Rock Island managed just one first down until late in the first half, while Sterling scored seemingly at will on the way to a 47-14 win over the Rocks, Friday night at Sterling. With the win, the Golden Warriors (5-3, 4-1 in Western Big 6 play) become playoff eligible, while the Rocks (1-7, 1-4) have one game remaining against Geneseo (4-4, 1-4), one of the three teams the Rocks beat in their 3-1 stretch run last year.
Only an opening-drive 20-yard scramble by QB Jae’Vion Clark-Pugh kept Rock Island from going 3-and-out on their first five possessions, while Sterling scored a TD on each of its first five drives, adding a blocked punt out of the end zone for a safety, building a 37-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the second quarter.
After that, the Rocks offense got going, advancing the ball from their 20 to the Sterling 20 before Clark-Pugh’s pass was picked off at the Golden Warriors’ 10 yard line. After gaining their first defensive stop, the Rocks drove 53 yards in 5 plays, capped off by Temar Hudson’s 4-yard TD run. On those two drives, Clark-Pugh went 6-of-9 for 72 yards.
In the third quarter, Sterling added a field goal, and a touchdown on an 18-yard interception return for a 47-7 lead with 6:29 left in the period, triggering a continuous clock the rest of the game. Following the kickoff, Hudson broke several tackles on his way to a 60-yard TD scamper. He finished with 98 yards on 11 carries and was named Rock Island Rocks Hungry Hobo Player of the Game. WR Elijah Venegas, returning after a one-week absence, totaled 62 yards on 8 catches.