ODA football runs over Santa Fe Catholic

In a football game that began with a lightning delay, then featured a slew of penalties, turnovers and stoppages — causing it to last more than three hours — The Out-of Door Academy and Santa Fe Catholic offenses found it difficult to find a rhythm. 

Eventually, the Thunder (3-2) found its rhythm by doing what it does best: running the football. 

ODA rushed for four touchdowns and wore down the Hawks (1-3) to earn a 33-26 win at home. Sophomore running back Allen Clark accounted for three of those rushing touchdowns while senior Jack Meyers added one. Meyers also caught a touchdown from junior quarterback Jackson Roth. On defense, junior cornerback Frankie Clark had a scoop-and-score fumble recovery on the game's first play from scrimmage. 

"When we put four quarters together, we're a team nobody wants to play," Hollway said. "We have some stuff to clean up, but we have weapons in spots that are challenging (to defend). We just have to make plays when we get the opportunity." 

At first the contest appeared destined for a running clock. ODA went up 20-0 on Santa Fe in the first quarter thanks to Clark's defensive touchdown and the offense converting on short field position opportunities. But the second quarter belonged to Santa Fe: an 80-yard touchdown catch by Hawks senior Jayden McPherson got Santa Fe on the board, and it was followed on its next possession by a 90-yard catch from junior Caleb Lackey, which junior Trevor Smith turned into a touchdown run on the next play. The explosive scores — both of which featured failed PATs — made it 20-12. 

Meanwhile, ODA failed to add to its lead. The Thunder, which feasted on opponents with a stout running game in 2022, has tried to be more diverse in play calling in 2023, but against Santa Fe, not much went right in the passing game: Roth threw two interceptions in the red zone and ODA receivers dropped four passes in the open field that would have led to big gains. 

In the first half, when the team tried to run the ball, it was often hit with holding or false start penalties, which negated any positive momentum. Hollway said cleaning up those penalties will be an area of focus going forward. In the second half, ODA looked closer to what the football community has come to expect. The Thunder controlled the clock and punched in two touchdowns. 

A Santa Fe touchdown with nine seconds remaining made the final score appear closer than the game was. 

The 33-point performance by ODA follows a 40-point performance a week ago against Faith Christian Academy — and those two games followed two games, against Oasis High and Saint Stephen's Episcopal — where the team failed to score double-digit points. 

"I think it was a mental thing," Meyers said of the offensive resurgence. "We realized we don't have some guys we had last year and other guys had to step up. We had to come together. I'm just trying to lead and get everyone to work hard and prepare for the next couple of weeks." 

ODA will next play Bell Creek Academy (1-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at home.