Shooting Stars: Starmont continues strong start with dominant high school football victory over Class A No. 4 East Buchanan

ARLINGTON — To say this was a notable Starmont victory is a bit of an understatement.

The program has come a long way since it forfeited a game to Lisbon six years ago due to low participation. The following season was worse, going 0-9 and forfeiting the final five games of the 2018 season due to the same reason.

The Stars are showing signs those days are a mere memory.

“We’ve had talent,” Starmont Coach Mike Augustine said. “Our numbers were bad there for a while. We battled that and got back. We belong. Now, they’re really believing that we do belong here.

“It’s great reassurance for them that what we’re doing is working and to work even harder.”

Starmont has posted its best start since 2012 after an attention-garnering, jaw-dropping and dominant 46-0 win over No. 4 East Buchanan in a Class A District 4 game Thursday night at home. Anthony King scored four touchdowns, Avery Vaske added two more and the Stars’ defense recorded its second shutout of the season in the program’s biggest triumph in years,

“We’ve been focusing all week on finishing and getting things done and these kids just executed,” Augustine said. “There was no doubt this week. They got knocked off (last week) and we found out what we had. We have fighters in here and those kids just focused on details and I’m so proud of them and think they did a great job.”

Starmont (3-1, 1-1) matched its most wins in a season over the last decade, winning three games in 2021 and 2014. The Stars were 5-5 in 2013.

“It feels good,” Stars sophomore Keaton Moeller said. “It’s been so long since we had a game like that. In past years, we’ve gotten whipped on our home field. It’s the worst feeling in the world. When you can’t protect your home field, it feels horrible. To be able to come in here, own the place one play at a time, key things that matter and it all adds up.”

Starmont snapped a six-game losing streak to the Buccaneers and produced an 84-point turnaround from last year’s 38-0 loss at East Buchanan.

“It takes the offseason work,” Moeller said. “Putting that work in as a team and team bonding, we’re getting closer together and knowing each other’s habits.”

Starmont landed some early haymakers and East Buchanan wasn’t able to rebound. East Buchanan was forced to punt on its opening drive. The Stars blocked the punt and recovered at the Buccaneers 10. King scored on a 10-yard run on the very next play.

The Stars followed with a three-and-out which resulted in King returning the punt 58 yards for his second score and a 13-0 lead by the 6:35 mark in the first quarter. Vaske scored on a 3-yard TD plunge with 1:16 left in the second quarter, giving the Stars a 20-0 halftime lead.

“We came out like there was nothing to lose,” Moeller said. “Everybody loves an underdog. Our coaches always preach that they aren’t the little things. They are key things.

“The blocked punt, everybody’s blocks matter, everybody hitting somebody on defense and getting fired up when one of your teammates make a big play all leads to success.”

The Stars were better in all facets of the game. They scored on six of nine possessions. The defense forced three turnovers that led to a 4-yard TD run by Vaske, a 7-yard TD run by Moeller and kneel downs to end the game. Special teams provided the spark, blocking a punt for the third game this season.

“We talk about how you got to own those three yards (at the line of scrimmage) and our guys did a heck of a job tonight, owning it on both sides of the ball,” said Augustine, noting that he also is the line coach. “We made plays. Our skill guys made plays. It was a great night.”

Nick Willfong completed 10 of 14 passes for 82 yards. Moeller finished with 69 yards, including 42 on the ground. King led the way. He added a 4-yard TD run in each of the final two quarters with his last enacting a continuous clock for the last 5:10. King finished with 115 yards on 18 carries and 30 receiving yards on two catches.

“He’s a great football player,” Augustine said about King. “But I’m so proud of our team because we really came together and that was my goal this year. I told the team we want to win but we need a team. We have a team heartbeat right now and they feed off each other.”

Augustine praised captains for their leadership and building team chemistry. Seniors Isiah Maker and Sawyer Beatty, juniors Jace Tommasin and Vaske and sophomores Moeller and Jack Thole have played a role in bringing the team together. The Stars have reclaimed family attitude by training, hanging out and attending other school sports events together.

The impact extends to the field.

“We’re not a selfish team,” Moeller said. “Your buddy makes a big play you slap them on the butt and tell them great job. Get the next one. The other guy does it the next time.”

Starmont faces North Cedar next week with a chance to keep pace with the 2012 team that opened 6-1 and ended with an 8-3 mark. The Stars aren’t content with Friday’s result.

“We can’t let off the gas now,” Moeller said. “We can’t go into next week and play soft and fall off the ladder, as our coach would say. Keep on top of it. We have proved we are among the top (teams).”

East Buchanan (2-2, 1-1) managed 165 total yards, including 128 rushing. Tanner Thurn rushed for 102 yards. The Buccaneers were without senior Hunter Bowers, but Coach Jerry Alden said that wasn’t the difference.

“In all honesty, they kicked our (butt) in every phase of the game,” Alden said. “That’s all there is to it. We were not ready to play. They were and they proved it in all four quarters. They earned the win. It’s as simple as that.

“We have to get better, preparing for games like these. We were definitely not prepared for tonight.”

Starmont 46, East Buchanan 0

AT ARLINGTON

EB STAR

First Downs 11 12

Rushes-yards 38-128 36-172

Passing yards 37 92

Comp-att-int 3-9-1 10-14-0

Total yards 165 264

Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1

Punts-avg. 2-28.5 1-36.0

Penalties-yards 4-35 4-45

East Buchanan 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Starmont 13 7 13 13 -- 46

STAR – Anthony King 5 run (kick failed)

STAR – King 58 punt return (Jax Tommasin kick)

STAR – Avery Vaske 3 run (Tommasin kick)

STAR – King 4 run (Tommasin kick)

STAR – Vaske 4 run (rush failed)

STAR – King 4 run (kick failed)

STAR – Keaton Moeller 7 run (Tommasin kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – East Buchanan: Tanner Thurn 14-102, Keenan Pals 6-38, Cameron Graham 1-4, Tod Dawes 1-(-2), Trystin Russell 4-(-6), Team 2-(-8). Starmont: King 18-115, Moeller 9-42, Vaske 3-11, Nick Willfong 3-6, Team 3-(-2).

PASSING – East Buchanan: Russell 3-9-1-37. Starmont: Willfong 10-14-0-92.

RECEIVING – East Buchanan: Dawes 1-30, Pals 2-7. Starmont: King 2-30, Moeller 2-27, Jase Tommasin 2-14, Isiah Maker 3-11, Ryan Kleinlein 1-10.