The Ste. Genevieve football team started off hot Friday scoring 28 first-half points, but needed more offense as Festus rallied late to make it a close game. Thankfully the Dragons turned up the heat in the fourth quarter and pulled out a 50-35 final at home.
Ste. Genevieve scored 21 first-quarter points as quarterback Aiden Boyer connected with Kaden Flye for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Dragons a quick 7-0 lead with the extra point successful from kicker Bryant Schwent.
The Tigers answered with a TD of their own as they ran it in the endzone from one yard out and, with the extra point tied, the game at seven.
Ste. Genevieve would regain the lead with a 71-yard scamper from running back Ayden Butcher. The successful extra point made it 14-7.
Festus tied the game back up on its next possession as Smith hooked up with wide receiver Arhmad Branch on a 33-yard strike that made it a 14-14 game with the extra point successful.
The Dragons had just enough time remaining in the quarter to regain the lead as Boyer found Flye again on a 20-yard hookup that gave the visitors a 21-14 lead heading into the second quarter.
Festus clawed back to within two points on a 20-yard rushing touchdown, but a missed two-point conversion left the game at 21-19. Ste. Genevieve wasted little time boosting the lead back up to nine points as Boyer threw for his third touchdown of the game hitting wideout Aiden Meyer from 29 yards out to put the Dragons up 28-19 heading into the locker rooms.
The only third-quarter offense for either team had Ste. Genevieve Senior running back Butcher run in from 33-yards out to find paydirt as the Dragons grabbed a 38-19 lead.
The Tigers had no quit in them though as Smith hooked up with one of his wideouts on a 20-yard strike to pull Festus to within nine with a successful two-point conversion to kick off the fourth quarter.
Flye would continue his monster game though, finding the endzone again on a 50-yard dash with the extra point making it a 43-27 Dragon lead halfway through the final quarter.
The Tigers would strike again to get within eight points, but the Flye Show still had some airtime left. This time it was kickoff return for a touchdown that he took 48 yards to the house, making it a 50-35 game. That score would hold up as the Festus comeback fell short, giving the Dragons a season opening win on the road.
Boyer led Ste. Genevieve offensively, going 9-for-11 with 204 yards, and threw for three touchdowns. Butcher added 183 yards on 17 carries with two scores on the ground while Flye added 70 yards and a touchdown. Flye also totaled 175 yards on eight receptions with two scores through the air. Tack on the kickoff return TD and he totaled four scores in the massive effort. Aiden Meyer added a receiving touchdown as well.
For Festus offensively, Tiger quarterbacks threw for 160 yards combined for three touchdowns while Festus running backs ran for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Receivers caught eight passes for three touchdowns, so you could say the Dragon defense bent but didn’t break as they were able to ultimately hold off the mighty Tiger offense.
The Dragons (1-0) will host Affton (0-1) next Friday night at 7 p.m. at Dragon Field while Festus (0-1) will look for its first win of the season next Friday as they host Class 3 perennial power Valle Catholic (1-0) at Festus High School at 7 p.m.
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