Old Glory Gilpin varsity cheerleaders during the national anthem.
An incomplete pass Vinnie Schoell in tight coverage.
The opposition A Bruins running back.
One of Gilpin's favorite plays
Drew Starkey on a wave sweep.
A double-teamed Bruin
Mason Sechler (26) and Cameron Thomason (44) provide blocking as Drew Starkey slips by.
A big day
Drew Starkey ran for four touchdowns.
The end of the line
A Gilpin runner gets wrapped up by two defenders.
Gilpin's last TD
Coach Dave Knudson congratulates Justin Johnson after his third quarter touchdown.
GILPIN COUNTY – For the first 30 years of Eagles football, they had merely one winning season. Craig Ball took over the reins as head coach in 2014 and they have won more games than they lost in six of his 11 years. Persevering through lean times lately, not since the Steven King days dating back to 2020 had they finished above .500. After Gilpin’s October 18 home victory against the Belleview Christian Bruins, their record now stands at 5-2 with two games remaining on their schedule.
With a snowy field, cold drizzle, and temperatures hovering around 32 degrees, it was no secret to Belleview’s coach that the Eagles would rely heavily on their bread-and-butter ground game. Doing anything about it would be another matter. Even with speedster Ryan Marr out of the lineup with a broken thumb, Gilpin executed their game plan to a T. At 7:18 of the opening period, Drew Starkey raced 40 yards on a power left smash play for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion made the tally 8-0, Gilpin. Less than a minute later, Belleview tied the score.
In the second quarter, the Eagles continued to run the football. A 27-yard Drew Starkey scamper resulted in a touchdown. A 70-yard marathon run up the middle by Mason Sechler added another. Gilpin recovered a totally unexpected onside kick on the ensuing kickoff at Belleview’s 49-yard line. A few plays later Starkey ran 35 yards for his third touchdown of the evening – good for a 24-point quarter and a 32-8 lead going into halftime.
A long kickoff return by Justin Johnson set up a Starkey 51-yard touchdown dash. Johnson had a run of his own from about the same distance for a touchdown to complete the third quarter ahead by 40 points. Noseguard Brennan Lathrup effectively clogged up the middle and recorded a sack. Cornerback Vinnie Schoell played exceptionally well as did the rest of the stingy defense. With the contest well in hand, Gilpin was able to play their backup players the entire fourth quarter, thereby providing them valuable game time experience. Final score: Gilpin 48, Belleview 24.
Up next for the Eagles are the Lyons Lions in Lyons on October 25 followed by their final regular season game against the Justice Phoenix on November 2 at home.
