Alex Phegley threw for three touchdowns, ran for 94 yards, picked off two passes on defense, returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble on defense. Not bad for a night’s work.
Phegley’s stellar play led the Red Bud Musketeers to a 41-8 win over Freeburg and a 3-2 mark after starting the season 0-2.
“The team is improving every week,” said Red Bud coach Dave Lucht. “Freeburg is a tough opponent. They came in here at 0-4 but they played some tough teams. Alex did great tonight. He is capable of big things. He can throw the ball but he is dangerous as a runner too. He was able to create some big plays tonight and the team has confidence in him. On defense, he did a great job of covering the middle of the field. Those interceptions were huge for us.”
Freeburg turned the ball over four times, while Red Bud had just one turnover.
Fittingly, on the game’s opening kickoff, Freeburg fumbled the ball and Tyler Hubert recovered it for Red Bud.
The Musketeers took advantage of the early miscue as Phegley tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Crafton to give his team the lead for good. Crafton added the extra point as Red Bud led 7-0 just 12 seconds into the game.
Red Bud got the ball back just four plays later after stopping Freeburg on a fourth down and short. The Musketeers took over from the Freeburg 42-yard line but would lose possession two plays later with a fumble. That would be the last turnover for Red Bud in the game, while Freeburg made costly mistakes throughout.
After recovering the fumble, Freeburg couldn’t find its rhythm offensively and were forced to punt without gaining a first down.
Red Bud moved the ball 75 yards on eight plays capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Phegley to junior Cody Koch. Crafton added the extra point and the Musketeers were up 14-0 with 4:48 left in the opening quarter.
Freeburg was able to pick up its first first down of the game on its next possession but that was it, as the Musketeers forced the Midgets to punt once again.
After a good return by Phegley, the Musketeers began their next drive at the Freeburg 47. Red Bud picked up two first downs on the drive and had a first-and-goal from the Freeburg 5 after a 27-yard run by Phegley. However a penalty stalled the drive and on a fourth down, Crafton’s 24-yard field goal sailed wide right.
Starting from their own 20, the Midgets put together their best drive of the game, gaining four first downs. But Red Bud’s defense stiffened up around midfield and forced Freeburg to punt once again.
Red Bud started its next drive in the shadows of its own endzone after a penalty went against them. Starting at their own eight-yard line, the Musketeers were forced to punt after just three plays but Freeburg was whistled for roughing the kicker breathing new life into the Red Bud drive.
The Musketeers made good on their second chance moving the ball from their own 28-yard line into the end zone on just three plays, a 16 yard pass to Ryan Wendt, a 41 yard pass to Koch and a 15-yard touchdown run by Phegley. Crafton added the extra point to give his team a 21-0 lead with under a minute to play in the first half.
Freeburg finally showed some signs of life on offense, putting together a five-play 52-yard scoring drive with just 2.4 seconds left on the clock. The scoring play was a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cody Berger to Dylan Bone. Jeff Koon ran in the two-point conversion to give his squad some hope trailing 21-8 at the break.
Freeburg carried that momentum over to the first series of the second half where they stopped the Red Bud offense after three plays forcing a punt.
Freeburg was able to pick up three first downs on its next possession before an interception by Phegley ended the threat.
After a 33-yard pass play from Phegley to Ben Huegle, Red Bud had the ball inside the Freeburg 20-yard line. The Freeburg defense tightened up and stopped the Musketeers on fourth down. The Midgets were gaining momentum and finding some consistency running the ball against the Red Bud defense. On its next drive, Freeburg gained 53 yards and picked up three first downs before another interception by Phegley ended the drive.
This time however, Phegley took the pick and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. Crafton once again added the kick to give Red Bud a 28-8 lead with 11.5 seconds left in the third quarter.
Red Bud sealed the win with its play over the next two series. The Musketeers stopped a fake punt by Freeburg on defense and then turned around and put together a seven-play 42-yard scoring drive that was capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Phegley to Huegle. Crafton’s kick was good and Red Bud went up 35-8 with 6:58 remaining in the game.
Freeburg moved the ball inside the Red Bud 22-yard line on its next possession but a fumble recovered by Phegley would end that drive.
The Musketeers put the final touches on the game with a two-yard score by Hubert and another Crafton extra point.
Phegley was 10-of-14 passing for 186 yards to go with his 94 yards rushing and three turnovers on defense. Crafton finished the game with 57 rushing yards on four attempts, while Hubert had 51 yards on 14 carries as the Freeburg defense keyed on him.
Now at 3-2 on the season, Red Bud needs to win at least two games to be considered for the playoffs. That task won’t be easy with Breese Central, Columbia and Jefferson, Missouri still on the schedule.
“It’s a tough road ahead,” said Lucht. “Central and Columbia are competing for the conference championship and will be tough games. We just have to take it one game at a time as we prepare for Central.”
Red Bud will travel to Breese Friday night to take on Central (4-1).