Boulder City football drew a tough matchup opening week, dropping the season’s first game to Sunrise Mountain, 39-6, at home.
Facing off against one of the premier offenses in the 3A ranks, the Eagles gave up 598 total yards, including 454 passing yards and four touchdowns to senior Miner quarterback Stephen Wright, who is regarded as one of the division’s top dual-threat athletes.
Despite the performance, defensive coordinator Alex Moore said the team is improved from last season, when Boulder City went 1-8.
“The result might have been the same on paper, but I think it was clear to everyone in the stands and on our sideline that we put out a better product this past Friday night,” said Moore, who will be filling in for head coach Chris Morelli this week. “I told the boys that we’re done talking about last year. We’re leaving it in the past and building a new chapter. Friday started it, and we’re happy to move forward.”
Moore said Wright, who completed 21 of 25 passes, might be the best quarterback the Eagles face this season.
“I told my defense that he’s unquestionably going to be the best quarterback we’re going to see during the regular season,” Moore said. “It’s good to be challenged by the best early because it helps you down the road in more manageable situations. We’ve seen what we need to work on, and now it’s just time to execute our game-plan and work harder.
Echoing his coach’s’ sentiment, senior linebacker Michael Martinelli said that the team needs to do a better job executing its schemes and making sure players are in the right positions to make tackles.
Offensively, the Eagles moved slowly before finding a rhythm under senior quarterback Taylor Hatchel.
Plagued with a couple of off-target throws to start the game, Hatchel would settle down toward halftime, concluding his night 9-for-18 with 56 yards and an interception.
“I think it was just first-game jitters, to be honest, that got me off to a slow start,” Hatchel said. “Once I was able to calm down, we started having fun in the offense and started moving the chains. As I get more comfortable along with my teammates, I’m confident in our ability to execute more soundly.”
Senior Dillon Viera led the way with three catches for 26 yards, while junior Zach Trone tallied 22 yards on three catches. Garnering the highlight of the night as well, Trone would deliver the Eagles only score toward the end of the third quarter, on an 80-yard kickoff return.
“Collectively, when we know all of our individual assignments, I believe we can put points on the board,” Trone said. “We did some good things on offense this past week, but we never really got any momentum going.”
Hoping to get their offensive momentum going this week, the Eagles will travel to 2A opponent Lake Mead, with the hopes of putting a win in the stat column.
“No matter who we play each week, the goal is to always go out there and do our best,” Moore said. “All we ask of our players is to give it their all, to leave nothing out on the field.
We’re in the process of completely rebuilding the program. Wins may come, they may not, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to put a product out on the field that our town can be proud of.
“We want everyone to feel confident knowing that the Eagles not only gave it their all, but are heading in the right direction.”
The last time the Eagles played a 2A program was Week 2 of last season when they picked up their only victory of the season over Quest Academy in a 62-0 rout.
Upcoming games
■ Today: vs. Laughlin, 6:30 p.m. junior varsity
■ Friday: at Lake Mead, 7 p.m. varsity
Contact sports writer Robert Vendettoli at BCRsports@gmail.com