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The first Page of the first chapter of Summerland Bobcat football nearly started as a blank book.

Turnovers, including a goal line drop, plagued the Bobcats, Friday, as Jeff Shabram’s squad lost, 38-12, to Elkhorn Valley, in Tilden.

Yet, Shabram sees a glimmer of hope.

“I was encouraged by the fight in the team even after the rough second quarter,” he said.

Nine starters return to form the Bobcat squad, including all-district picks Dalton Rotherham and Colton Thiele.

“We return a lot of players who were forced into starting roles as underclassmen last year with Clearwater-Orchard and with CWCE,” Shabram said. “Everyone in our three schools is excited to start a new chapter of football.

Shabram expects multiple players to have an impact on the team, including Joe Ahlers, Alex Arroyo, Wyatt Chipps, Levi Cronk, Gaby Gamez, Rafe Grebin, Mason Hoke, Kellen Mlnarik, Logan Mueller, Jaykwon Petite, Ty Rix, Kendrick Schroeder, Gunnar Shabram, Trevor Thomson and Anthony Umphress.

In Friday’s game, the Falcons struck first, when Braedyn Ollendick tossed a 25-yard pass to Nate Decker.

After missing the PAT, EV led 6-0.

The Bobcats prowled down field, searching for the goal line, but the Falcon defense held tough.

Ollendick added two touchdown runs of five and one yard and connected with Adam Miller for 19- and 15-yard passes which led to scores.

Elkhorn Valley led 32-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Miller pulled down a 12-yard Ollendick pass, boosting the Falcons to a 38-0 lead.

Tyler Bellar crossed the goal line first for the Bobcats, scampering in from three yards out.

Jaykwon Petite added a one-yard run.

Quarterback Mason Hoke went 4 of 12 for 77 passing yards.

Petite finished 1/2, for seven yards.

Bellar led the rushing attack, earning 67 yards on 12 carries. Thomson finished with 40 yards on nine carries, while Petite carried the ball four times for 41 yards.

Rotherham led the receivers corp, pulling in three catches for 65 yards.

Defensively, Rotherham finished with seven solo tackles and one assisted tackle. Bellar collected five solo and three assisted tackles.

Thiele finished with seven tackles, including three solo hits.

“We definitely need to address the turnover issue and defending athletic spread offenses,” Shabram said.

Statistics vs. Elkhorn Valley:

Passing:

Petite, 1/2 for 7 yards; Rix, 0/1; Hoke, 4/12 for 77 yards

Rushing:

Petite, 4/41; Rix, 1/-3; Thomson, 9/40; Grebin, 1/0; Hoke, 13/32; Bellar, 12/67; Schroeder, 3/6

Receiving:

Rotherham, 3/65; Rix, 1/12; Cody Wickersham, 1/7

Offensive fumbles/pancake blocks:

Rotherham, 1 fumble/1 loss;

Thomson, 1 fumble/1 loss

Tackles:

Rotherham, 8; Rix, 4; Cronk, 1; Thomson, 7; Grebin, 1; Gamez, 2; Hoke, 1; Bellar, 8; Schroeder, 2; Chipps, 3; Thiele, 7; Ahlers, 3; Umphress, 5; Mueller, 4

Sacks:

Bellar, .5; Thiele, 1; Ahlers, .5; Umphress, 1

Fumble Recovery:

Thomson, 1; Dillon Moser, 1

Kickoffs:

Cronk, 1/25 yards; Gamez, 2/92 yards

Kickoff/punt returns:

Petite, 2/27 yards; Rix, 1/0; Thomson, 5/91 yards