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Home » Football News2008 Season Recap and Game SummariesDecember 30, 2012 By Sam Knopik of Pembroke Hill High School FootballPembroke Hill Football 2008 Season Recap
We finished the season by returning to the Missouri State Playoffs with a 7-4 record. It was our second 7-Win season in back-to-back years. Highlights included going 6-0 at home including an opening day victory against Van Horn, two very exciting 4th quarter comebacks againstUniversityAcademy andClinton, another Homecoming victory against F. L. Schlagle and most significantly a victory over St. Pius X.
Team Awards
Raider Award: This award is presented to the team member who has demonstrated the greatest commitment, dedication, desire and positive contribution that has earned the respect of both their teammates and coaches. This is the highest honor that our athletic department distributes. 2008 Winner: Dexter Pearson
The Head Coach’s Award: This award is given to any member of the football team in recognition for their selfless participation. It is believed that the strongest members of any organization are those who make the greatest efforts to serve others. 2008 Winner: Austen Schmidt
Brooks Channing Noah Award: This award is presented to the team member who has demonstrated the greatest improvement from the previous season. 2008 Winner: Andrew Seligson
Kevin Emery Award: This award is given to the player who has made the greatest contribution to our football team’s success. Considered a Most Valuable Player trophy this award is reserved for the player who’s overall efforts in training, in practice and on the field stands above others. 2008 Winners: Dexter Pearson and Cam Wilkerson
Studebaker Riley Award: Given to the player who’s line play exceeds all others. His determination to persevere, without concern for personal recognition or glory, manifests itself in relentless, selfless, physical exertion. This award is given to Pembroke Hill’s best linemen. 2008 Winners: Jack Dudenhoeffer, David Smart, and CJ Slaughter
Bob Hicks Award: Given to the outstanding student-athlete in recognition of his football excellence, who personifies passion for the game, intensity, leadership, and heart both in the classroom and on the field. 2008 Winner: Jay Todd Max
Sportsmanship Award: This award is presented to the team member who shows humbleness in victory and graciousness in defeat. He is a fierce competitor who understands the greater objective of the game: to perform in a manner that reflects well on his family, his school and himself. 2008 Winner: CJ Slaughter Kansas City 3A All-District Team Winners
Kansas City Star 3A All-District Team Winners
Missouri Football Coaches Association 3A All-State Team Winners
Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State Academic Team Winners
Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete Team Winners
2008 vs. Van Horn: Win 57-6 A lot of questions still needed to be answered as we took the field for our home opener versus new Independence school Van Horn. We had some big shoes to fill at several positions and wondered where our liabilities may expose us. The 2008 version made a statement that they were here to play on their own right and put up big numbers early... With only 12 seconds off the clock Andrew Elsberry put us up by six returning the opening season kickoff for a TD. Caleb Wurth put the PAT through and we were on our way. Just about everything went according to plan offensively, so good in fact we didn't get to evaluate our punt team! QB Cam Wilkerson added another score with an 11 yard option, followed by a Jack Dudenhoeffer safety after the kickoff. Van Horn was then forced to kick the ball back to us and Cam wasted no time adding another TD run, this time from 15 yards. Andrew would close the first quarter scoring with a 14 yard run and a PHS 29-0 lead.
Fullback Dexter Pearson added six with a 1 yard plunge followed by a Marquelle Smith 2 yard TD run. Marquelle, a sophomore running back would add another 4th quarter TD run from 19 yards out. Elsberry closed out the first half scoring with a 35 yard TD run. PHS lead at the half 51-0.
The second half was played by all of our younger players who tried to preserve the shut out but gave up a late Van Horn TD run from the 5-yard line. Our linemen, who really had a great game included David Smart, Jack Dudenhoeffer, CJ Sluaghter, James Holcomb, Ryan Grojean, Jeff McRobert, Jasen Nichols, Jay Todd Max, Austen Schmidt, and Andy Miller.
Defensively, linebackers Andrew Elsberry and Dexter Pearson led all tacklers. Junior Andy Miller and Senior Jack Dudenhoeffer both contributed for 2 tackles-for-loss. Cam Wilkerson came up big to end an early Van Horn drive by pulling down his first interception of the season. Overall, 26 different players garnered defensive statistics Friday night!
Special teams play was up and down. We returned just the second kickoff for TD since 2003, Caleb Wurth went 5/7 in PAT attempts and threw a 2pt conversion to TE Jordan Snyder following a bad snap. Our Kickoff coverage team was solid giving our defense great field position all night.
