LAKE HUNTINGTON — Sullivan West celebrated their homecoming weekend by bringing home a second consecutive undefeated division record, taking first place overall and securing a bye week for the playoffs. Eldred struck first and led at the half, but Sullivan West’s second half adjustments stunted the Yellowjackets offense as the Bulldogs were able to put up 20 unanswered points in a 36-22 victory.

After winning the toss and electing to defer, Eldred returned the opening kick to their own 38 yard line. On their first offensive play from scrimmage, a 62-yard strike from Koen McGill to Josh Warming led to a 6-0 lead after just 18 seconds had passed in the game. A successful 2-point conversion increased the Eldred lead to eight almost immediately.

Sullivan West, however, responded quickly, after returning their opening kick to the Eldred 32 and setting up shop just outside of the red zone. It took three minutes and 42 seconds, but Sullivan West punched in a touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion to tie the game at eight apiece.

Eldred’s second drive was marred with penalties on both sides, including a roughing the passer that gave Eldred a first down on a 3rd and 12 incomplete pass.

On their next third down attempt, with 11 yards to gain, an ineligible man downfield erased a would-be conversion and forced the Yellowjackets to punt.

Sullivan West started inside their own 20, back to Eldred, and the Yellowjackets set up on the Bulldogs 30 for their next drive. Eldred began driving before the end of the first quarter, and the teams swapped sides to start the second. An Eldred red zone interception was returned by Sullivan West all the way to the Eldred 15, where they promptly scored and took a 16-8 lead after a second successful 2-point conversion.

Eldred’s next drive moved down the field quickly, assisted by an unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, and a timely 4th down conversion in the red zone led Eldred to a touchdown pass to James Deyermond with 3:02 remaining in the half.

Trailing 16-14, the Yellowjackets forced a turnover on downs at the Sullivan West 32 with 36.7 seconds remaining.

With 5.1 seconds remaining in the half, Trai Kaufmann leaped over two defenders for a one-handed touchdown catch to send the game into the half with Eldred leading 22-16.

Sullivan West started the second half with the ball, but turned it over on downs and Eldred was back on offense with a chance to extend their lead. Instead, a pick-6 gave Sullivan West a 24-22 lead and took the wind out of the Yellowjackets’ sails.

Eldred punted the drive after the pick-6, and forced a Sullivan West punt, but muffed the punt return and set Sullivan West up deep in Eldred territory, leading to another score.

Things settled down until early in the fourth quarter when Sullivan West faced a 3rd and 32 from around midfield, which the Bulldogs managed to convert and run all the way into the end zone for the final score of the game and a 36-22 victory for the Bulldogs.

Rally Cruz rushed for 34 yards and two touchdowns, while Adam Ernst completed six of 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Liam Cavanaugh and Jason Rodriguez each had a receiving touchdown. 

“We don’t have a lot of depth, and we’re still working on changing the culture,” Eldred Coach Sean McAveney said. “We have a young team with 12 freshman and sophomores and they kept fighting all night, but Sullivan West capitalized on our mistakes.”

“We prepared for a 2-3-3 because we noticed that they ran a lot of zone defense, but they surprised us with a much tougher game on the line of scrimmage,” Sullivan West Asst. Coach Justin Diehl said. “Our defensive adjustments at halftime worked out well for us after they caught us by surprise in the first half. They’re a good, well-coached team and they always play us well.”