Albion scores win to open artificial turf field

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Cencere Lowe breaks loose for the first of his three touchdowns during the Purple Eagles win over Roy-Hart/Barker this evening to open Albion’s new artificial turf field.

Celebrating the opening of their new artificial turf field in style, the Albion Purple Eagles exploded for three touchdowns in the decisive fourth quarter to down the Roy-Hart/Barker Bulls 36-14 this evening.

“It’s huge,” said Albion Coach David Skrip whose Purple Eagles snapped a season opening two game losing streak with the win. “They have overcome some adversity and it’s nice to see things come together.”

Breaking away from a 14-14 deadlock, Albion regained the lead for good at 20-14 when Cencere Lowe, who is a sprinter on the Purple Eagles track team, raced 82 yards with a kickoff return for a touchdown with 8:52 to go in the final quarter.

That score came just 12 seconds after Roy-Hart/Barker had tied the game on a 14 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Schwab to Braxton Crosby and a two-point conversion carry by Ireland Brady.

The Purple Eagles defense then stopped the Bulls on downs near midfield and the offense capitalized just six plays later to open up a little breathing room.

Jacob Gould tries to make a sliding catch for Roy-Hart/Barker as TJ LaPlant defends for Albion.

A big 35 yard run by Auston Johnson highlighted that scoring drive which was capped off by a 6 yard touchdown run by quarterback Blake Preston. Lowe tacked on the two-point conversion run upping the Purple Eagles lead to 28-14.

The Albion defense again came up big on the next series as Johnson recovered a Roy-Hart/Barker fumble new midfield.

It took the Albion offense just one play to capitalize as Lowe sprinted 49 yards for a touchdown and also added the two-point conversion carry for a commanding 36-14 lead.

“He really moves. Just give him the football,” said Skrip of the speedy Lowe.

Albion held a slender 8-6 lead at the end of a turnover filled first half.

The Purple Eagles went up 8-0 with 3:16 to go in the first quarter on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Preston to Peyton Robinson and a two-point conversion carry by Lowe.

A recovery of a Roy-Hart/Barker fumble by Josh Schoberlein at the Bulls 43 after a high snap from center set up the scoring opportunity. A 34 yard pass completion from Preston to Seth Krenning highlighted the drive.

Roy-Hart/Barker closed the gap to 8-6 with 58 seconds to go in the second quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run by Aidan Mescall. A pass interception by Jacob Gould near midfield set up the drive which was highlighted by runs of 17 yards by Mescall and 16 by Crosby.

Albion’s Mason Lynch and Roy-Hart’s Alex Ark also both had fumble recoveries in the second quarter. The Purple Eagles also got a pass interception in the first quarter by Kaiden Froman.

The Purple Eagles upped the lead to 14-6 just four plays into the third quarter as Lowe sprinted 56 yards around right end for a touchdown.

Roy-Hart/Barker did answer back with a big scoring threat as an interception by Gould which combined with an Albion penalty moved the ball to the Purple Eagles 12 yard line. However, another high snap proved costly to the Bulls as John Eible made the recovery for Albion at the Purple Eagles 30 yard line.

The Bulls did capitalize on a short Albion punt on their next possession to briefly pull even at 14-14 as a 31 yard pass completion from Mescall to Crosby helped set up on the Schwab to Crosby TD pass and Brady’s two-point conversion. However, The Bulls could not score again as the Purple Eagles defense stopped the Bulls final three possessions and the Albion offense scored three straight touchdowns to break the contest wide open.

Albion next visits Maryvale at 7 p.m. Thursday while Roy-Hart/Barker hosts JFK at 7 p.m. Friday.

Peyton Robinson hauls in a touchdown pass for Albion’s first score on the new turf field. Seth Krenning moves in on the play for the Purple Eagles.