Despite strong game from Symmons, Emerald Ridge falls to Curtis

Emerald Ridge High running back Drew Symmons put his team on his back Monday night at Sparks Stadium, but it wasn’t enough as the Jaguars fell to Curtis.

The Jaguars’ offense wasn’t clicking and the passing game was nearly nonexistent in a 37-14 loss to Curtis. Emerald Ridge (2-5, 2-4) could only muster 159 total yards from scrimmage.

Symmons came away with 142 yards of the Jaguars’ total offense — 122 coming on the ground off 13 carries.

“I think we had trouble holding blocks (especially) when it came to passing the ball,” Symmons said. “All we can do is get better.”

After Symmons sprinted for a 54-yard run that put the ER into Curtis territory, quarterback Gage Hansen hooked up with Daniel Gregory on a 12-yard pass in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 7 apiece in the first quarter.

“I was just looking back, and should have been looking forward,” said Symmons on his big run. “I could have scored the touchdown, but I slowed down a little bit and the man caught me.”

Curtis (2-5) responded to the Jaguars’ scoring drive by putting together four of its own, jumping out to a 37-7 lead by the fourth quarter.

Even after a fumble recovery, an interception by Logan Skoda and a turnover on downs, Emerald Ridge couldn’t capitalize on takeaways. The Jaguars also had an early touchdown called back on a holding penalty.

“We’re trying to build off on some things, and trying to keep things simple,” said co-coach Adam Schakel of Emerald Ridge’s offense failing to maintain any momentum in the loss. “There were some things tonight that was positive for sure. …We just had some difficulty finding rhythm tonight.”

Symmons’ 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth came after the defense picked up a fumble on Curtis’ previous drive.

“It hurts, but all we can do is get back on the ball and play our hardest. It’s just on us,” Symmons said. “I mean, we make those mental mistakes, those plays come back. Bottom line, it’s on us.”

“That happens and there’s nothing you can do about that,” Schakel added.

Emerald Ridge travels to South Kitsap (1-6, 1-5) next before closing out the season at home against Sumner (7-0, 6-0).

This story was originally published October 19, 2016 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Despite strong game from Symmons, Emerald Ridge falls to Curtis."