Covenant coach Seth Wilson knew the Eagles’ new starting quarterback Luke Sorenson was smart and capable.
But something happened Friday when the Eagles’ clash with St. Anne’s-Belfield started. Something clicked and Sorenson found another gear, sparking Covenant to a 62-20 win over the Saints in the first 8-man varsity game to feature two Central Virginia area schools.
“I had no idea he was this savvy,” Wilson said. “He just will find a way to make a play. He’s calm, cool and collected out there. I ask him to make the read, he just makes the best choice a lot of time time.”
Sorenson rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries while throwing for two more scores. Sorenson helped Covenant cash in on four STAB turnovers and turn a 28-14 halftime lead into a runaway. It was the Eagles’ third victory over STAB since 2012 when Covenant broke through for their first win in the rivalry. It’s Covenant’s second-straight win over STAB.
The Eagles jumped out to a 12-0 lead thanks in part to Rick Weaver’s 44-yard touchdown run that opened the game’s scoring. Weaver showed the same burst he had two years ago, the last time the senior got a chance to carry a ball in a live football game as injuries hampered the Eagles’ power back.
“He’s just a load to take down and he’s missed playing the game for so long that he’s just hungry,” Wilson said.
Weaver finished with 154 yards and two touchdowns on just six touches. His second score came from 41 yards out.
Defensively, the Eagles forced a host of turnovers including interceptions by Jonas Sanker and Cole Finley, but they also found a way to neutralize the Saints’ size advantage up front and at fullback. Those two spots worried Wilson most of all coming into the contest.
“They are big across the line and Joe Ambrosi is a fullback who likes to lead block,” Wilson said. “But we switched our defense around so that he had to take on Rick (Weaver) and Nic (Sanker) every time.”
The Saints did manage to get the ball moving with Amani Woods rushing for 129 yards and a score while quarterback Thomas Harry picked up 86 yards and a touchdown. They also found success twice with Harry tossing to tight end Elijah Johnson, once for a 56-yard touchdown.
But turnovers and drives that stalled jammed the Saints and allowed the Eagles to eventually pull away including a blocked punt and recovery in the fourth .
Covenant will try and keep the momentum going Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Eagles take on Greenbrier Christian at home while STAB, who fell to 0-2, travels to Kenston Forest Friday at 7 p.m.
