Running game, defense push Hornets past S-B, 29-12

Luke Hannula ran for 228 yards, Chase Heeg added 184 more on the ground and the Colby Hornets football team started off their 2025 campaign with a 29-12 road victory over the Stanley-Boyd Orioles last Friday.

The Hornets offense dominated on the ground, racking up a total of 414 yards rushing over the course of the contest. The two primary ball carriers, Hannula and Heeg, took advantage of some big holes provided by Colby’s offensive line, averaging 8.1 and 7.4 yards per carry respectively. While the Hornets couldn’t get much going through the air, their dominance at the line of scrimmage proved to be more than enough to put away the Orioles.

Meanwhile, the defensive front for Colby held up their end of the bargain as well. The Orioles were held to just 75 rushing yards on 30 attempts. When the two teams met last season, Stanley-Boyd was able to make a number of plays through the air, collecting 225 yards passing and throwing three touchdowns to no interceptions. Though the Orioles were still able to pick up two passing scores on Friday, the Hornets defensive backs were otherwise able to stifle Stanley-Boyd, allowing just four completions out of 18 attempts for 74 yards and getting an interception.

Colby may have ended up on top, but the season could not have opened better for the hosting Orioles. Stanley-Boyd was able to recover the ball after a fumble by the Hornets on the opening kickoff, setting up the home team in Colby territory. The Orioles marched down the field, efficiently moving into the red zone. The visitors’ defense forced a fourth down and short, but Stanley-Boyd drew up a perfect screen play, not only converting but scoring the first points of the season on the play. The extra point was no good however, leaving an opportunity for the Hornets.

Hannula led a drive into Stanley-Boyd territory on the Hornets next possession, ripping off a few solid runs to get Colby into the red zone. A penalty halted the drive, however, and Stanley-Boyd was able to take over on downs.

The Hornet defense came through as they would on numerous occasions over the evening, forcing a three-and-out and punt from the home team. Starting with a short field, the Hornets took advantage. Hannula kept the drive alive by converting on a key fourth and six and Heeg quickly took advantage, breaking away for a 24-yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter. Arturo Lopez nailed the extra point to give Colby a 7-6 advantage.

Colby forced another three and out and then drained away much of the first half clock, embarking on a nearly nine-minute long drive. A clutch throw from Hannula to Brennan Geiger was the key play on the drive, the Colby quarterback finding his fullback streaking down the field for 36 yards on third-and-15. Hannula slipped into the end zone from eight yards out to cap off the drive and another Lopez PAT made it 14-6 with just 39 seconds left in the half. The Orioles pushed to score in the final seconds, getting inside Colby’s 30 yard line, but ran out of time to do any real damage.

The Orioles made things close once again in the third quarter, using a fumble recovery at Colby’s 35 to eventually score their second touchdown of the game on a fourth and long completion. The Hornets held on the two-point conversion attempt and maintained a 14-12 lead.

Both teams went three and out on their next two drives, but the Hornets struck next as Heeg notched his second touchdown of the contest by punching the ball in from two yards out. A missed PAT still had it as a one score game, however.

Colby snuffed out the next Oriole drive, quickly forcing a punt and Hannula ripped off the longest run of the contest, exploding for 85-yards down the sideline before finally being brought down inside the five yard line. The stop proved to be an important one, as Stanley-Boyd’s defense held, forcing Colby back and into a field goal attempt. Lopez made sure that the Hornets didn’t come away empty, making the 25-yard field goal and putting the Hornets up 23-12.

Needing to score twice with just under 10 minutes left to play, the Orioles pushed into Colby territory, but Geiger and Tristen Smazal combined for a key tackle for a loss on fourth down to end the threat. A trio of long runs for Hannula and Heeg put the Hornets deep in Stanley-Boyd territory, Geiger converted on a key fourth and three and Hannula punched it in one play later from 12 yards out to all but seal the game.

Danny Nunez Jr. put the metaphorical nail in the coffin by picking off Stanley-Boyd’s Josiah Demske with a little over two minutes left in the game.

Key Moment

Following Stanley-Boyd’s second touchdown, the Hornets turned the ball over on downs and Colby needed another stop from their defense. On fourth and three, Rhys Rau and Carlos Martinez were able to come up with a drive-killing pass breakup, ripping the ball out of the receiver's hands and giving it back to the offense on Stanley-Boyd’s side of the field. A catch, which receiver Oliver Hatfield nearly came down with, would have pushed the Orioles into Colby territory, but instead the Hornets took over with great field position and eventually went up 20-12 on Heeg’s second touchdown.

Statistics

Geiger was the lead tackler for Colby, racking up nine total tackles, three of which were for a loss. Smazal added another 8.5, one for a loss, Hannula and Hector Lopez both had 6.5 tackles and one for a loss each and Lopez finished with 4.5 tackles. Nunez Jr.’s interception was the team’s only turnover.

Hannula and Heeg had a heavy workload for the Hornets, finishing with 28 and 25 carries respectively. Both finished with two rushing touchdowns each. Hannula could not link up with his receivers going just 1for-10 in his passing attempts, but his connection with Geiger for 36 yards came during a key moment for the Hornets.

What’s Next?

The Hornets will not have far to travel for their week 2 matchup this coming Friday, August 29, as they face off against the neighboring Abbotsford Falcons for their second non-conference game. Last year, the Falcons came out on top, defeating Colby 21-6. Abbotsford is 0-1 this season, falling 24-12 in the opening game against Loyal/Greenwood. Game time is set for 7 p.m.