ELBRIDGE - Despite scoring 30 points in the fourth quarter, the Jordan-Elbridge football team lost its regular season finale, 54-36, to Phoenix at John E. Howes Field on Friday.
The Eagles hurt themselves badly in the second half with turnovers as Phoenix scored 20 answered points in the third.
Getting the opening kickoff in the second half, the Eagles got off to a good start with a strong return from Mitch Merrill But that was before a fumble gave the Firebirds the ball at their own 41.
Phoenix ran the ball well the entire game, and their first drive of the second half was indicative. Brandon Jones scored up the middle from 16 yards out to make it 33-6.
Jones got back on the field after suffering a severe leg cut against Skaneateles that required 15 stitches.
On their next possession, Jordan-Elbridge had a 62-yard run from Joe Poppe negated by a penalty, and there was a fumble on the next play. Phoenix scored on the second play of its drive to essentially put the game out of reach, 40-6.
Poppe scored his second touchdown of the game with 6:35 left in the fourth, getting to the outside corner for a 39-yard score.
After a Phoenix fumble, Mitch Merrill almost single-handedly led the Eagles to their next score. After a 46-yard run by Merrill that put them on their own 10, the junior scored on an bruising second-effort rush up the middle.
With 5:03 left, the Eagles still had a chance down 19 points, but Paul Raymond scored his third touchdown of the game to make it 54-28.
Jordan-Elbridge knew Phoenix would be a tough team to beat, even at home. Last week, the Eagles lost 40-8 to Marcellus, but the visiting Firebirds had lost in double overtime to them earlier in the season.
In the first half, Phoenix relied almost entirely on its running game. They did throw two passes, though, and each of those resulted in a fumble recovery by the Eagles.
The first two quarters also had a significant number of penalties, including a half dozen personal foul calls - most of them face mask violations.
The Eagles got their only score of the first half when Poppe made several defenders miss in a 28-yard touchdown run.
Jordan-Elbridge drops to 1-6 on the season, while Phoenix is now 2-5. Both teams will play crossover games, with opponents still to be determined, next weekend.
Getting the opening kickoff in the second half, the Eagles got off to a good start with a strong return from Mitch Merrill But that was before a fumble gave the Firebirds the ball at their own 41.
Phoenix ran the ball well the entire game, and their first drive of the second half was indicative. Brandon Jones scored up the middle from 16 yards out to make it 33-6.
Jones got back on the field after suffering a severe leg cut against Skaneateles that required 15 stitches.
On their next possession, Jordan-Elbridge had a 62-yard run from Joe Poppe negated by a penalty, and there was a fumble on the next play. Phoenix scored on the second play of its drive to essentially put the game out of reach, 40-6.
Poppe scored his second touchdown of the game with 6:35 left in the fourth, getting to the outside corner for a 39-yard score.
After a Phoenix fumble, Mitch Merrill almost single-handedly led the Eagles to their next score. After a 46-yard run by Merrill that put them on their own 10, the junior scored on an bruising second-effort rush up the middle.
With 5:03 left, the Eagles still had a chance down 19 points, but Paul Raymond scored his third touchdown of the game to make it 54-28.
Jordan-Elbridge knew Phoenix would be a tough team to beat, even at home. Last week, the Eagles lost 40-8 to Marcellus, but the visiting Firebirds had lost in double overtime to them earlier in the season.
In the first half, Phoenix relied almost entirely on its running game. They did throw two passes, though, and each of those resulted in a fumble recovery by the Eagles.
The first two quarters also had a significant number of penalties, including a half dozen personal foul calls - most of them face mask violations.
The Eagles got their only score of the first half when Poppe made several defenders miss in a 28-yard touchdown run.
Jordan-Elbridge drops to 1-6 on the season, while Phoenix is now 2-5. Both teams will play crossover games, with opponents still to be determined, next weekend.
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