first-and-goal from the 9.
Boyd and Austin Harmening each carried the ball for short gains, and on a third-and-goal from the 2, Boyd scored. Kyler Lulay’s extra-point kick sailed low but good.
Fallon, though, came back in the second quarter with two touchdowns within the first 6:48.
On the third play of the quarter, Strasdin ran a play action and threw a 5-yard pass to Kenji Armbruster.
“Avery is very capable of throwing the ball,” Hill said, adding Armbruster and Matt Davis made some good plays.
On the ensuing kickoff, Spring Creek began the next drive on its 22-yard line. The Spartans moved to midfield before punting on a fourth-and-15 from its 43-yard line. Austin took the punt and used his blockers on the home side of the field and outraced the Spartans for a 71-yard score.
Fallon scored only once in the fourth quarter. Because of the conditioning schedule, Hill said the players are not used to playing in an entire game. He also thought some complacency played into the second half after Fallon mounted a sizeable lead at halftime.
Strasdin, though, scored in the fourth quarter. He used his blockers to keep up with his reverse direction, and he walked the tightrope down the Fallon side for 18 yards.
“It was a mixed decision to pass,” he explained. “At first I scrambled, then I looked to pass. I scrambled but then took off.”
With him running so close to the sidelines, Strasdin thought he stepped out of bounds.
“The no call surprised me,” he added.
With his touchdown capping Fallon’s scoring and the win, Strasdin savored a good birthday present.
Thomas Ranson/LVN Tyler Austin outraces the Spring Creek defense on a 71-yard punt return.
Thomas Ranson/LVN
Thomas Ranson/LVN
Thomas Ranson/LVN
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