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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Verbena High School posted five takeaways in its season opener against Holy Spirit Catholic School to take it 30-12 on the road on Aug. 23. The Red Devils forced four fumbles and one interception out of Holy Spirit, including three in the second half that boosted Verbena down the stretch of the game.

After two fumble recoveries in the first half, the Verbena defense picked up right where it left off to start the third quarter as Isaac Stoudemire recovered a fumble. The Verbena offense could not capitalize with points, but the defense rose up again on their next possession as it was Jacob Morris’ turn to recover a fumble. This time the offense did convert the takeaway into points as Morris took it in from 17 yards out to push the advantage to 20-6 after the failed two-point conversion. Morris led Verbena on the ground with 128 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.

“I really do enjoy the win and I appreciate that the kids played hard, but we have to clean a lot of stuff up,” Verbena head coach Allen Brothers said. “We had some misalignments on offense, we fumbled the ball twice inside the ten-yard line, and those are the little things that are going to make you have a great season or not. I am proud of the guys though because the toughest win to get each season is the first one, so if you can get the first one you can build off of it.”

Holy Spirit did not roll over and scored on the first play from scrimmage on their next drive to cut the lead back down to 20-12 where it stood after the third quarter. They got the ball back quickly in the fourth quarter, but Triston Wilhite pulled down a toe-tap interception on the Verbena sideline for their fifth and final takeaway. Ethan McDaniel was the leading tackler for the Red Devils with nine and three for a loss.

The Red Devils made one of those mistakes Brothers alluded to on their next offensive possession, turning it over inside the Holy Spirit 10-yard line. However, a wild snap aided Verbena a safety to stretch the lead to double digits at 22-12 with four minutes left. Stoudemire broke off a stellar return of the safety punt to the Holy Spirit red zone, and then took in an eight-yard touchdown run to put the game to bed at 30-12 after a two-point conversion connection from Hayden Wilson to Wilhite.

Brothers said he learned that his team has heart and grit this season in their season opener, more than it showed last year, which could yield more wins for the Red Devils who already have half as many as they did in 2023.

“Tonight was a great chance (to get better), and (Holy Spirit) was ready for us and they have improved greatly,” Brothers said. “We had to really fight at times during the game to take control, but we made a lot of bone-headed plays that kept their drives going too. But when we needed a stop, the grit and heart showed up, and I was proud of that.”

In the first half, Wilhite scooped up a fumble in the first quarter and returned it deep inside Holy Spirit territory, but the Red Devils gave it right back with a fumble of their own. Their defense rose up to force a fourth down, but the Saints ran a fake punt that took Verbena by surprise to go up 6-0 following the missed two-point conversion.

Landon Brown recovered the second fumble of the first half for Verbena in the second quarter, and this time the offense capitalized with a touchdown drive that was capped by a 22-yard run to the end zone by Caleb Short to tie it at 6-6. Short had 80 yards rushing on 12 carries.

On the ensuing kickoff, Versain Guzman laid down a perfectly executed onside kick and the Red Devils recovered near midfield. The offense again capitalized with Morris taking it in from two yards out, and Short’s two-point conversion run to go up 14-6 at halftime.

Verbena (1-0) will have its bye week coming up before returning to the field to open its Class 1A Region 4 schedule hosting Keith High School on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.