Eagles set several records in defeat

Hennessey appears to be figuring things out on the offensive side of the ball.

The next order of business is the defense.

After scoring just two touchdowns in their first three games, the Eagles exploded for seven of them and set a number of new school records in their District 2A-1 opener against Alva last Friday night.

However, Hennessey gave up eight TDs to the visiting Goldbugs in a 61-49 marathon of a defeat.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the district.

The Eagles averaged 4 points a game and were shutout twice entering the matchup, but more than doubled their season total in points after the first quarter and posted 33 by halftime.

Alva had little answer for quarterback Cole Joyce and receivers Brysn Hunt and Kaden Hawk.

Joyce set a school record for passing yards in a game and tied the record for touchdown passes in a game. Hawk and Hunt, meanwhile, became No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the list for receiving yards in a contest.

Hunt caught 13 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns. The four receiving touchdowns, which also tied a school record, all came in the first half.

That’s when both teams did a majority of their scoring.

The squads traded touchdowns in the first quarter as Alva scored on two long plays only to be answered by TD passes from Joyce to Hunt for 19 and 11 yards, respectively.

The second TD, followed by Rapp’s extra-point, gave Hennessey its first lead of any kind this season, 13-12, with 3:24 to go in the quarter.

However, Alva scored 27 straight points over the next 9:57 of the game and led 39-13 with 3:33 to go in the half.

But the Eagles wouldn’t go away. Joyce scored on a 1-yard plunge with 3:18 to play and then found Hunt for a 29-yard score with 1:07 to go, pulling the Eagles within 39-27.

The scoring frenzy wasn’t finished.

Alva got a 37-yard touchdown run from Reece Martin less than 20 seconds later.

But, yet again, Hennessey had an answer as Hunt and Joyce connected from nine yards out with 16 seconds left in the half to pull the Eagles within 46-33.

The momentum carried over into the third quarter when Joyce found Yosbith Fierro for a 22-yard touchdown to get the Eagles within 46-39.

Alva then took control of the game with two touchdowns and a Hennessey safety over the next 12 minutes.

In all, the Eagles and Goldbugs combined for 69 first downs, 1,446 total yards…and 26 penalties for another 203 total yards.

Joyce was 23 of 46 for 500 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.

He ran for another 125 yards on 29 attempts, scoring twice.

Hawk caught six passes for 224 yards and added 12 tackles on defense.

Not to be outdone, Alva had its own offensive standouts.

Dalton Hess racked up 285 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts. Slater added another 131 yards on nine carries as Alva tallied 549 yards on the ground overall.

Slater wasn’t as impressive through the air as Joyce as he completed just 9 of 21 passes and was picked off twice. However, those went for 205 yards and four TDs.

Gavin Perez caught four passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Joyce’s passing night surpassed the mark set by Adam Solis when he threw for 304 yards against Alva in 2003. Joyce is tied with Tony Mendoza (vs. Tonkawa in 2013) for passing touchdowns in a game.

Jose Sanchez was the record holder for receiving yards in a game after he notched 181 yards against Davis in 2014, but now he’s No. 3. Hunt’s TD receptions tied him with Ryan Ward, a mark he set against Hinton in 2003.