PARKER | Joey Tuggle had a big game as the Smoky Hill football team picked up a big win Friday night against Legend.
The senior running back racked up 308 yards of total offense and scored a pair of touchdowns, while junior wide receiver Frank Thomas caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Trent Clay for the winning points for the Buffaloes, who scored the last 14 points in a 23-19 victory over the Titans at Sports Authority Stadium.
Smoky Hill got 178 yards passing a pair of touchdown tosses from Clay and a safety from junior defensive lineman Dexter Bess as coach John Thompson’s team evened its record at 1-1 after a season-opening loss to Gateway.
Tuggle was mostly bottled up against the Olys, but had a field day with the ball in his hands against Legend (1-1).
A first team All-Creek Conference selection as a kick returner last season, Tuggle racked up 181 yards in returns — 142 on four kickoff returns and 39 on two punts — in addition to leading Smoky Hill in rushing yards with 62 (on 17 carries) and 65 yards receiving (on five catches). He had a 37-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 3-yard score in the fourth quarter that brought the Buffaloes within three points.
Thomas did the rest, hauling in Clay’s second touchdown pass as Smoky Hill erased a deficit that reached 10 points after consecutive Titans touchdowns.
Smoky Hill is in action at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 in its homecoming game against Aurora Central at Stutler Bowl.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
SMOKY HILL 23, LEGEND 19
Score by quarters:
Smoky Hill 7 0 2 14 — 23
Legend 0 7 6 6 — 19
SCORING
First quarter
Smoky Hill — Joey Tuggle 37 yard pass from Trent Clay (Annika Edgington)
Second quarter
Legend — Connor Orgill 16 yard pass from Peyton Remy (Mike McGrath kick)
Third quarter
Smoky Hill — Safety, Dexter Bess tackles Remy in end zone
Legend — Elijah Cherrington 78 yard interception return (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
Legend — Orgill 51 yard pass from Remy (kick failed)
Smoky Hill — Tuggle 3 yard run (Edgington kick)
Smoky Hill — Frank Thomas 51 yard pass from Clay (Edgington kick)
RUSHING
Smoky Hill: Joey Tuggle 17-62, Austin Rutledge 1-14, Sebastian Coombs 4-11, Trent Clay 7-9, Tylor Brown 4-8, Frank Thomas 1-6, John Rames 1-0
Legend: Nicholas Evdos 23-92, Connor Orgill 2-37, Cody Dengal 7-25, Elijah Cherrington 1-4, Josh Miskol 6-4
PASSING
Smoky Hill: Clay 9-17, 178 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
Legend: Peyton Remy 10-24, 128 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
RECEIVING
Smoky Hill: Tuggle 5-65, Frank Thomas 2-58, Cam Stupansky 1-48, Michael Schonebaum 1-7
Legend: Orgill 4-74, Adam Ausmus 1-27, Evdos 3-20, Cherrington 1-7