2008 vs. Hogan: Loss 7-8 We scored first, officially on an Andrew Elsberry 1-yard run in the first quarter. Unofficially, the play prior, it appeared that Dexter Pearson was two-yards into the end-zone following a 1-yard plunge behind Ryan Grojean, David Smart, CJ Slaughter, James Holcomb, Jack Dudenhoeffer, Jack Kelly and David Kipke... The Caleb Wurth point after was good and we had a 7-0 lead. Four backs would combine for 168 yards and 5 yards per carry that day. Veterans Elsberry and Pearson were joined by sophomores Marquelle Smith and Jacob Gerson for big gains on the ground.
Cam Wilkerson played a very gutsy game in which he led all defenders in tackles with 19, 3 for a loss! Late in the game when he weathered another big Hogan hit sophomore Jackson Schroeder came in and threw an 18 yard strike to William Bolen for a first down. It did not take long for Cam to come back into the game but it was great to see our younger players answer the call so effectively. Bolen would end the day with 4 receptions for 32 yards.
In the 4th quarter an 80 yard Raider drive from our own 3-yard line ended with a missed 4th down conversion only to be followed by a Jack Dudenhoeffer fumble recovery. Life was good again. Unfortunately, we were unable to convert the opportunity into points and the day ended 8-7.
As mentioned before the efforts put forth by our defense was outstanding. The defensive line play was especially inspiring. I watched as David Smart and Ryan Grojean relentlessly chased down sweep plays. Jasen Nichols, Jay Todd Max, and Jack Dudenhoeffer routinely moved around the Hogan Prep offensive linemen. Jack Kelly, Cam Wilkerson and Austen Schmidt executed our outside linebacker game plan to perfection.
We discovered that several sophomores had taken a big step to play varsity football. Andrew Seligson finished the day with 10 tackles, Paul Black with 6, Jacob Gerson and David Kipke also contributed big defensive plays. The offense and special-team squads found contributions by Schroeder, Smith, Gerson, Black and Seligson.
I tell our team often that I enjoy watching them play and despite the heartbreak associated with a 1-point loss, Saturday was no exception. I hope you can join us this Friday night in Smithville as we take on a tough Warrior team at 7:00pm. Smithville has designated this game as "Breast Cancer Awareness Night." Teams will be sporting pink helmet logo's and fans are encouraged to purchase Pembroke Hill-Smithville t-shirts to support the cause at the game. The Smithville cross-country team will relay the game ball from Pembroke Hill's field on Friday and it is scheduled to arrive at the Smithville stadium for kickoff at 7:00 pm. You are welcome to join us for the send off in the stadium at 12:45 pm.
2008 vs. Smithville: Loss 0-26 Rain, rain rain. After the previous week's game in the mud against Hogan Prep I was not excited about the prospects of playing another soggy game against Smithville. However, following an hour delay we played on the turf at Smithville. An unfortunate and inopportune evening of penalties left us defeated 26-0. It should be noted that despite the infractions and score, not all was as bad as it might seem. Defensively, we were led by Andrew Elsberry and Jack Kelly with 14 and 17 tackles respectively. Three of Andrew's tackled were for losses! Jacob Gerson stepped in front of a Smithville pass at midfield in the first quarter and as many as six players contributed for seven tackles for a loss. Elsberry, Kelly, Dexter Pearson, Paul Black, Ryan Grojean, Will Bolen, Cam Wilkerson, Caleb Wurth, Andrew Seligson, James Holcomb, Jay Todd Max, Austen Schmidt, Jack Dudenhoeffer, Gerson, Guerin Schwarberg and CJ Slaughter all garnered defensive statistics. As a staff we were pleased with our team's efforts to stop Smithville drives and force them into long field goal attempts (which they made.....) Offensively, we held on to the ball effectively as we controlled the time of possession exactly ½ of the game. Austen Schmidt, James Holcomb, Jack Kelly, Ryan Grojean, David Smart, CJ Slaughter, Jack Dudenhoeffer and Jay Todd Max all fought hard against a big Smithville front line. Elsberry led all rushers with 77 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Pearson added 27 on 9 and was joined by Wilkerson, Marquelle Smith and Gerson for rushing yardage. Cam hooked up with Will Bolen, David Kipke, and Elsberry for 19 yard completion average. Neither team had much of an opportunity to establish their passing game in the weather conditions. Last week's game against Smithville also served as a breast cancer awareness night. The Smithville community wanted to bring people's attention to increased services for detection and cure. To celebrate the event, members of the Smithville Cross-Country team met at Pembroke Hill's football stadium where I handed them the game ball. The team then ran with the ball around our track and out the gate all the way back to Smithville in time for the opening kickoff. They made a brief stop at the Bloch Cancer Survivor Park on 47th and Roanoke before braving the incoming weather. The team relayed the ball all the way back that afternoon in the face of terrible autumn storms.
