After a strong start to the season, the Red Bud varsity football team has lost the last two games, losing to the Central Cougars at home Friday night. The game began with the Boys playing a solid defense holding Central scoreless in the first quarter. The Cougars matched the Musketeers’ effort, stopping the Red Bud offense throughout the frame to make it a scoreless tie after one frame. Central tested the Musketeer defensive backfield but the Musketeers were able to hold off the aerial attack, stopping the Cougars’ drive with an interception by senior Owen Liefer.
The Cougars turned to the run in the second quarter, putting together a drive that resulted in a touchdown on a 21-yard run for their first score of the frame. The PAT failed to make the score 6-0 The Red Bud offense began to click, putting together a drive that looked promising before it stalled, forcing a punt on fourth and long. Central returned to the passing game, moving the ball into Red Bud territory when the Cougars connected for a 37-yard TD pass. The two-point conversion made the score 14-0. The Cougars got another chance to score when their defense intercepted a Musketeer pass and returned it deep into Red Bud territory. With under a minute to play in the half, the Cougar quarterback found a receiver for a 1-yard TD pass to make the score 21-0 at the halftime break.
Central extended their lead early in the third quarter on a 48-yard touchdown pass and PAT kick to run the score to 28-0. That would be all the scoring for the quarter as the Cougars were able to hold off the Musketeer offensive attack. Red Bud missed a golden opportunity to score when a bad snap on fourth-and-long by the Cougars gave the ball to the Musketeers inside the Central five-yard line. The Central defense moved the Musketeers back on consecutive rushing plays and took over on downs inside their own 20-yard line. Senior Chase Lucht took over at quarterback for Red Bud in the second half. After throwing an interception, Lucht connected with wideout Sam Easter for a 27-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter. Brockmeyer’s PAT failed but the Boys were on the board, trailing 28-6. Central answered back with a drive capped off with a 1-yard TD run to make the score 35-6. The Game ended at 35-13 on a last-minute touchdown catch by receiver Corbin Lange from Lucht.
The Musketeers will be in action this week at home against Carlyle. Both teams are 1-2 with the Indians winning big at home against the Oblong Panthers. The Musketeers would like to put it all together and show the fans just how good this team can be. At the same time, Carlyle would like nothing better than to spoil the night for Red Bud by beating them in front of the home crowd and improving to 2-2. Everyone should be back for the game albeit perhaps with some aches and pains. This will be the start of conference play for both teams, so it means a bit more as far as the playoff picture goes. Come out and support your team, kick off is at 7:00.