Watkins, Eagles Outrun Warriors on Senior Day

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Powered by the best team rushing performance of the season from the offense and a second-half shutout from the defense, Avila football (3-7, 2-2 Bissell) celebrated its Senior Day in style, cruising past Sterling (2-8, 1-3 Bissell) 41-10 on Saturday afternoon at The Z.

The two teams came into the game with the same overall record – 2-7 – and, for one half at least, played a game that was as close as those two marks would indicate: Avila's lead at the intermission was just 13-10, but the Eagles flipped the switch and dominated in the second half, outscoring Sterling 28-0 en route to their most comprehensive win of the Derrick Alexander era, 31 points, in the Eagles' final home game of the season.

And the storyline of the game was not hard to identify: Sterling more than kept pace with Avila over the first two quarters until the Eagle defense absolutely shut down the Warrior offense in all phases, aided in large part by four takeaways, while on the other side Avila's offensive line paved the way for elite rushing days for both Jahkese Watkins and Eli Williams: Avila had two 100-yard rushers for the first time this season and rushed for 312 yards as a team, more rushing yards than they have had in a game both this season and last season.

Sterling looked solid on its first possession of the afternoon, but that came to a screeching halt when Terrell Valentine blocked a field goal from reigning KCAC Special Teams Player of the Week Luis Franco. Sterling got an interception on the very next play, however, and Franco ultimately hit a field goal after all to give the Warriors an early lead.

Sterling's next drive ended early thanks to a fumble forced by Zamir Jones and recovered by Noah Jones in enemy territory, and three plays later Eli Williams hit Kareem Chambers for a 13-yard touchdown to put Avila in front for the first time. Sterling countered with a rushing score from Kendrick Bell on the first drive of the second quarter, set up by two big passes from backup QB Rigdon Yates, to regain the lead. But after Avila got a three-and-out after a 57-yard punt from Luis Alvarez and a Sterling penalty forced the visitors to start a drive from inside the 2-yard line, the Eagles got the ball near midfield and a 41-yard run from Jahkese Watkins set up a touchdown from Williams to Robert Brooks III to put Avila up for good.

Valentine picked off a pass in the end zone to kill a Sterling possession late in the second quarter, and though a late penalty doomed any chances for the Eagles to score in the final seconds, they still took a 13-10 lead into the halftime break. And after that break, it was all Eagles. On the first drive of the second half, Williams picked up a first down with a 27-yard run and later scrambled right end for 12 yards and a score, hitting Kendal Wooley for a 2-point conversion to put Avila in front by an even 21-10.

A pass interference call on 4^th down on the first play of the fourth quarter gave Avila first and goal, and Watkins took it in from eight yards out to pad the lead. On the ensuing drive, Ishe Smith Jr. sacked Rocky Baptista on third down to kill a drive, and a short punt gave Avila the ball across midfield: two plays later, the Eagles were in the end zone again. Williams took off for a 37-yard run and then Watkins went the final 11 for his second score of the quarter to extend the lead. Then Dennis Johnson picked off Baptista on third down, once again giving Avila the ball around midfield, and after one final huge run from Watkins, Caleb Ka'ai and Trevor Daniels entered to lead the offense to the end zone again, capped off by Daniels finding Brooks for a 5-yard touchdown, Daniels' first as an Eagle, wrapping up a resounding 41-10 victory for the Eagles in their home finale.

Williams accounted for three total touchdowns and rushed for 117 yards on just ten carries, the second time this season he's gone over the 100-yard mark. Watkins had a career day, rushing for 183 yards on 23 carries (8 yards/carry) and two scores, all of which are career highs. Since he's fully returned from injury, Watkins has more than looked the part of the Avila feature back: he's averaged north of 125 yards per game over the last three weeks, with a total of four rushing touchdowns.

It was the final home game for a dozen Avila seniors, most of whom have been central members of the team for three or four years now. All of them have helped usher in a new era of success for a program that hadn't won many games prior to their arrivals on campus, and they all depart now as guides into a new era of their program, one they've helped ensure will be in good hands long after they remove their helmets for the final time. Avila's senior class includes Jecori Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Trevon Miller, Terrell Valentine, Luis Alvarez, Jordan Thomas, Max Williams, Jackson Nelms, Cor'Darius Wright and Brian Overall Jr.

Those seniors will have one more opportunity to earn a win for their squad when Avila concludes its season this Saturday afternoon on the road against Saint Mary. Kickoff in Leavenworth is slated for 1 PM; as always, you can watch all the action on the KCAC Network.