----John LARSON, Class of '04, University of Kansas, Senior, DE ----Zach BUCKNER, Class of '07, Washington University, Sophomore, OL ----Matt UNGASHICK, Class of '07, Rhodes College, Sophomore, QB
2008 vs. Northeast: Win 41-0 With the change in weather so was the change in our fortune. The first two quarters of the game saw a 41 point scoring explosion from the Raiders. Just as exciting, as Dexter Pearson pointed out following the game, was the fact that our younger players held on to preserve the shut-out in the second half. The game ended 41-0. One of the themes we focused on last week was to play the game against ourselves rather than the team on the other side of the ball. Meaning, we had been making too many costly and untimely penalties in past games. Friday night we were flagged just three times compared to 14 by Northeast. Offensively, Cam Wilkerson threw for 161 yards 3 TD's. His longest going to a wide open Jacob Gerson who rumbled 63 yards to paydirt. Will Bolen led all receivers with 4 for 47 yards, his longest being a 34 yard strike from Wilkerson. David Kipke also hauled in a 32 yard Wilkerson pass, his for a score. Our second score of the game came from Cam checking backside to a flare route by Andrew Elsberry who always like to score the hard way and bowled over two Viking defenders on the goal line from 9 yards out. All of our offensive linemen, young and old, got PT Friday. Jack Kelly, Austen Schmidt, Jack Dudenhoeffer, CJ Slaughter, Ryan Grojean, David Smart, Jay Todd Max, Jasen Nichols, James Holcomb plowed the way for 180 first half rushing yards. Heck, Jack Dudenhoeffer and Austen Schmidt even got in on the action getting to carry the ball once each. Dudenhoeffer, with the aid of some big-time blocks and trickeration-playcalling managed to find the end zone on a 25 yard Guard Around Right. (Look for it on YouTube soon.) Defensively, Dexter Pearson and Charlie Doering led all tacklers. Another young player, freshman Will Gonder added 5 tackles of his own to finish in the leaders list. Cam Wilkerson ended an early Viking drive with an interception. Pearson, Gonder, Gerson, Elsberry, Dudenhoeffer, Wilkerson, Max, Doering, Slaughter, Max, Guerin Schwarburg, Schmidt and Patrick Freitag all contributed to 10 tackles for loss. Slaughter forced and recovered a Northeast fumble in a devastating hit from the nose guard position. In all, 25 different players earned defensive statistics!
2008 vs. Clinton: Win 18-8 Yesterday was one of the best days I've had as the head football coach at Pembroke Hill. Five alumni joined our senior class for a tie and jacket luncheon in which Hall of Fame coach Bob Hicks shared his thoughts on the values of the game. The purpose of the event was to expose our players to the reality of life after the game. Questions we looked to answer included: Who are the men who have been where we are right now, what are their stories and what advice can they share with us? Coach Nick Hennessy PHS Class of '99 emceed the event and had each guest share briefly about the impact PHS Football has had on them. Each story was powerful and resonated with all of us. Chuck Whittg '41, member of the 1940 undefeated team, shared with boys at his table the thoughts of his high school team and coaches as he struggled to survive a gunshot wound in Korea. He credited courage learned in football with surviving "just a broken leg" parachuting France in WWII. Russ Sifers '66 shared his motivational memory of his coaches' encouraging voices. "Nobody ever drowned in sweat," Joe Scalet would tell his boys and Lee Flappan's "One more time!" Russ admitted he leaned on those phrases long after his Pembroke Hill days were over. Coach Hicks related how big the Pembroke Hill fraternity really is across the country. "Every Saturday, from New York to L.A. men wake up in the morning and check the scores. They want to know how Pem-Day played." However the statement that took me to goose bump city was his reference to what each boy leaves physically on the field of play. "Buildings go up and they come down over the years. The one constant has been that field at the bottom of the hill. The one thing most people in this room have in common is that your blood lies somewhere on that field." I can assure you that we lost plenty of blood last week against Clinton High. By the end of the game we were a walking MASH unit. The game began a lot like our Hogan Prep game with both teams trading touchdowns and the Raiders on the short side of an 8-6 score. We would go on to play one of the best defensive games I have ever been a part of and added two 4th quarter TD's to win 18-8. For the fourth time in five games the Raider offense drove the field on the opening possession to score. Unfortunately, Andrew Elsberry