Loara Establishes Its Ground Game, Beats El Dorado

Loara Coach John deFries had a modest game plan Friday night--contain El Dorado’s running game, and establish his own.

By halftime, deFries had succeeded on both accounts. Loara’s defense held El Dorado to minus-7 yards rushing, while the Loara offense rolled up 187 yards on the ground.

Loara led, 28-0, at the half, and won, 37-6, the Empire League opener for both teams.

“We finally put a game together,” deFries said. “Execution was the key tonight.”

Loara tailback Sean Easter--a transfer from Servite--gained 23 yards on the first play from scrimmage. The Saxons (3-3, 1-0) capped the drive with a three-yard off-tackle run by Easter.

In the second quarter, Loara fullback David Kang rammed straight ahead from two yards out for a 14-0 lead.

On Loara’s next possession, quarterback Charles Gipson kept the ball and headed down the right sideline, then cut back inside and into the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown.

Two plays after Bryan Blanks intercepted a Jason Bluth pass at the El Dorado 18-yard line, Easter broke a pair of tackles and sprinted 17 yards for another touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

Luigi Gagow led Loara with 76 yards rushing in 16 attempts. Easter carried eight times for 71 yards.

El Dorado (1-5, 0-1) hasn’t won since beating Century, 34-9, in the season opener.

El Dorado finally scored after sophomore quarterback Jim Beck--replacing Bluth--led the Hawks 80 yards in nine plays in the third quarter. Sophomore Bryan Warner capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown dive.