Pirates make Eagles walk the plank: Eagles struggle to gain first win of the season

It was a hot, dry night in Rusk on Friday as the Eagles went up against the Pittsburg Pirates, a team which had not lost an away game this season.

The Eagles were first on the scoreboard with a rushing touchdown by Tyrell Morrison. A failed two point conversion had the Eagles in the lead with a score of 6-0 and nine minutes left to play in the first quarter.

The next five minutes of game play held several possession changes as neither the Eagles nor the Pirates were able to make downs, find the end zone or make it into field goal range.

With four minutes left in the quarter, Rusk recovered a Pittsburg fumble on their own 25 yard line and quickly made a first down. With one minute left, Jaylon Hall made a 16 yard rushing touchdown, bringing Rusk up to 12-0.

With the game clock ticking down and less than a minute left in the first quarter, the Pirates completed a 53 yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful point after.
The Eagles kept their momentum going strong with a 80 yard rushing touchdown by Morrison with mere seconds left in the first quarter. Unfortunately, an attempt for a two point conversion failed, but Rusk was in the lead by 11 points and the first quarter ended with a score of 18-7.

It didn’t take long for the Pirates to answer back with a 16 yard pass completion for a touchdown in the early minutes of the second quarter. The Pirates missed their PAT.

With eight minutes left in the first half of the game, the Eagle defense was putting pressure on the Pirates. Jermaine Lewis completed a quarter-back sack, followed by a pass interception caught by Semaj Johnson, giving the Eagles possession of the ball.

Unfortunately the Eagles were unable to make it across the plane and with five minutes left, punted to the Pirates, who gained possession on their 12 yard line.

With three minutes left to go in the second quarter, possession once again returned to the Eagles on the Pirate 21 yard line.

At the two minute mark, the Pirates intercepted an Eagle pass leading to a down and ultimately a 28 yard touchdown pass completion. A failed PAT ended the first quarter with a score of 19-18 in favor of the Pirates.

It was a slow start to the third quarter with several possession turnovers due to failure to complete downs. It wasn’t until the last four minutes of the quarter before play resulted in a score when the Pirates completed a five yard touchdown pass.

Friday night was not the night for two point conversions as Pittsburg failed to completed their attempt.

Rusk had a long kickoff return with Joseph McGowan running the ball to the Pirate three yard line. A six yard rushing touchdown on the next play by Hall brought the score to 25-24 and gave the Eagles an opportunity to either tie the score or gain a one point lead.

The Eagles went for a two point conversion, but failed the attempt.

Rusk kicked off to Pittsburg and the Pirates had the ball on their own 45 yard line. Following a third down and just two minutes left in the third quarter, the Pirates completed a 57 yard rushing touchdown, and the first completed two point conversion of the night, bringing the score to 33-24, Pirate lead.

With less than a minute to go, Rusk Eagle Jaden Rushing recovered a Pittsburg fumble on their own 47 yard line. Unfortunately the game clock ran out before the Eagles were able to make it into the end zone.

The Pirates started the fourth quarter strong with a 22 yard rushing touchdown, but followed with another failed two point conversion attempt.

Rusk gained possession of the ball on their 27 yard line with nine minutes left in the game, but once again turned over possession to Pittsburg on downs.

A 28 yard touchdown completion, followed by a second successful two point conversion by the Pirates, brought the score up to 47-24.

The Eagles were not able to gain any ground in the final minutes of the fourth quarter either on offense or defense, as they failed to find their way to the end zone and ended the game without scoring any additional points.

The defensive team was unable to stop a final touchdown by the Pirates and the game ended with a score of 53-24.

The Eagles go into their bye week with a season record of 0-6.

Rusk will take the field again when they take on the Bullard Panthers at home on Oct. 19.

Both teams enter this game pretty evenly matched with similar season statistics. Bullard, ranked 64 in the Texas Division 4A-2 has a 1-5 season record going into week seven and averages 24 points per game.

Rusk is ranked 60 in the same division and averages 23.3 points per game.