was injured early on the Cardinal's first drive which forced us to play younger players more often and older players never left the field. Dexter Pearson rose to the challenge carrying the ball 22 times for 108 yards and a TD. He was spelled for 1 or 2 plays because it looked like his right leg was going to fall off. His courage and understanding that we were already down a man or two kept him coming back for more. Jacob Gerson added a late 4th quarter score form 33 yards out to put the game away. Marquelle Smith, Cam Wilkerson, Andrew Elsberry and Austen Schmidt all added to our rushing totals. Linemen David Smart, Jack Dudenhoeffer, CJ Slaughter, Ryan Grojean, James Holcomb, Jay Todd Max, Andy Miller, Jack Kelly, David Kipke, Charlie Doering and Austen Schmidt battled relentlessly the whole game helping us control the game clock most of the night. In the 4th quarter when center Ryan Grojean came out of the game with a sliced left hand and a broken right finger, Charlie Doering stepped-in and finished the game with some great blocks. Some outstanding courage was shown through our passing game as well. Cam Wilkerson hooked-up with Will Bolen four times, each reception giving Bolen brutal yards per catch and a bunch of back bruises for his troubles. Doug Walsworth entered the game late to convert a 3rd and 8 with a super grab over the middle followed up with a 25 yard go-ahead TD strike from Cam on the far sideline. Will Bolen punted just once. It went 46 yards and pinned Clinton inside their own 20. Following the game Mike McRobert and Linda Walsworth helped us take the family pictures which we use in our post-season slide show. It was a party-like atmosphere on the field after the game. Matt Black and Austen Schmidt enacted a bit of revenge on their position coach Nick Hennessy giving him a Gatorade bath right before his picture.
2008 vs. Schlagle: Win 26-6 This Friday is YOUTH FOOTBALL NIGHT! Come watch all of our Pembroke Hill footballers from the lower school and the middle school take the field at halftime! Polly Kramer, Sports Council Director, has done an awesome job building-up the excitement for youth football on the lower campus. Likewise Brian Bartelli, David Cox and Mark Saulett bring Raider pride and fun to our middle school program everyday. The 2008 Homecoming was another great finish for the Raiders. Coming into the locker room at the half tied-up 6-6 we reminded the team that they knew how to win late. I've started to lose track of the 4th quarter comebacks these boys have been a part of going back several seasons. Despite running jut 40 offensive plays compared to the 59 snaps by Schlagle we scored two 4th quarter TDs to win 20-6. The Stallions scored first in the 2nd quarter but were stopped on the 2-point conversion attempt thanks to an outstanding effort by Jay Todd Max to knock the receiver out-of-bounds before the goal line. Other defensive highlights included a remarkable 3rd and 4th down stand at mid-field where CJ Slaughter and company gave a clinic tape demonstration of firing off the line low. Jack Kelly came up with a big-time fumble recovery after Jacob Gerson slammed into the pitchman on an impressive Schlagle drive to end the 1st half. Dexter Pearson led all tacklers with 21 followed by Chas Ellzey with 13. Dexter, Cam Wilkerson, Jack Kelly, Will Bolen and David Smart all contributed to 6 tackles for a loss. Offensively, Dexter Pearson carried the mail for 92 yds on 23 attempts and 2 TDs behind CJ Slaughter, Jack Dudenhoeffer, David Smart, Andy Miller, James Holcomb, Jack Kelly and Austen Schmidt. Center Andy Miller had a remarkable night replacing an injured Ryan Grojean. Andy showed a lot of character and ability to step-up like he did Friday night. It great to be reminded that those are the kind of athletes we have here at Pembroke Hill. When it's time to answer the bell they show-up. I hope you can all join-us this Friday as we face the University Academy Griffins. UA comes into week 7 with a 5-1 record. They are playing great football this year under coach Damon Paul. Coach Paul has built this team from the ground-up with the school itself. We always knew the day was coming when the Griffins would arrive as a competitive football team. They look to win their districts in 2008 and make a run at the State Title.
2008 vs. UA: Win 15-14 Another week... another 4th quarter comeback. Down 14-0 at the half the team had a sense of calm in the locker room. We had been here before and knew that if we just took care of the things we could control then our breaks would come. Our first break came in the 3rd quarter when a solid 60 yard drive ended with a 5 yard TD pass from Cam Wilkerson to David Kipke. A Caleb Wurth PAT made it a one-score game heading into the 4th quarter.
