The Goshen Eagles’ offense and defense were firing on all cylinders in a comfortable 41-0 win on the road over rival Zion Chapel to clinch a playoff berth.

The Eagles used the big play to strike early and often against the Rebel defense. Running back Anthony Rogers got things going when he bounced an inside run to the edge for 20-yard score. Daniel Macias was true on the extra point to give Goshen a 7-0 lead.

Zion Chapel was unable to get anything going on offense. The Rebels only managed 103 yards of total offense 10 drives. Rogers came up big for Goshen on the Rebels’ second drive of the game when he stuffed Ashton Paquin on a fourth down to give the Eagles the ball on their own 42-yard line.

Goshen quarterback Deangelo Orum only needed nine seconds to find the end zone for the Eagles. He took a read-option play 58 yards for a Goshen touchdown. Macias converted the extra point to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead late in the first.

Orum found magic once again on the Eagles next possession. On the play’s first possession Orum threw the ball in the dirt on a screen, but he made up for it on the next play.

Orum dropped back to pass but quickly came under pressure. He rolled to the right, but he was still hounded by Rebel defenders. Orum planted his foot in the ground, changed course and outran the Rebel defense for a 61-yard touchdown. Macias knocked in the extra point to give the Eagles a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

It was more of the same for the Eagles in the second quarter.

Rogers scored on a 30-yard sweep after breaking numerous tackles. Another Macias conversion put the game effectively out of reach with the Eagles leading 28-0.

Orum found the end zone one last time on the night on a 17-yard scamper late in the second quarter. A bad snap resulted in a failed conversion, so the Eagles only led 34-0 at the half.

The Eagles put one more scoring drive together on their first possession of the second half. Tyler Phillips punched the ball in from one yard away for another Eagle touchdown. Toler Richburg added the point-after for a final score of 41-0.

Rogers paced the Eagles running for 139 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Orum only ran the ball three times, but he scored on each rush. Orum finished with 139 yards.

After the game, Goshen coach Bart Snyder said he was proud of his team’s all-around effort. “We had a real good game on offense and defense,” Snyder said. “We executed well, and the offensive line did a good job with its blocks.”

Snyder praised his opposing coach. “Coach Bowers and his staff have done a tremendous job with their team,” Snyder said. “People will look at the record and not understand what a job he has done. They are playing a lot of ninth and tenth graders every play.”

Snyder said he thought both teams left everything on the field. “I’m proud of the way Zion competed,” Snyder said. “I’m obviously proud of the way we played and how we clinched a playoff spot.”

Zion Chapel coach Bradley Bowers agreed with his counterpart. “We played well in some areas, but we could have done some things better,” Bowers said. “I was a little disappointed with the way we tackled.”

Despite the loss, Bowers said he is proud of the way his team has improved over the season. “You can look at our game films from the first game to the ninth,” Bowers said. “There has been a tremendous improvement. We have young guys making plays now.”

Zion Chapel hosts winless Artion next week. Bowers said his team will be working all week. “We want to get some people healthy,” Bowers said. “We’ve got a few people banged up. I told them after the game that we want five good days next week—three good practices, a good walkthrough, and then four quarters of football.”

The win makes it six straight years that the Eagles have made the playoffs. Snyder said it shows the direction the program is heading. “This win shows that the program is headed where we want it to be,” Snyder said. “But being 4-5 is not what we want. I feel like this game should have made us 6-3 if a few things go differently earlier in the season.”

With a playoff game looming, Snyder said his team was not looking too far ahead. “We’re focusing on us,” Snyder said. “We’re going to do the things that make Goshen better. We’ve got McKenzie next week, and they’re a good football team. If we get a win there, we’ll have some momentum going in to the playoffs. In the playoffs you have to play the best.”

Goshen travels to McKenzie for their game next week. They will travel to Sweet Water the following week for the first round of the playoffs.