Blue Valley North breaks long losing streak against Gardner Edgerton

With both teams looking to move off the winless mark on the season, the Friday night contest between Blue Valley North and Gardner Edgerton was a fight to find some momentum before district play starts next week.

“Mo” left the Blue Valley District Activity Center on the side of the Mustangs, who came out on top of the Trailblazers, breaking a 19-game losing streak with a 31-15 victory.

“We put in way too much work not to have a win this season,” BV North quarterback Joey Dolan said. “I think it finally all came together for four quarters there.”

BV North, 1-5, started off trying to move the ball with its running game, but Dolan connected with his favorite target, Alex Blake, streaking down the sideline to give them an early 7-0 lead.

“When it was one on one on the backside, we just used it all day,” Blake said. “We practiced it all week so we knew what was coming.”

The Mustangs went through the air again on the next scoring drive.

Dolan was sharp throughout and converted a fourth-down play near the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown pass, his second of the night.

For Dolan, having time to look over his receivers was beneficial.

“Our line gave me some time to throw the ball,” he said. “So I give this win to them.”

Dolan finished with four total touchdowns and 217 yards passing. Blake ended up with seven catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

But the Trail Blazers did not give up on the offensive end.

After some struggles offensively, including an injury to running back Jadon Pearson-Bruce, Gardner Edgerton opened up its passing game when Colton Mullin hit Tanner Hughes in stride for a 51-yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion pulled the Trailblazers within six points with under minute to go in the second.

Opening up the second half the Mustangs started airing the ball once again, Dolan read the defense well and hit Blake for their second connection of the night, this time from 24 yards.

“This week we had to learn how to come out of the locker room with a lead and respond in the third quarter and we did that,” BV North coach Andy Sims said.

Gardner Edgerton, now 0-6, was driving once again to get back in the game, but Blake came up big on an interception. After tipping it in the air, the ball landed on his chest as he fell on the ground to secure the catch.

“It was just a team effort,” Blake said. “If it wasn’t for the front line I wouldn’t have got that pick.”

Later in the third, the Mustangs’ offense was not finished, Dolan maneuvered around an outstretched tackler and scampered seven yards, for a TD, his fourth of the night.

“He’s extremely coachable,” Sims said. “He’s going to make his share of mistakes as any first year quarterback will do. But he’s level-headed and he gets guys in great position, which is key in this offense.”

Gardner’s Mullin, despite three interceptions, kept grinding with his legs and broke off a few big runs, including a 13-yard scramble to make it 28-15 with about 11 minutes left in the contest.

BV North continued to play solid defense with pass deflections and interceptions and sealed the game with 30 seconds left with a 29 yard field goal by Emmerson Womble.

“Like I told them in the locker room, the goal isn’t to win one. It’s to win another and another and some more after that,” Sims said. “So hopefully this can be the first time in a long time where we can put two great weeks of football back to back.”

This story was originally published October 10, 2014 at 10:40 PM with the headline "Blue Valley North breaks long losing streak against Gardner Edgerton."