Another prominent Vandals player injured in loss

CARLINVILLE – The injuries continued to pile up for the Vandals football team last Friday night.

Already short several players, another Vandalia starter was lost to a concussion early in a 46-0 loss at Carlinville.

“We threw a lot of young guys in there tonight,” said coach John Stout, who had to replace two juniors and a senior. “Hopefully, we get some of the hurt guys back next week.”

Junior quarterback and defensive back Collin Nestleroad and junior receiver and defensive back Codie Jackson both missed the game due to concussions suffered in week one, and senior running back, kick returner and kicker

Dalton Smith left the game on the first play of the second offensive series with a concussion.

Combine those missing veterans with the talent of the Cavaliers, and it made for a long night for the Vandals in a game that could have had a closer final score.

Carlinville (2-0) forced a three-and-out on Vandalia’s first possession, and scored five plays later after covering 84 yards.

A fumble on the ensuing kick return gave the Cavaliers the ball at Vandalia’s 14-yard line, and a touchdown was converted in one play to give Carlinville a 14-0 lead with 7:56 left in the first quarter.

The next two offensive drives were promising but ended short for the Vandals (0-2) – with a combined 84 yards – but over the same drives, Carlinville added two more touchdowns to go ahead, 30-0.

The Cavaliers did not attempt any point-after touchdown kicks, because starting kicker Barry Stewart was injured on the opening kickoff.

To end the half, Vandalia looked as if it would score as time expired after a 43-yard pass play from sophomore Tucker Willms to junior Robby Lott put the ball on the Carlinville 18-yard line, but the Vandals fell short of the end zone.

“We did some positive things,” Stout said. “In the first half, we probably should have put the ball in the end zone three times.

“We talked with the kids at halftime about how without the miscues (two lost fumbles), it would have been a closer game.”

Sophomore Bobby Bradley was the leading rusher, carrying 15 times for 79 yards in place of Smith, and Willms was 4-for-11 passing for 81 yards. Senior Rodney Tedrick caught three balls for 38 yards.

Defensively, senior C.J. Runkel had a strong game, recording five solo tackles, while also forcing and recovering a fumble, and sophomore Kendrick Woolsey had a sack.

Box score
Carlinville 46
Vandalia 0
V: 0-0-0-0—0
C: 22-16-8-0—46

Scoring summary
First quarter
•8:11: Joeb Easterday (CHS) rushed for 20 yards (Easterday passed to Jeffrey Hart for 2-point conversion); Carlinville 8, Vandalia 0
•7:56: Easterday (CHS) passed to Ben Rogers for 14 yards (Garet Gwillim rushed for 2-point conversion); Carlinville 16, Vandalia 0
•2:03: Gwillim (CHS) rushed for 4 yards (2-point conversion failed); Carlinville 22, Vandalia 0
Second quarter
•6:11: Kinney Myles (CHS) rushed for 7 yards (Easterday passed to LaDarius Dunlap for 2-point conversion); Carlinville 30, Vandalia 0
•1:12: Easterday (CHS) passed to Dunlap for 38 yards (Easterday rushed for 2-point conversion); Carlinville 38, Vandalia 0
Third quarter
•10:46: Myles (CHS) rushed for 41 yards (Easterday passed to Dalton Jamieson for 2-point conversion); Carlinville 46, Vandalia 0

Vandalia statistics
Rushing: Bradley, 15-79; Smith, 2-17; Runkel, 4-6; Tedrick, 1-4; Willms, 3-(-17).
Passing: Willms, 4-11, 81.
Receiving: Lott, 1-43; Tedrick, 3-38.
Defense: Runkel, 5 tackles, 2 assists, forced fumble, fumble recovery; Austin Steele, 3 tackles, 2 assists, TFL; Woolsey, sack, 2 tackles; Dillon Tate, 3 tackles, 2 assists; Tristin Long, 3 tackles, 2 assists; Lott, 3 tackles; Marcus Durbin, 3 tackles; Bradley, 2 tackles, 2 assists; Tedrick, 2 tackles, 2 assists; Wyatt Beck, tackle, 5 assists; Kolten Etcheson, tackle, 4 assists; Ryne Lipsey, tackle, assist; Dylan Reeter, tackle, assist; Smith, tackle; Jake Stone, assist; Grant Wells, assist.
Record: 0-2