Injuries take toll in Chaffee's football defeat

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- In a two-minute span, one leader came of age while another suffered a crippling blow.

With Chaffee junior quarterback Jordan Yahn watching from the sideline for most of the second half Friday night, Chaffee suffered a 14-0 season-opening loss to Grandview.

The Eagles, who broke a 36-game losing streak last season, avenged a loss suffered against the Red Devils last season despite committing five turnovers Friday.

Chaffee found itself hard-pressed to take advantage of three consecutive turnovers in the second half with Yahn absent from the game and behind 6-0. Freshman Cody Payne filled in for Yahn, but the offense was not able to pick up a first down on its five final possessions.

"You lose tempo," Chaffee coach Charlie Vickery said. "Jordan took most the snaps, obviously, in practice. And we had to go with the younger kid, and we were limited in some of the things we could do."

After the Red Devils repeatedly misfired on offense, Grandview ultimately iced the game on a 4-yard touchdown run by Gabe Mahn with 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game. Mahn's conversion run extended the lead to 14-0.

But the outcome was altered greatly by the final three minutes of the first half.

In a scoreless game, Chaffee took possession at the Grandview 48, and quickly moved to the 30 on a first-down completion from Yahn to Zach Dannenmueller. Two plays later senior defensive back Nick Robinson intercepted Yahn to give Grandview possession at its own 24 with 1:30 left in the half.

Grandview's first-year junior quarterback Andrew Holland then led the Eagles on a seven-play drive that covered 76 yards in just more than a minute. Holland completed four passes and ran for a first down on the drive. Three of Holland's passes were completed to Robinson, the last one a 16-yard touchdown pass that was pulled in over a Chaffee defender at the goal line. The catch came with 16 seconds left in the half and left just enough time for Chaffee to run two plays on offense -- and for Yahn to get injured.

On Chaffee's first play, Yahn rushed for 19 yards as he broke loose along the right sideline.

"I got taken down along the sideline and then somebody stepped on my ankle," Yahn said. "Then I rolled it after that, and I don't know, I couldn't play very well after that."

Chaffee, which compiled 123 yards of offense in the first half, was ineffective with the ball after the intermission as it accumulated just 39 yards on its seven possessions.

The Red Devils obtained their only two first downs of the half on their first possession of the second half as they drove to the Grandview 33 before turning over the ball on downs.

After Grandview gave the ball back on downs at its own 41, Chaffee's offensive problems kicked in for good. Yahn was sacked for a 4-yard loss on second down, then was hit on the following play while attempting to pass. Grandview defensive lineman Justin Tubb grabbed the ball out of the air and raced 35 yards to the Chaffee 15 before being tackled by Chaffee running back Cody Enderle, who forced a fumble that was recovered by the Red Devils at the 10.

While Chaffee proved fortunate on the play, it proved to be the final one for Yahn.

Chaffee's offensive woes went into overdrive as the Red Devils repeatedly gave the ball back after Grandview errors.

After Tubb's fumble, Payne took over the offense and Chaffee ran three plays and punted, only to recover a fumble on the return. Chaffee again ran three plays before punting, only to regain possession after one play on an interception by Nathan Cicardi. That possession lasted just one play as the ball was fumbled on the handoff and Grandview recovered with 10 minutes left.

Mahn, a senior fullback, got his first carries of the night on the ensuing drive, including six in a row that finished off a 39-yard scoring drive. Mahn had all 37 of his rushing yards on the drive.

"He just had to get a little attitude adjustment," Grandview coach David Stuckey said of Mahn's thunderous late debut on offense. "Pine time is the best way to get a kid's head straight."

Enderle led the Red Devils with 27 yards rushing on five carries. It was Enderle's first game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in the second game of last season.

"It's been a while," said Enderle, who also is the Red Devils' middle linebacker.

Enderle, who said he had to have a troublesome right shoulder popped back into place twice during the game, was among a group of Red Devils that had to be treated on the sideline during the game. Yahn was the most noticeable victim.

"He's our tempo guy," Enderle said. "We really need him too on defense at outside linebacker. And our other outside linebacker, Trevor Cannon, was out with spasms in his legs and he's going to the hospital right now to get fluids. He's my right-hand man. I've got to have him to have him basically. If we don't, I really don't know what we're going to do."

Despite missing players on defense, Chaffee allowed just 233 yards of offense on 60 plays. Grandview had 155 yards rushing on 51 carries.

"Overall, we got a whole lot better," Enderle said. "We never gave up and I think we can build on that."

Chaffee 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Grandview 0 6 0 8 -- 14

Second Quarter

G -- Nick Robinson 16 pass from Andrew Holland (Holland run fails), :22

Fourth Quarter

G -- Gabe Mahn 4 run (Mahn run), 6:28

C G

First downs 8 16

Rushes-yards 22-58 51-155

Passing yards 104 78

Passes 9-22-3 6-9-1

Punts 5-35.6 2-28

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 5-4

Penalties-Yards 4-40 6-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Chaffee, Jordan Yahn 8-22, Tyson Estes 4-(-7), Trevor Cannon 4-15, Cody Enderle 5-27, Dustin Worley 1-1; Grandview, Macklin Parks 5-20, Robby Allen 20-87, Holland 14-5, Cody Schroder 3-10, Cody Voyles 3-(-4), Mahn 6-37.

PASSING -- Chaffee, Yahn 6-14-89-2, Cody Payne 3-8-15-1; Grandview, Holland 6-9-78-1.

RECEIVING -- Chaffee, Alex Davie 1-5, Worley 1-11, Zach Dannenmueller 2-21, Estes 1-35, Mike Rutherford 1-17, Andrew Terhune 2-9, Charlie Montgomery 1-6; Grandview, Robinson 4-45, Allen 2-33.