Pirates O-Line dominates Skiers in win

OLATHE — The Olathe Pirates ran the ball inside and out, and all over the Aspen Skiers Friday night on their way to a 36-7 Western Slope League victory.

The Pirates’ offensive line set the tone and wore down Aspen (5-2, 2-2 WSL), creating huge holes to help quarterback Garhett Jurgens and power back Davey Rhodes run roughshod over the Skiers.

After battling to a 14-7 lead at halftime, the Pirates (7-0, 4-0 WSL) got their biggest break of the game by recovering a squib kick at the start of the third quarter.

It was the clear shift in momentum the team needed as Dylan Markley hauled in the lone touchdown pass of the game on a tipped ball. The 26-yard strike put the Pirates up 22-7 after Sergio Salazar ran in the two-point conversion.

It was the Rhodes show after that as the Pirates top back ran for two scores to put the game out of reach,

Rhodes, a 5’9, 213-pound senior, ran for 16-yard score after barreling over an Aspen defender at the goal line to give OHS a 29-7 lead with four minutes remaining in the third.

He followed that with a 19-yard touchdown run with just under 40 seconds remaining to make it 36-7, putting the game out of reach.

In the first half, it was Aspen who got on the board first as tailback Beau Seguin took a pitch and ran the ball in from 1 yard out with 12.7 seconds left in the opening quarter, giving the Skiers a 7-0 lead after the extra point conversion.

Olathe struck back quickly to tie the game as Jurgens took an option keeper down the right sideline for a 69-yard score. Salazar converted the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 11:48 left in the second.

The Pirates drove again late in the quarter but coughed the ball up at the Aspen 16-yard line. The Skiers recovered, but two plays later turned the ball back over to Olathe, and the Pirates capitalized.

After two failed goal line runs, the Jurgens  pushed his way in behind the big offensive line from 1 yard out to help Olathe to the 14-7 halftime advantage.

The Pirates next play against rival Gunnison (0-7, 0-4 WSL) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Daily Press will broadcast the game live on our Web site: www.montrosepress.com.

Olathe currently shares the top spot in the league with Grand Valley, who they play in the final game of the season Oct. 31.