Peyton Mills' three first half touchdown passes staked Cutter Morning Star to a 22-6 halftime lead over visiting Subiaco Academy Friday night, positioning the Eagles for their first win of the season.

But the opportunistic Trojans converted two second half Eagle turnovers into 12 points that keyed their 34-28 come-from-behind victory.

Mills did most of his damage in the first half, completing 9-of-19 attempts for 239 yards and three touchdowns but was unable to sustain the same level of play after halftime. A big hit forced him out of the game early in the third quarter. He completed 3-of-13 attempts after getting checked for a concussion and failed to connect on his final seven passes.

A Brody Koch interception with 8:24 to play set up Subiaco for what proved to be the winning touchdown, a 42-yard pass from Nick Gehrig to Anthony Gehrig with 6:17 to play. The duo combined for a 31-yard completion on fourth and 22 that put the game away at the 1:56 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Trojans outscored the Eagles 22-6 in the third quarter, tying the game at 28 on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Nick Gehrig to Koch and a two-point conversion with 39 seconds left in the quarter. A 30-yard touchdown from Mills to Clayton Weldon 19 seconds earlier put the Eagles ahead 28-20, but the Trojans returned the ensuing kickoff into Cutter Morning Star territory and scored on the next play.

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Nick Gehrig's 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Ramirez opened the second half scoring with 9:18 to play in the third quarter and cut the Eagles' lead to 22-12. An Eagle fumble on their side of the field set up the score.

An errant snap on a punt led to the third Trojan touchdown late in the third quarter. Jeremiah Smith recovered the ball in the Cutter Morning Star end zone and completed a desperation pass to Jock Simpson, but the Eagles turned the ball over on downs.

Two unsportsmanlike penalties positioned the Trojans at the Eagles' 12 yard line, and Koch went over from 5 yards out to cut the Eagle lead to 22-20 with 3:25 to play in the third quarter.

Eagle miscues aided a Trojan offense that struggled to gain traction in the first half. Subiaco went three and out on five of its nine first half drives. It failed to gain yardage on its first three possessions, losing a total of 11 yards. The Trojans struggled despite their first six possessions starting at their own 45 yard line on average. By comparison, the Eagles' first six drives started at their own 17 on average.

But the Trojans found their rhythm in the second half, converting four-of-five third downs while the Eagles missed on five of their six third down attempts after halftime.

Mills finished 12-of-32 for 290 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Weldon seven times for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Gehrig was 9-of-23 for 216 yards and four touchdowns.

Print Headline: WATCH: Second half miscues ground Eagles

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