Blue Demons dominate Panthers, 35-3

The Albia Blue Demons put together their most complete performance of the young season Friday night, dominating Knoxville on both sides of the football in a 35-3 non-district victory over the Panthers. Albia’s defense forced turnover after turnover, the offense found its rhythm through the air, and the Blue Demons pulled away after a scoreless opening quarter. The victory moved Albia to 2-1 on the season heading into Homecoming week.

Knoxville received the opening kickoff and moved the ball near midfield before the Blue Demon defense forced a punt. Albia took over at its own 15-yard line, but neither offense was able to gain much traction during a first quarter dominated by the two defenses. The teams traded punts until Albia finally put together a sustained drive late in the quarter. The Blue Demons took possession with around three minutes remaining and drove deep into Panther territory. The first quarter ended scoreless with Albia facing third-and-five at the Knoxville 10.

Gage Chance appeared to put the first points on the board on the opening play of the second quarter when he scrambled and found Isaac Helm in the end zone, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown. Another penalty pushed Albia farther back before a completion to Bryson Reed moved the Blue Demons to the seven. Facing fourth down, Albia’s pass fell incomplete and Knoxville took over.

The Blue Demon defense quickly made sure the missed opportunity didn’t hurt. Ty Pickerell stripped the football on a Knoxville play near its own goal line, resulting in a safety with 9:12 remaining in the half and giving Albia a 2-0 advantage.

Tavian La Rue then provided another spark by returning the ensuing free kick 46 yards to the Knoxville 24. Two runs and a short completion eventually left Albia facing fourth-and-one at the 15. Fletcher Mick picked up the needed yardage on his second carry of the possession to keep the drive alive. On third-and-long, Chance connected with Helm on a quick slant for the touchdown. Ben Wilson added the extra point, extending the lead to 9-0 with 5:57 remaining in the second quarter.

Things went from bad to worse for Knoxville on its very next snap. The Panthers fumbled, and defensive lineman Aiden Keegel scooped it up and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. It was Keegel’s third career fumble recovery and gave the Blue Demons two touchdowns in just 21 seconds. Wilson’s extra point made it 16-0 with 5:36 left in the half.

Knoxville tried to respond and moved into Albia territory, with one play featuring one of Reed’s hardest hits of the season. A long Panther run combined with a personal foul against Albia eventually put Knoxville at the Blue Demon 29.

Once again, the Albia defense came up with the football. The Panthers fumbled at the 29, ending the threat with 3:10 remaining. Albia moved toward midfield before a holding penalty put the offense behind the sticks. Chance responded by finding Reed for a big 30-yard completion with 22 seconds remaining, setting the Blue Demons up at the Knoxville 22. Chance went back to the air and found Helm on a post pattern for another touchdown with 16 seconds remaining. The extra point was blocked, but Albia had blown the game open with a 22-0 halftime advantage.

The numbers reflected Albia’s control of the game, but the biggest difference was the Blue Demons’ ability to capitalize on Knoxville mistakes. After the teams traded punts to begin the second half, Albia put together one of its best drives of the night. The Blue Demons methodically worked down the field with a balanced mixture of runs and passes while taking significant time off the clock. Chance and Helm connected again to finish it, this time on an eight-yard pass over the middle with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point was no good, giving Albia a 28-0 advantage.

Knoxville was driving as the third quarter came to an end, but the Blue Demon defense struck again on the first play of the fourth. The Panthers fumbled the snap, and Kinnyck Purdy recovered it to give Albia possession at its own 42 with 11:55 remaining. Albia drove all the way to the Knoxville 12 before another holding penalty and an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the possession.

It didn’t take long for the Blue Demons to get the football right back. Knoxville fumbled again on third down, and Albia took possession at the Panther 12 with 8:33 remaining. On third down, Chance found Reed for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 7:46 to play. Wilson’s extra point pushed the advantage to 35-0 and started the continuous clock.

Chance finished an efficient night completing 12-of-19 passes for 159 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Albia finished 13-of-20 as a team for 164 yards and four scores. Reed led the Blue Demon receivers with three catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, averaging 23 yards per reception. Helm added four receptions for 37 yards and was repeatedly a red-zone target for Chance.

The Blue Demons also did plenty of damage on the ground, finishing with 134 rushing yards on 37 carries. Beau Buckingham led the way with 79 yards on 12 carries, an average of 6.6 yards per attempt. Cale Votrobeck added 34 yards on nine attempts.

Knoxville finally broke up the shutout late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers drove to the Albia 12 before settling for a 22-yard field goal with 3:39 remaining. With the outcome decided, Albia was able to get its younger players onto the field during the final possessions and pick up valuable varsity repetitions. The Blue Demon defense kept Knoxville out of the end zone the rest of the way to finish off the 35-3 victory.

The defense was the story throughout the night. Albia recorded 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and four fumble recoveries. Purdy was everywhere, finishing with a team-high 11.5 tackles, including five tackles for loss and a sack. He also recovered two fumbles. Jag Lathrop added nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Keegel recorded 7.5 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack to go along with his fumble recovery touchdown. Mick finished with 4.5 tackles, while Owen Kipfer recorded 3.5. The Blue Demons also forced six fumbles, with Purdy credited with three forced fumbles while Pickerell, Helm and Lathrop each forced one.

After a tough loss last week in the home opener, Albia responded how you would hope after letting that one slip away. With the win they move to 2-1 on the early season and return home Friday night for Homecoming as they welcome South Tama to Albia.

Albia Box Score

Passing: Gage Chance 12/19, 159 yds, 4 TD; Riggin Kinkade 1/1, 5 yds.

Rushing: Beau Buckingham 12-79; Cale Votrobeck 9-34; Ty Pickerell 5-14; Fletcher Mick 6-13; Tavian La Rue 1-1; Hunter Vannoni 1-1.

Receiving: Bryson Reed 3-69, TD; Isaac Helm 4-37, 2 TD; Ty Pickerell 2-27, TD; Jake Teno 2-20; Jag Lathrop 1-6; Kyler Schippers 1-5.

Defense: Kinnyck Purdy 11.5 tackles, 5 TFL, sack; Jag Lathrop 9 tackles, 2 TFL, sack; Aiden Keegel 7.5 tackles, 2 TFL, sack; Fletcher Mick 4.5 tackles; Owen Kipfer 3.5 tackles; Isaac Helm 3 tackles, TFL; Owen James 3 tackles; Ty Pickerell 3 tackles.

Turnovers: Purdy 2 FR; Lathrop 1 FR; Keegel 1 FR, 12-yard TD. Albia forced 6 fumbles and recovered 4.

Special Teams: Tavian La Rue 46-yard kick return, 15-yard punt return; Ben Wilson 3/5 PAT; Bryson Reed 2 punts, 37.5-yard avg.

Team Totals: 298 total yards — 164 passing, 134 rushing; 4 passing TD; 10 TFL; 3 sacks; 4 fumble recoveries.

Blue Demons dominate Panthers, 35-3

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