Passing attack leads ALA Gilbert over Thatcher

The Thatcher Eagles stretch before their game at Pima. Photo by Lee Patterson

THATCHER — American Leadership Academy – Gilbert North rode the right arm of quarterback Jack Ricedorff to a 28-14 win over Thatcher on Friday night. He completed 28-37 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

ALA-GN started the scoring with 9 minutes remaining in the first quarter when running back Emeka Ogbonna powered in for the 1 yard score. The PAT was blocked for a 6-0 lead.

Eighteen seconds later Thatcher answered on their first offensive play with a Mark Wren 79 yard scamper. Wren was moved to running back to start this game after the Eagles lost their starter Jacob Ward to injury. The extra point was no good and the game was tied at 6.

The Thatcher defense forced a safety on a bad punt snap minutes later and took their only lead of the game 8-6. They kept that lead until 3 minutes left in the first half when Ogbonna scored again, this time from 9 yards out. ALA took a 13-8 lead into halftime.

Neither team threatened to score in the 3rd quarter. With 9:20 left in the game Ricedorff threw his first touchdown of the night to Spencer Neilson from 34 yards out and took a 20-8 lead. Ricedorff would put the game away with a 55 yards bomb to Johnny Bellino with 5:37 on the 4th quarter clock.

Thatcher added a late score on a Wren 4 yard run to cut the lead to 28-14.

Thatcher falls to 1-3 on the season and ALA moves to 3-1.

Wren led Thatcher with 117 yards rushing and both scores.

Thatcher will host Florence on October 30th.

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