Road game or home game?
It didn’t matter Saturday as the Missouri Cyclones roared past the River City Eclipse in Great Midwest Football League action at Borgia, 39-6.
The River City Eclipse was scheduled to host the game, but the contest had to be moved from Parkway Central High School as that district would not allow the game to be played due to its dead period.
So, with about 24 hours’ notice, the Cyclones home field, Borgia High School, came through to host the game.
Despite having to wear road uniforms and use the visiting team’s sideline, the Cyclones were able to improve to 4-1 on the season.
With the win, the Cyclones remain one game behind the Midwest Chargers in the GMFL’s Gateway Conference Southeastern Division.
The Eclipse (3-2) remain tied with the Gateway Hawks for the lead in the Eastern Division.
The Cyclones will get a real home game this Saturday when the Illinois Blitzing Cowboys (4-1) of the Midway Conference Western Division. Kickoff at Borgia is set for 6 p.m. Admission is $5.
Against the Eclipse, the Cyclones controlled play for most of the night.
Missouri jumped on top first with workhorse back Daryle Jones running in for a touchdown with 8:15 to play in the first quarter. Will Rodriguez kicked the extra point.
The Cyclones doubled the lead with 1:19 left in the quarter. Mike McMullen hit Jason Boyd, who was wide open on the right side of the end zone, for a four-yard touchdown. Rodriguez kicked the extra point to make it 14-0.
With 10:18 left in the half, Jones ran in from three yards out to add to the lead. The Cyclones went with a fake field goal and Matt Askew caught a pass for a two-point conversion to make it 22-0.
The Eclipse came back to score the next touchdown. Marcus Adams ran in from two yards out with 2:22 left in the half. The extra-point kick failed and it was 22-6.
There were anxious moments right before the half. The Cyclones attempted a long field goal, but it fell short and was returned down the sideline. A tackle was made, but one of the chain gang workers was hit and was transported to Mercy Hospital by Washington Ambulance District personnel.
After the break, the Cyclones came back to score 10 points in the third quarter and seven in the final 15 minutes to cap the victory.
Statistics
Clayton Tunney completed eight of 16 attempts for 108 yards and one interception. McMullen was 6-8 for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, Jones led the team with 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Keenan Miller picked up 47 yards on nine carries while Donald Allen ran three times for 28 yards.
A total of eight different players caught passes.
Boyd caught four passes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Askew had two catches for 47 yards and a two-point conversion.
Tony King and Miller each had two catches for 27 yards. King caught a touchdown pass.
Dayrle Jones and Dominique Jones each had one catch for 12 yards. Tim Jones caught one pass for nine yards. Allen had one catch for three yards.
Defensively, Deveon Moss made nine tackles and added three sacks. He also forced a fumble.
Ike White was next in tackles with five. Deon Morris, Evan Brinker and Charles Henry each had three total tackles.
Chad Denningmann recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Will Rodriguez made all four of the extra-point kicks he attempted. He also made one of the two field goals he attempted.
Devi Greer returned a punt for 17 yards. Kelvin Williams returned a punt for eight yards.
Terry Martin returned a kickoff for 33 yards and Williams had a kick return for 30 yards.