A second big break came on a fumbled punt snap by University Academy which allowed us to set-up shop on the 6-yard line. Dexter Pearson scored on first down and then punched in the conversion to give the Raiders a 1-point lead with 5:00 on the clock.
The defense would come up big in the final minutes of play. CJ Slaughter, Chaz Ellzey, and Austen Schmidt ended a 4th and 1 attempt at mid-field with a swarming assault on a QB sneak. On UA's final drive Jack Kelly would fall on a Jack Dudenhoeffer forced fumble.
Will Bolen, Caleb Wurth, Doug Walsworth and David Kipke all hauled in Wilkerson pass attempts. James Holcomb, Jack Dudenhoeffer, Andy Miller, David Smart, and CJ Slaughter plowed the way for Dexter Pearson, Jacob Gerson, Cam Wilkerson and Marquelle Smith. Defensively Cam led all tacklers with 12 and David Kipke ended a UA drive with a timely interception when he came into the game for a banged-up Pearson at LB. It was an exciting game and one in which University Academy came to show everyone how far their football program has come. Few coaches in the city work as hard as Damon Paul to build discipline and accountability in his players. However, not only the character building attributes of the game, but the game itself, is being taught admirably at UA. I think we have found a nice rivalry just across town!
This week we begin district play against St. Pius X. We will host the game beginning at 7:00. You are all encouraged to bring a canned food item for a donation to Harvesters Food Pantry. Currently, the facility is barely meeting their needs to feed the hungry in the KC area. Please drop a donation in one of the barrels at the ticket gate. At halftime we will recognize our senior class and their parents. Thank you for all your support this season and I hope to sing with you after the game. 2008 vs. SPX: Win 27-7
I've always loved Pius week. It is not homecoming week but the sprit around campus becomes a bit more red, white, and, blue. Students who I have never met say, "Good luck Coach," as I pass them in the hallway. Teachers who may never have seen a PHS football game take the time to ask, "Are the boys ready this week Coach?" Spirit shirts always show-up in the bookstore and alumni call to wish us luck. The atmosphere was this way when I first arrived here and the affection for the SPX game continues to stir the students' excitement.
PROBLEM: The Raiders have enjoyed just 10 wins since the match-up began in 1963. Long before I arrived here, I respected Coach Rick Byers' football program. As I was a coming of age coach he was speaking all over the state following their state title seasons. He runs a no-nonsense program that finds their identity in hitting and winning championships. In many respects, I have gauged our progress as a program with how many quarters we can stay in the game against them! You can count on one thing every time you line up against Pius: they are going to hit you...HARD.
The 2008 version began with Pius surprising us with a spread gun offensive attack. After two first downs we forced them to punt from midfield only to fumble the punt return back to them in our own territory. Andrew Seligson would give us the ball back with an interception on an overthrown ball in the endzone a few plays later. The first quarter would end 0-0.
Our defense played a great first half holding the Warriors scoreless. Much of that was due to our offense moving the chains and holding the time of possession. We broke the tie in the second quarter with a Dexter Pearson TD run and a Caleb Wurth PAT. The PAT team was much improved this week going 3 of 4. Caleb would later admit he shanked the last kick on purpose so the score would end at 27, the same as his jersey number. (I'm not buying it though.) In the second half we extended the lead to 14 with another Pearson 1 yard plunge. This one was pretty exciting for just a 3 foot gain as he found the middle wedge plugged and then bounced it outside to the dismay of an unsuspecting SPX defensive back who got bowled over at the goal line. The offensive line simply owned the line of scrimmage all night. They handled everything the Warriors could throw at them and opened holes large enough to run up 256 yards on the night. Jack Dudenhoffer, David Smart, James Holcomb, CJ Slaughter, Ryan Grojean, Andy Miller, Austen Schmidt, Jack Kelly, and David Kipke flat out-worked their opposing linemen all night. A lack of discipline on 4th-and-short would come back to bite us as we jumped offsides just as Pius was about to punt the ball back to us late in the 3rd quarter. They would score from 37 yards out 3 plays later. Those would be the last points SPX would score. Another impressive fact is that even with the 37 yard TD run the Warriors gained a total of 62 yards on the ground all night.
Quarterback Cam Wilkerson connected with Will Bolen 4 times for 43 yards. Doug Walsworth made 2 outstanding receptions in underneath coverage. The first catch was the first play of the game and he took a typical big SPX hit for his troubles. When he popped right back-up I knew things were going well for us.
