Eureka’s defense kept Lindbergh’s offense grounded, and Wildcats running back Hassan Haskins did plenty of damage in a 41-10 homecoming win over the Flyers tonight (Oct. 6).
Eureka limited Lindbergh to 239 yards and didn’t give up a touchdown until the final 14.4 seconds. Haskins ran for four touchdowns and 168 yards on 21 carries as the Wildcats improved to 8-0 overall and secured the Suburban West American Conference title with a 4-0 mark. The Flyers fell to 7-1 and 2-1 in conference play.
“We knew we had the ability to do it,” defensive back Adam Fuqua said of the team’s defensive performance. “It was just the fact that we all clicked on cylinders, and we did what we should have done. We are a high-powered defense and did what we should have done.”
Eureka set the defensive tone early as Kade Seymour intercepted a pass on the game’s third play to give the Wildcats the ball at the 50. Haskins did the rest running for 3, 32 and 15 yards to cover the distance and take a 7-0 lead just less than two minutes into the game.
Lindbergh cut into Eureka’s lead 87 seconds into the second quarter with a 31-yard field goal from Garret Butz, but the Wildcats responded with a 19-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by an impressive 1-yard TD run by Haskins.
The senior was met in the backfield by Lindbergh’s defense, but he remained on his feet, slipped to the left of the initial line of defenders and powered his way into the end zone for a 14-3 lead with 2:31 left in the first half.
“I just felt good today and did my job,” said Haskins, whose team came in ranked No. 2 in the Missouri High School Class 6 media poll. Lindbergh was ranked No. 7. “It was really big. We were really looking forward to (the second) touchdown. We got it. We needed it.”
Eureka broke the game open in the third quarter with Haskins running for a 52-yard touchdown 49 seconds into the period, then scoring on a 13-yard run with 7:02 left in the quarter, and Fuqua returning an interception 70 yards for a TD with 5:41 to play in the third for a 34-3 lead.
Eureka quarterback Tyler Kennedy added a 5-yard touchdown run with 9:31 left in the game to start the running clock as the Wildcats took a 41-3 lead. Lindbergh’s touchdown came when quarterback Parker Powell ended an 81-yard drive with a 3-yard TD pass to George Buckingham.
“They came out and executed the way we asked them to and that’s what makes this group pretty special,” Eureka coach Jake Sumner said of the win.
After the game, Eureka awarded the Andy Bedo Homecoming MVP award to this year’s senior class. The Bedo award is named after a former Eureka player who died of a brain aneurysm Sept. 30, 1995, after being rushed to the hospital during the previous night’s game.
Eureka 41, Lindbergh 10
Lindbergh 0-3-0-7—10
Eureka 7-7-20-7—41
First quarter
E: Hassan Haskins 15 run (Tom Burke kick), 10:08
Second quarter
L: Garret Butz 31 FG, 10:33
E: Hassan Haskins 1 run ((Tom Burke kick), 2:31
Third quarter
E: Hassan Haskins 52 run (Tom Burke kick), 11:11
E: Hassan Haskins 13 run (pass failed), 7:02
E: Adam Fuqua 70 interception (Tom Burke kick), 5:41
Fourth quarter
E: Tyler Kennedy 5 run (Tom Burke kick), 9:31
L: George Buckingham 3 pass from Parker Powel (Garret Butz kick), 0:14