Finders Keepers: Warriors Stay Unbeaten

Despite his role as a receiver in St. Charles West's run-minded offense, sophomore Ryan Finders has made himself into a standout contributor.

On Friday against Gateway Athletic Conference North opponent Duchesne, Finders led the visiting Warriors to a 30-7 win at Pioneer Field by accounting for three total touchdowns, including one on an interception he returned 37 yards with time winding down in the fourth quarter.

St. Charles West improved its record to 5-0 for the first time in school history.

"He's already a real good player," West coach Gary Strauss said. "We've had teams come in and try to take him away, but he finds ways to get open. We got him the ball a couple times tonight and getting a pick 6 there at the end was a nice way to finish it."

Warriors running back Marcus Taylor got loose on West's second play from scrimmage, ripping the Pioneers defense with a 59-yard run. Duchesne freshman Clay Stulce caught up to Taylor and made a touchdown-saving tackle, but Finders found the end zone two plays later on a 13-yard reception from quarterback Kyle Anders.

West increased its lead with 7 minutes, 45 seconds left in the second quarter when senior Austin Rugraff ran in a touchdown from 15 yards out. Ryan McCrum's second extra point of the day made it 14-0.

Duchesne went three and out on its ensuing drive before Anders guided West on another scoring drive. He capped it with a touchdown pass to his favorite target, Finders, who shook two defenders on his way to his second offensive touchdown.

"I just wanted to put us on top so we could get the 'W,'" Finders said.

McCrum missed wide on the extra-point attempt, keeping West's lead at 20-0 with 1:49 left in the half.

A scoreless third quarter gave way to a frustrating fourth for West, beginning with the stanza's opening play. Anders, who for the season had thrown seven touchdowns against no interceptions, committed his first miscue through the air when Stulce picked off the Warriors' QB.

Nothing came of the interception, as the Warriors forced the Pioneers to punt

But Anders experienced a case of déjà vu on West's ensuing drive when Stulce picked him off yet again.

This time, led by freshman quarterback Rick Leach, Duchesne cashed in on the momentum swing. Leach completed five consecutive passes to five different receivers on the drive and capped it with a two-yard, fourth-down touchdown plunge with 5:53 left to play.

Chad Sams split the uprights on the extra point, cutting into West's lead at 20-7. Sams then squibbed the ensuing kickoff, causing a West turnover and giving Duchense a fresh set of downs with good field position.

But the comeback attempt was foiled when Auggie Loschen intercepted Leach on a deflected pass. Rugraff then got loose on a 43-yard run play, leading to a 30-yard field goal by McCrum.

Finders' interception return for a touchdown with 1:53 remaining put the game away.

"We were getting frustrated offensively (in the second half)," Strauss said. "I know I was frustrated because we couldn't get anything going. Ryan McCrum had a few nice punts that kept us in good field position for the most part. The turnover on that kickoff could have hurt us but it (didn't) when we got the (Loschen) interception. Defensively we hung in there until our offense moved it at the end there and we got the field goal."

West, which has scored at least 28 points in all five of its contests, improved to 5-0 in GAC North play and sits alone atop the conference standings. However, the Warriors do not play Fort Zumwalt North (4-0, 3-0 GAC North) during this scheduling cycle due to North's Class 5 district assignment that houses five teams.

The Warriors, a Class 4 team, will instead host Cape Central and Imagine College Prep over the next two weeks. Last season they suffered a 47-0 loss to Cape.

"We owe them one from last year," Strauss said. "They pounded us pretty good."

Duchesne, which fell to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play, will visit Centralia next week before playing its last four regular season games at home.

"In the first half we didn't play very hard or very smart and when we had a chance to get back in it we made some young mistakes," Duchesne coach Charlie Elmendorf said. "In the first half we just weren't sure of ourselves. In the second half we came out and played good football. Now we need to learn how to do that for two halves."