Special Teams also stepped-up this week. As mentioned before, the PAT team executed to near perfection, Will Bolen averaged 36 yards on two punts and Personal Punt Protector Cam Wilkerson took a direct snap off tackle to convert a 4th and 5 behind great Chas Ellzey and company blocks.
Seventeen players contributed to defensive statistics in a game they will never forget. Outside Linebacker Cam Wilkerson led all defenders with 11 tackles including 1 very big sack. Austen Schmidt played a tremendous game on both sides of the ball contributing for 5 tackles and bone crushing kick-out blocks. We are all excited to see Austen compete this week at the American Royal. He has spent much of the past year qualifying for the event. While he often is full of bull himself I can't wait to see him ride one this week!
Jacob Gerson effectively ended Pius' last chance with an interception at midfield. Dexter would later score our last TD from 36 yards away.
After we sang and passed around all the hugs to family we made our way back to the locker room. Former players were on cell phones being passed around to half dressed players giving their own recaps of the game. It was a memorable night for everyone associated with Pembroke Hill Football.
In addition to the win the football parents collected canned food for Harvester's. It was a great collection and we all appreciate your generosity in this time of need.
We now move on in district play to face the O'Hara Celtics. O'Hara comes off another big win pounding district rival Lincoln Prep 48-12. They enter the game with a 6-2 record and a lot of excitement surrounding their program. The Celtics have a very explosive offense and a defense that has surrendered just 16 points per game. The game is being played at O'Hara High School at 7:00pm this Friday. Thank you for all the support you show our players and I hope to sing with you after the game. 2008 Lincoln Prep: Win 43-0
Tonight we head north to face the #2 ranked 10-0 Chillicothe Hornets in the first round of the Class 3 Playoffs. After going 2-1 in district play we managed to find ourselves in a wildcard slot for the playoffs.
Week 9 was a tough loss to the eventual district champions at O'Hara High School. Not much went right for us as we took a 22 point drubbing in the second quarter. However, the boys bounced back well with a great week of practice preparing for cross-town rival Lincoln Prep.
Cam Wilkerson and Caleb Wurth wasted no time getting us on the scoreboard with a 48 yard throw and run for a TD. Dexter Pearson would add the 2-point conversion. Our second score was the same combination of Wilkerson to Wurth this time from 11 yards out. A Pearson 2-point conversion made it 16-0 in the 1st Quarter.
Jacob Gerson added a 6-yard scoring run followed by an Andrew Elsberry 2-point conversion. Gerson would add another 10-yard run for TD in the 3rd quarter. Wurth would end the 1st Half scoring with a 27-yard interception return for TD. Caleb also added a PAT to end the game with the final score 43-0. I was pleased to discover that Caleb was nominated for the US Army Iron Man Award for Two-Way players. You can vote for Caleb to be this week's winner at: http://www.thesportsflash.com/USArmyIronMan-MO. Voting ends Thursday so please help him out! Five players caught passes Friday. Wurth, David Kipke, Doug Walsworth, and Will Bolen are the usual suspects however a highlight of the 1st half came when Will Bolen threw the ball back to Cam Wilkerson for a 22 yard gain! The offensive line led the way to 222 ground yards and 392 total yards. Jack Dudenhoeffer, CJ Slaughter, David Smart, Austen Schmidt, Jack Kelly, David Kipke, James Holcomb, Andy Miller, Jeff McRobert and Ryan Grojean were thebiggest factors of the game. It may have been the first time in the history of the modern game where a coaching staff was sending in their offensive play calls with the center! Each brings his own talents and we took advantage of them.
Defensively, we were very proud of holding Lincoln Prep's accomplished senior running back Johnny Hall to just 52 yards on the night. Gerson and Pearson led all defenders in tackles. Our defensive backfield kept themselves busy with 4 interceptions! Paul Black made a very nice one-handed grab while Andrew Seligson pulled down his 2nd interception of the season. As mentioned before Caleb Wurth scored on his 2nd quarter pick and Guerin Schwarberg ended the game by picking off the Blue Tigers. Guerin also recovered a timely fumble for us. In all, 16 players garnered defensive statistics.
So, the Lincoln Prep victory brings us a back-to-back 7-3 season, this time resulting in a playoff birth. We hope to see you all in Chillicothe tonight and sing with you after the game! Thanks again to Mike McRobert and Linda Walsworth for great game pictures!
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