Covenant’s offense this year knew that if the Eagles want to finish the season strong, they needed to spread the ball around more on offense.
They did just that in the opener, with a fantastically even distribution leading the way to a 40-22 victory over Portsmouth Christian. Six players finished with between five and eight carries and the offense churned out 222 yards and on the ground in the win.
Covenant build a 19-6 lead before halftime and then kept the Patriots at bay throughout the second half.
Sam Lapage led the Eagles with 77 yards and a touchdown on his six touches while Stephen Wilder picked up 48 yards on seven carries. The team’s trio of fullbacks, Rick Weaver, Austin Hall and Jamison Steljes combined for 19 carries and 77 yards as well as a score each by Hall and Weaver.
Quarterback John Huemme ran for 29 yards on eight touches while throwing for 68 yards and a touchdown in his first start in Covenant’s option offense. He went 5-for-11 through the air. Lapage caught one ball for 29 yards and Josh Klein had the touchdown, one of his two catches for 25 yards.
The Eagles (1-0) will look to make it two in a row against Christchurch Friday at 4 p.m.
