Turkey Valley’s Oliver Schmitt (22) pushes a Coon Rapids-Bayard defender out of the way as he looks down field for running room. Also pictured are Caleb Kurtenbach (5) and Logan Busta (1). (Photo courtesy of Leah Kruse)
A pair of third quarter touchdowns broke the contest open Saturday afternoon as the young Turkey Valley football team (1-0) defeated Coon Rapids-Bayard in a game played at West Des Moines Valley Stadium. The Trojans outlasted the Crusaders, 38-28.
How it went
Early on the Coon Rapids-Bayard offense showed a spark, capping off a 65-yard drive in the Trojan end zone to score first. Undeterred, Turkey Valley was slow and methodical as the Trojans moved the ball 47 yards on 14 plays to score with 1:39 remaining in the first to tie the game at 6-6.
The Crusaders opened the second period driving down the field however the “bend but don’t break” defense of the Trojans held Coon Rapids-Bayard out of the end zone until the 9:08 mark. Back on the attack, TV ticked off the yards highlighted by a 25-yard run by Oliver Schmitt, who ultimately pulled down a pass to tie the game back up at 12-12. A big Crusader kick-off return was stalled midfield by freshman Jordan Kriener before JD Kruse picked off a pass to put the ball back in the Trojans’ hands. A few short plays later a TV fumble gave the pigskin to Coon Rapids-Bayard but time ran off the clock before the Crusader could reach the goal line.
The two teams swapped possession to start the third period before the Trojan offense got rolling again from the Crusader’s 25-yard line. Always a workhorse in the game, O. Schmitt finished the nine-play drive in the end zone, putting TV out front 20-12. The Red and White were presented with a golden opportunity when Logan Busta recovered a fumble at the Crusader 22-yard line. A few short plays later, Burke Busta spun his way out of a tackle at the 15-yard line and made his way over the goal line for a 26-12 Trojan lead.
A late third-quarter interception by Schmitt gave TV more hope to score but it wasn’t meant to be as the Trojans were forced to punt two plays into the final period. As the Crusaders looked to make their move down the field, Kruse got his second pick of the game and brought the pigskin back inside the Coon Rapids-Bayard 10-yard line, setting up an 8-yard touchdown run by L. Busta. A 54-yard pass by the Crusaders brought the opposing team back to the end zone and a 32-20 TV lead. O. Schmitt then darted untouched seven yards for his third touchdown of the game and put TV out front 38-20 with 2:45 left to play. Coon Rapids- Bayard would have another go at it, scoring with 1:51 remaining, but it would be too little too late as the Trojans won, 38-28.
Individual stats were unavailable at press time.
District opener
The Trojans are at home this Friday, Sept. 1, in the district opener against Kee at 7 p.m.
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F
CR-Bayard 6 6 0 16 28
T. Valley 6 6 14 12 38
Scoring sequence
1st Quarter
CR-B – 65-yd. run (2-pt. failed)
TV – Logan Busta 1-yd. run (2-pt. failed)
2nd Quarter
CR-B – 15-yd. pass (2-pt. failed)
TV – Logan Busta 7-yd. pass to Oliver Schmitt (2-pt. failed)
3rd Quarter
TV – O. Schmitt 1-yd. run (2-pt. pass)
TV – Burke Busta 15-yd. run (2-pt. incomplete)
4th Quarter
TV – L. Busta 8-yd. run (2-pt. failed)
CR-B – 26-yd. pass (2-pt. failed)
TV – O. Schmitt 7-yd. run (2-pt. failed)
CR-B – 7-yd. run (2-pt. run)
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