RACINE — Just like the past four years, the road team was victorious in the Southern-Eastern rivalry game Saturday night at Roger Lee Adams Memorial Field in Racine.

The Eastern Eagles (6-4, 3-2 TVC Hocking) came into the game Friday evening, winning every game at Southern in the past decade. Southern (5-5, 2-3 TVC Hocking) has won the past two meeting at Eastern, but have not beaten the Eagles in Racine for several years.

With the victory, Eastern finished the season with the best record in the county behind Meigs and Southern, who each each finished 5-5.

The opening kickoff of the game was fielded by Southern, with Eastern earning a 15 yard personal foul penalty to start the night. Southern started the opening drive at midfield, but could not capitalize on the good field position. Southern was forced to punt after just five plays, pinning Eastern at their own 10 yard line.

With help from Southern penalties, the Eagles moved the ball quickly into Southern territory. Eastern advanced to the Southern 34 yard line before failing to convert on fourth and six when the Brayden Pratt pass fell incomplete giving the Tornadoes the ball back.

The Tornadoes took the ball into Eastern territory, advancing to the 31 yard line. Dustin Salser’s third down pass, intended for Brad Coppick, was incomplete, and the fourth down pass to Jordan Taylor was good for 10 yards, but left the Tornadoes short of the first down marker. Eastern’s possession began at the 20 yard line, but the ball was moved to the 11 on a holding call against the Eagles. Southern’s Cody Counts hit Braden Pratt causeing a fumble and Counts recovered the ball at the Eastern 5. On second and goal, Greg Jenkins ran the ball in for the first score of the night from four yards out. Michael Manuel added the extra point kick to give the Tornadoes a 7-0 first quarter lead.

After the first Taylor Lemley kickoff went out of bounds, Southern was forced to rekick to the Eagles. Eastern’s Kyle Connery returned the second kick to the Eastern 45 yard line. Pratt threw a 14 yard completion to Mike Johnson followed by a Pratt run of 10 yards to move the ball into Southern territory at the end of the first quarter. Eastern started the second quarter first and 10 at the Southern 32, moving the ball to the three following runs by Tyler Hendrix and Klint Connery and a 25 yard pass play from Pratt to Johnson. Pratt run the ball in from three yards out for the first Eastern score of the night. Freddie Hernandez added the extra point kick to tie the score at seven with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

Eastern’s Pratt throw an interception to Southern defensive lineman Justin Kimes midway through the second quarter to setup the second Southern touchdown. Two plays later, Southern’s Salser threw a 25 yard touchdown to Sean Coppick to give the purple and gold the lead. Manuel added the extra point to make the score 14-7 Tornadoes.

Eastern would not be shut down, taking the ensuing kickoff to the Southern 16 yard line where Pratt and the offense began their drive. Klint Connery took the ball to the one on a 15 yard run, before Hendrix drove the ball in from the one. Hernandez added the extra point kick to tie the game at 14.

Less than one minute later, Eastern’s Kyle Connery intercepted a Salser pass, returning it for an Eastern touchdown. Hernandrez again added the extra point making the score 21-14 Eastern just prior to the half.

The third quarter began with an Eastern four and out, and Southern briefly driving into Eastern territory before being forced to punt. Beginning at their own 11, Eastern drove the ball deep into Southern territory with consistant running by Klint Connery. Eastern was forced into a fourth down situation at the Tornado five yard line and was unable to convert giving Southern the ball deep in their own territory. Southern was unable to advange the ball far, and failed to convert on their own fourth down attempt.

Both teams exchanged possessions before Eastern ran the clock out with the final drive of the game. With no scoring in the second half, the final score was 21-14 Eastern on top.

Saturday’s game marked the final game for seniors on both teams. Eastern Seniors finishing their Eagle football career were Mike Johnson, Dakota Collins, Kelly Winebrenner, Jeffery Milhoan, Casey McKnight, and Tyler Sanders. Southern Seniors were Justin Kimes, Dustin Salser, Taylor Lemley, Jordan Taylor, Greg Jenkins, Michael Manuel, Bradley Coppick, and Sean Coppick.

Southern volleyball, cross country, band, cheerleading, and golf seniors were also honored prior to the game with the football seniors.

Eastern finished the season just short of the playoffs, finishing 11th in Division 6, Region 23, with the top eight teams going to the playoffs.

Eastern 21, Southern 14

E 0 21 0 0 21

S 7 7 0 0 14

Scoring Summary

S—Greg Jenkins 4 run (Michael Manuel kick) 1:36 1st

E—Brayden Pratt 3 run (Freddie Hernandez kick) 10:04 2nd

S—Dustin Salser 25 pass to Sean Coppick (Manuel kick) 2:34 2nd

E—Tyler Hendrix 1 run (Hernandez kick) 2:15

E—Kyle Connery 36 interception return (Hernandez kick) 1:14

E S

First Downs 15 6

Rushes-yards 43-146 32-74

Passing yards 59 104

Total yards 205 178

Comp-att-int 5-10-1 5-13-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-0

Penalties-yards 6-60 10-82

Individual Statistics

Rushing: E—Klint Connery 22-58, Brayden Pratt 11-37, Tyler Hendrix 6-29, Kyle Connery 3-20, Mike Johnson 1-2.

S—Sean Coppick 12-31, Greg Jenkins 13-29, Michael Manuel 2-16, Taylor Lemley 1-2. Dustin Salser 2-1, Eric Buzzard 2-(-5).

Passing: E—Brayden Pratt 5-10-1 59.

S—Dustin Salser 5-12-1 104, Michael Manuel 0-1-0.

Receiving: E—Mike Johnson 5-59.

S—Sean Coppick 2-42, Greg Jenkins 1-36, Michael Manuel 1-18, Jordan Taylor 1-8.