Warrior returns in conquest of Pirates

ELWOOD, Neb. — Senior Gentry Anderson returned from his year-ending knee injury to throw three touchdown passes in Arapahoe’s 50-6 opening win at Elwood Friday night.

Anderson completed 11 of his 14 throws with junior Yordi Gutierrez catching 10 for 153 yards and two TDs.

Senior Carson Schroeder took the other Anderson pass 79 yards into pigskin paradise.

Schroeder also gained 128 yards on 13 carries as Arapahoe’s main rusher Friday night.

Anderson has moved into quarterback after the injury in last fall’s playoffs against Giltner ended his junior year. He had rushed for 1,125 yards and scored 21 touchdowns during the eight-game regular season.

On Friday, Anderson only averaged 2.7 yards a rush (16 for 43) but did score two more TDs.

Senior Colton Hearn contributed another 55 yards with only five rushes while scoring one touchdown.

Dominant Arapahoe defense featured 11 tackles for losses. Senior Dalton Fransen made 3.5 stops in Elwood’s backfield and classmate Branigan Schaben broke through for three.

Anderson added eight tackles second to Schaben’s 12.

Fransen also recovered two fumbles. Senior Jackson Koller and sophomore Triston Abraham each pounced on one Pirate bobble.

Schroeder and Hearn both picked off Pirate passes.

Arapahoe plays its home opener Friday night when 0-1 Elm Creek visits.

The Buffaloes dropped a 50-13 opener to rival Overton last week.