Sterling gets crucial stops, fends off Moline for Western Big 6 win

STERLING – The Sterling Golden Warriors defeated the Moline Maroons 22-17 at Roscoe Eades Stadium on Friday night.

Here are the takeaways from the Week 9 game:

Sterling makes up for first-half penalties

The Golden Warriors (4-5) committed at least four penalties in the first half, but made up for them with a strong opening drive, a pick-six by junior linebacker Braden Birdsley, and a huge forced incompletion on fourth-and-7 by junior defensive back Kaedon Phillips with less than a minute left in the first half.

Sterling marched down the field for a touchdown on a 12-play, 50-yard opening drive. Senior running back Cale Ledergerber punctuated it with a 5-yard touchdown run up the middle with 5:10 to play in the first quarter.

“That was big for us, because we established our run game, and it gave us confidence throughout the game,” Birdsley said. “Throughout the season, our first drives, we usually punt, but it was a big confidence-booster to get that touchdown on that first drive.”

Moline (4-5) tied the game at 7-all with 49.6 seconds left in the first quarter when junior quarterback Elijah Taylor lofted a beautiful 42-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Zander Ealy down the right sideline.

The Sterling defense tightened up shortly after that. Sophomore linebacker Wyatt Cassens got a sack to force a punt with 7:11 to play in the first half.

On the next Moline possession, senior linebacker Andre Klaver got pressure on Taylor, forcing a poor decision and creating a 65-yard pick-six for Birdsley, who raced down the left sideline for a 13-7 lead with 3:26 to play in the half.

“Basically, I dropped back, because I saw the running back go out, then I followed the quarterback and then he just threw it right in my hands. I was shocked, because I usually don’t touch the ball,” Birdsley said. “And then I made the corner miss, and I hit the sideline and it was just pure adrenaline that got me going for the touchdown.”

That pivotal play swung the momentum back to Sterling’s side.

“It was amazing. It was electric,” Sterling senior wide receiver Dylan Ottens said. “It boosted our energy and boosted our momentum forward.”

On the Maroons’ final possession of the half, Sterling senior defensive lineman Kendric Muhammad blew up a Moline run for a loss of 8, bringing up fourth-and-15 from the Golden Warriors’ 16. After a defensive pass interference moved the ball to the Sterling 6, Phillips forced an incompletion on fourth-and-7 for a turnover on downs with under a minute left.

Sterling led 13-7 at halftime. Ledergerber rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the first half, as the Golden Warriors outgained the Maroons 99-90 in total yards.

Sterling hangs on in second half

The Golden Warriors stretched their lead to 16-7 with 7:39 to play in the third quarter on a 40-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Ryan Gebhardt. The scoring drive was set up by a 35-yard strike from junior quarterback Drew Nettleton to Phillips over the middle.

Moline answered on its next drive, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by senior running back Pablo Perez. The Maroons drew within 16-14 with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

The Maroons threatened to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Warriors made a stand to hold them to a field goal. Junior defensive lineman Gage Tate and Muhammad stuffed a run for a loss of 1 yard from the Sterling 1 with about 10 minutes left in the game, then senior defensive back Gavin Church made a tackle for a loss of 1 yard, and Tate made a tackle for no gain to force fourth-and-3 from the 3.

Senior kicker Charlise Martel booted a 20-yard field goal for a 17-16 Moline lead with 8:43 to play.

Sterling retook the lead at 22-17 with 8:25 to play on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Nettleton to Ottens. The pass, which was underthrown, was ripped away from the cornerback by Ottens. After the cornerback fell down, Ottens had a free run to the end zone.

“He was in press coverage, so I could beat him, and the ball was thrown perfectly by Drew, and I grabbed the ball and ran away, and I didn’t think there was anyone behind me,” Ottens said. “I just ran, and I was so excited I got a touchdown.”

Klaver made a leaping interception at the Moline 31-yard line to essentially seal the win with 1:14 remaining. After Sterling turned the ball over on downs with 8 seconds left, Moline got the ball back at its own 4-yard line and had one last chance to win it. But Taylor fumbled on the next play, and the recovering Moline player was tackled by Cassens as the clock ran out.

“It was a huge team effort. Our defense has been really solid all year, and they really showed up in the run game this week,” Birdsley said. “We ran our game plan to perfection. It was just a really, really good game.

“I wasn’t too worried to begin with [on that second-to-last drive], because Moline’s not really a passing team. They’re more of a running team. But we obviously took them very seriously. But when I saw Andre get that pick, just all the weight on my shoulders lifted off, and it was awesome.”

Nettleton went 6-for-10 passing for 114 yards with a touchdown. Ledergerber rushed 15 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. Ottens (1 catch, 62 yards, 1 touchdown) and Phillips (3 catches, 42 yards) paced Sterling in receiving.

Perez rushed 22 times for 135 yards and a touchdown, and had two catches for 21 yards to lead Moline.