(Editor’s Note: Cordel Rychlik was the kicker who made Central’s 33-yard field goal. This story has been edited to correct that information.)

Aberdeen Central made some changes for Saturday’s game, and it paid off.

The Golden Eagles used a strong rushing attack on their way to a 24-14 non-conference football win over Sturgis at Brownell Activities Complex.

Central coach Justin Briese said the game plan needed to be simplified.

“Coach (Justin) Fox and I looked at it and it’s just us simplifying things a little bit and taking a little bit out of our playbook and just running a few things really effectively,” Briese said.

The simplification paid off as the Golden Eagles rushed for 287 yards on 59 carries, with Avery Ligon carrying the bulk of the load.

“We were finally able to stick with our blocks and I just had to cut back, cut off of them, and run,” Ligon said.

The senior running back accounted for 205 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown.

Briese was pleased with Ligon’s performance.

“Avery runs hard. He goes hard and he can get to the open field, and he can make some people miss and break some runs,” Briese said. “He’s out there and he’s carrying the load and he’s trying to get it done.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Golden Eagles struck first less than a minute into the second quarter when Austin Erickson scampered for a 19-yard touchdown run, putting Aberdeen Central up 7-0. Central then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, only to turn the ball over on an interception by Sturgis’ Kalvin Ketelsen.

The Scoopers then capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown of their own, knotting the game up at seven apiece.

Parker Lemer added a touchdown run before the half to give Central a 14-7 advantage at intermission.

The Golden Eagles were determined to use the ground game to their advantage in the second half as they took the ball to start the half and proceeded to chew up almost nine minutes en route to a Ligon 2-yard touchdown run.

Briese was glad to see the offense control the game.

“The offense had an 18-play drive, (nine) minutes, whatever it was, that was awesome,” Briese said. “They took over the game in the third quarter, and (Sturgis) didn’t get a chance to have the ball at all, so that was awesome.”

However, Sturgis would not go away quietly. The Scoopers would attempt to mount a comeback in the final period as quarterback Aidan Hedderman dashed 67 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Golden Eagles lead down to 21-14.

Briese said the Sturgis signal caller gave his team problems throughout the game.

“He’s got an option to either give it or keep it and we were giving him reads to keep it, thinking that we’d be able to rally to him,” Briese said. “There were a few plays where we just couldn’t get to him, but overall, I think we kept him pretty well in check.”

After giving up the score, Central once again turned to their rushing attack to finish the game.

“We had to try to get a touchdown or settle for time, and we settled for time,” Ligon said.

The Golden Eagles were able to put the game out of reach when Cordel Rychlik nailed a 33-yard field goal with 2:43 left, sealing the team’s first victory of the season.

In addition to Ligon, Erickson rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown, while Lemer added 30 rushing yards and a score.

Hedderman led Sturgis with 150 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, while also passing for 58 yards and a score.

Central, now 1-2 on the season, will look to carry the momentum into next Saturday’s game at Mitchell, and Ligon says the team will need to continue playing aggressively.

“Keep being physical and keep going 100 percent every single play, no matter if you’re tired or not,” Ligon said.

While Briese liked what he saw from his team, he noted there are some things to work on.

“Being able to pass a little more effectively,” Briese said. “Our run defense sometimes needs to be a little bit more stiff, but I think those are going to come with time and with reps in practice.”

Sturgis (2-1) 0 7 0 7 – 14

Aberdeen Central (1-2) 0 14 7 3 – 24

Second Quarter

AC – Austin Erickson 19 run (Davi Bronzi Silva kick), 11:17

S – Jadon Blair 5 pass from Aidan Hedderman (Sully Jost kick), 5:07

AC – Parker Lemer 5 run (Bronzi Silva kick), 1:15

Third Quarter

AC – Avery Ligon 2 run (Bronzi Silva kick), 3:05

Fourth Quarter

S – Hedderman 67 run (Jost kick), 8:26

AC – Cordel Rychlik 33-yard field goal, 2:43

OFFENSE: Sturgis rushing 18-213 (Aidan Hedderman 11-150, Sully Jost 2-63), passing 8-15 for 58 (Hedderman 8-15 for 58), receiving (Jadon Blair 2-16, Byron Holt 1-21); Aberdeen Central rushing 59-287 (Avery Ligon 30-205, Austin Erickson 11-51, Parker Lemer 13-30), passing 4-8 for 24 (Parker Lemer 4-8 for 24), receiving (Brody Aesoph 2-17).

DEFENSE: Sturgis, Kalvin Ketelsen interception; Aberdeen Central, Tate Huff blocked punt, Ayden Gisi sack.