PHOENIX – Sherburne-Earlville’s football team was unable to sustain its fast start. The Timberwolves fell to 2-4 on the season as host Phoenix answered that early touchdown with 31 straight points over the first three quarters in a 44-13 win on Friday night.
The Firebirds took the lead for good late in the second quarter.  Phoenix quarterback Tallen Prior connected with Daniel Swank on a fourth-down 15-yard touchdown pass putting Phoenix up 12-7 at halftime.
It was the first lead of the game for Phoenix, and it did not look back.
“Phoenix flew around and made plays,” said S-E coach Steve Franklin, who said five starters were lost to injury during the game. “We were scrambling to get guys into position, and it didn’t work out in our favor.”
Prior amassed 302 yards of total offense finishing 11 of 14 passing for 153 yards and two scores, and he led his club with 149 yards rushing and one score.
Zadyn Tracy also eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark finishing with two touchdown runs.
The Firebirds pulled away with three touchdowns in the third quarter, raising their advantage to 31-7.
On the opening drive of the second half, Prior followed up a 50-yard run into the S-E red zone with an 11-yard scoring jaunt.
Prior threw his second TD pass of the game to Swank from nine yards out, and Tracy raced 33 yards to pay dirt late in the third to create the 24-point lead.
“We came out flat in the second half, and got the injury bug,” Franklin said. “We weren’t able to recover.”
The Timberwolves (2-4) took the early thanks to their opportunistic defense.
Phoenix moved the ball into S-E territory on the opening possession of the game. On a first-down call, Scott Hunneyman lost a fumble after S-E’s Landon Andrade poked the ball out.  The loose ball was scooped up by the Timberwolves’ Hadden Price.
Price returned the fumble 69 yards for the opening score.
S-E did not score again until midway through the fourth when Nick Hull cashed in a six-yard run. That TD cut the deficit to 31-13.
Phoenix, unofficially, finished with 509 yards of total offense in the game. The Timberwolves’ offense finished with 34 yards passing and 98 yard rushing, totaling 132.
Score by quarters
S-E  7   0   0  6—13
Phx  6  6 19 13––44
Scoring
S-E, Hadden Price 69 fumble return (Gavin Winton kick), P, Zadyn Tracy 5 run (2-point try failed); P, Tallen Prior 15 pass to Daniel Swank (2-point try failed);P,  Prior 11 run (2-point try failed); P, Prior 11 pass to Swank (2-point try failed); P, Tracy 33 run (Prior kick); S-E, Nick Hull 6 run (2-point try failed); P, Samson Carno 1 run (Prior kick). Note: Last Phoenix TD not available.
Individual stats
Rushing: Phx (team) 25-356 yards. SE, Nick Hull 9-45, TD; Hadden Price 6-44 yards, Justin Race 4-9 yds.
Passing: Phx, Tallen Prior 11-14-0, 153 yards, 2 TDs; SE, Hadden Price 3-7-2, 34 yards.
Receiving: Phx (team) 11-141 yards. SE, Cameron Mason 1-30 yards, Nick Hull 1-6 yards, Justin Race 1 - (-2).