Abbotsford (OnFocus) – The Abbotsford Falcons opened the 2021 season with a focused effort that saw the Falcons open up a 20-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, downing the Loyal Greyhounds 47-12.
The Falcons won the toss and elected to receive, and didn’t waste any time in opening the scoring. Senior running back Ty Falteisek scampered 49 yards for the game’s opening score with just under two minutes expired.
Abbotsford Vs Loyal Stats week 1
“Everyone was hitting their blocks and gave me a huge hole to run through,” Falteisek explained.
Abbotsford followed with two more big scoring runs, as sophomores Evan Reis(64 yards) and JV Castillo(65 yards) hit paydirt.
“Our sophomores grew quite a bit tonight, playing at game speed. That was a huge plus for us,” explained Abbotsford Head Coach Jake Knapmiller.
Loyal entered the scoring column with three minutes gone in the second quarter as Drew Stieglitz scored on a 12 yard run, and added their other score when Louie Nikolai scored with 58 seconds left in the first half.
Falteisek added his second touchdown in the second quarter, a 21 yard run with 5 minutes left.
Following Loyal’s score, Abbotsford marched down the field in quick fashion, getting down to the 3 yard line with a second remaining. Following a Falcons’ timeout, Castillo scored and Abby led 33-12 at halftime.
Abbotsford was prepared for Loyal’s ground game, sophomore running back Evan Schunk said.
“We shut down their trap with our defensive tackles and defensive ends like we practiced, and we contained them well with outside backers.”
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Neither team could score in the third quarter, but Loyal remained in the game, twice pinning the Falcons deep in their territory at their one yard line. The first resulted from a Loyal punt, and the second occurred when the Greyhounds turned the ball over on downs at the 1 late in the third quarter.
Falteisek netted his third touchdown of the game with a 47 yard run with just over a minute gone in the final quarter. Falteisek ended the game with 230 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns.
On Loyal’s ensuing drive, Falteisek’s interception return to Loyal’s 20 set up a short field for Abbotsford, and the Falcons took advantage.
Evan Schunk scored from 11 yards out with 9:23 remaining to end the game’s scoring. Asked how it felt to end the game’s scoring, Schunk was understandably pleased.
“It felt great! The line fought till the end and helped us finish the game on top.”
Knapmiller noted the Falcons’ intensity and mental focus waned as the game progressed.
“We kind of ran out of gas as the game wore on, it’s a mental frame of mind. We will work on being consistent mentally,” Knapmiller shared.
The Falcons’ punishing ground game racked up 554 yards rushing, and kept Loyal at bay for much of the game. It was a defensive effort by the entire team that was key.
“We just had to make sure we had contain and if we kept them inside, they couldn’t go anywhere,” Falteisek said.
Coming back from a broken ankle suffered in the second game last season, Falteisek and the entire Falcons’ roster was hungry, an the enthusiasm was evident throughout the game.
Actually, the spirt was high when the Falcons came out of the lockerroom before the game, as multiple players thumped a metal sign in the parking lot that reverberated across the field. The tone was set early on, and the Falcons came ready to play.
“There was no better feeling than playing with all my friends again. We were all really pumped and focused on this game,” Falteisek shared. “We brought all the energy we could, wanting to start the season strong.”
Abbotsford goes on the road in Week 2 to face Melrose-Mindoro.
“Melrose-Mindoro played Bangor in their first game, an opponent that plays a similar system to ours. Coach Brehm will have us ready on defense for sure,” Knapmiller said.
Loyal stats SKM_C36821082107230
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Loyal | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Abbotsford | 20 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 47 |
2021 OnFocus Football Scoreboard Week 1
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
