Vega, Sand Lizards overpower Apaches with four-TD night
Dardanelle 40, Pottsville 0
DARDANELLE – Senior quarterback Creed Vega delivered a commanding performance Friday, guiding the undefeated Sand Lizards past Pottsville 40-0 in a dominant 4A-4 victory at Keenan Field. Vega accounted for 389 total yards, throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for 85 yards and a score, while also making five tackles on defense.
Dardanelle’s balanced attack rolled early. Vega capped the opening drive with a 5-yard keeper, then found Jordan Earnest twice in the first half for touchdowns. The senior later connected with Rod Chaten, who finished with six catches for 120 yards and two scores, including a 49-yard bomb to open the second half.
Running back Jayvon Chaten added 70 yards and a TD on six carries, complementing a line anchored by Paden Davis and Gabe Burris, who graded out at 85 and 86 percent, respectively. Both linemen also starred defensively—Davis recorded 10 tackles, 5 tackles-for-loss, and a sack, while Burris had eight tackles and a TFL.
The Sand Lizards’ defense was relentless. Kentrell Diggs tallied 10 stops and an interception, Kam Olsoncontributed 10 tackles and a TFL, and Bo Miller caught six passes for 74 yards while recovering a fumble.
Pottsville moved the ball behind Caleb Stansel’s hard running and a deep completion from Court Johnson to Weston Pool, but Dardanelle’s red-zone defense forced three empty trips.
Scoring Summary
1Q – Dardanelle – Creed Vega 5-yd run (Jesus Garcia kick) DARD 7-0
1Q – Dardanelle – Rod Chaten 35-yd run (Garcia kick) DARD 14-0
1Q – Dardanelle – Jordan Earnest 29-yd pass from Vega (Garcia kick) DARD 21-0
2Q – Dardanelle – Earnest 28-yd pass from Vega (Garcia kick) DARD 28-0
3Q – Dardanelle – Rod Chaten 49-yd pass from Vega (kick no good) DARD 34-0
3Q – Dardanelle – Earnest 31-yd pass from Vega (run failed) DARD 40-0
Players Who Stood Out
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Creed Vega, QB – 17-of-25 for 304 yds, 4 TDs; 9 rushes for 85 yds, TD, 5 tackles
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Rod Chaten, WR/DB – 6 rec 120 yds 2 TDs; 3 tackles, 1 PBU
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Paden Davis, OL/DL – 85% grade; 10 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack
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Kentrell Diggs, DB – 10 tackles, 1 INT
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Kam Olson, LB – 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU