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North 29 Reitz 26 - Reitz Bowl Evansville Sep. 29, 2006

Game Stats    Game Recap   

Offense 

OFFENSIVE LINE BLOCKING RATINGS

        Allgood           Hawkins          Price                Turner             Lewis              Hopkinson

            82%                92%            85%                  87%                89%               80% 

Defense

Game Recap

The pre-season write ups in the local papers claimed that there were two great teams in Evansville high school football this season.  They were right in that respect, they just had one of the teams wrong.

Friday night at Reitz Bowl, the North Huskies proved to Evansville, proved to the newspapers, proved to their coaches, and most importantly, proved to themselves that they have what it takes to be considered one of North's greatest teams.

For only the sixth time in the program's history, North went into Reitz Bowl for a regular season contest versus the Mighty Panthers and came away with a victory.  Behind a defensive line that bent but never broke, the Huskies repeatedly stopped Reitz on critical third and fourth downs.  Following an offensive line that dominated the mobile Panther defense, North ran for nearly 300 yards and controlled the game clock when it mattered.

Relying upon senior leadership, the Huskies seized opportunities when they presented themselves and blocked not one, not two, but three kicks on the night and demoralized the Panther faithful.  Riding the legs (and sometimes 'the wings') of their offensive catalysts, the Huskies earned the nickname "Mighty" on Friday night and squarely placed themselves in the hunt for the City and SIAC titles.

Of course, the game was not without its moments...

FIRST HALF

Both teams exchanged punts to begin the game.  When North received the ball for the second time, however, they sized up their opponent and began to move down field.   Making use of multiple threats, QB Dion Pendleton spread the ball around between RB Larry Merriweather and WR Brandon Stewart as well as carrying it himself on the Huskies 80 yard drive to pay dirt.  When Pendleton carried the ball in from the one yard line, it gave North a 7-0 lead

On Reitz' ensuing possession, they started an impressive drive of their own that ate up both yards and time.  Moving the ball to North's 33 yard line on a series of counters and quarterback keepers from the shotgun formation, Reitz faced a fourth and two situation early in the second quarter.  DE Jordan Lewis got good penetration and forced the Panther runner outside where pursuit caught up with him and Reitz turned the ball over on downs.

Reitz' next possession, however, would not be stymied as easily.

Taking the ball over near midfield, a pair of running plays drew the Husky defensive backs in tight.  On a play action pass from the shotgun formation, the Reitz quarterback nailed his 6'7" deep threat target at the goal line with a long pass for a touchdown.  When the Panthers lined up for the extra point, DB Brandon Stewart angled in from the corner of the defense and blocked the attempt.  The Huskies retained a 7-6 lead at that point.

North took a sizeable lead near halftime when QB Pendleton found Stewart on a slant pattern on the right hand side and the senior wide receiver dodged and darted his way from the 15 yard line to the end zone for a touchdown.  When K Kyle Horstman split the uprights, North held a 14-6 lead with only 3:30 to play in the half.

It was Reitz' turn for fireworks at this point.  On consecutive running plays they picked up nearly 25 yards.  Having run barely a minute off the clock, their next rush yielded a 40 yard gain and narrowly missed scoring when the running back tripped over the chalk line at the five yard line and fell down.  One play later, Reitz was only down 2 points and there was time remaining on the clock.  When the Panthers converted their two point attempt, the game was tied.

Reitz managed to get the ball back in scoring position before the end of the half and came up short on a field goal attempt that left the Husky faithful wondering where their momentum from 3 minutes earlier had gone.

SECOND HALF

Following a band performance, senior-night introductions, and homecoming, the second half started almost as an after thought to the extravaganza during the break.

The Huskies, however, were on track.  Determined to stop the Reitz vertical game, CB Ryan Parkman was aided by inside coverage from the safety whenever the Panthers' play-making wide receiver lined up outside.  There were numerous times in the second half when the physical play of the Husky defensive backs seemed to disrupt the tall wide receiver's routes.  The Panther's threw balls deep that fell harmlessly out of bounds as the quarterback could never seem to locate his favorite target again.

North, on the other hand, got a stellar performance from its front line in the second half.  Picking up Panther stunts and blitzes, the offensive line left QB Dion Pendleton only the defensive end to contend with as he slid down the line unscathed.  This luxury allowed him to choose his spots to run or pitch the ball to RB Larry Merriweather without having to hazard last second tosses under pressure.  North dominated the third quarter and went up 21-14 following Merriweather's one yard plunge. 

Reitz was not to be denied, however, and playing on their home turf, they fought back with a drive of their own and brought themselves to within a single point.  Reitz again lined up to kick the extra point that would tie the game.  Likewise, once again, DB Brandon Stewart streaked in from his outside position and slapped the kick away before it could clear the line of scrimmage.  North's lead held at 21-20.

The next North scoring drive only took three minutes of play, but the decisions made during the drive and the ensuing point after attempt would define the game.  FB Damien Odom first carried the ball for 9 yards into Reitz territory on a quick hitting dive play between C Scott Price and G Matt Hawkins.  Facing second and short, Reitz was called for encroachment and the Huskies were given a first down at the Panther 37 yard line.  On the next down, the Huskies ran the same play (or one very similar to it) and Odom again jetted into the Reitz defensive backfield.  With a full head of steam, Odom first dodged the outstretched arms of the linebacker and then out ran the safety on his way to a touchdown.

North led 27-20 at this point and conventional wisdom says to kick the extra point and force your opponent to go for two points to tie you.

Which is what the Huskies set out to do.

Of course, then Reitz lined up off sides, and the ball was moved to the 1 1/2 yard line. Still, the Huskies kicked.

And missed.

But the Panther's were called for roughing the kicker and the ball was moved to the two-foot line.

At this point, Coach Wilson opted to gamble against conventional wisdom and go for two points.  If the conversion was successful, it would put Reitz down by two scores with only 9 minutes to play in the game.  If the conversion was unsuccessful, it would leave the door open for a Panther victory if they could score and convert a two point attempt.

Setting up in a shotgun formation, which again went against conventional wisdom by causing the ball to be put in play seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, QB Dion Pendleton took the snap, rolled to his right, spotted WR Brandon Stewart running toward the right hand sideline, and delivered a perfect pass that allowed Stewart to snag the ball just before he stepped out of bounds.  The gamble paid off and the Huskies led 29-20.

The game was far from over however.

Faced with a fourth and two from their own 28 yard line and barely 5 minutes to play, Reitz was forced to go for a first down.  When the defense stuffed the run attempt, the Huskies took over on downs.  With plenty of time outs remaining, though, Reitz kept North from eating up any of the clock and they took over again on downs with barely a minute of playing time having passed.

This time, Reitz moved the ball.  Streaking to the North 14 yard line in barely three plays, the North defense once again bent but did not break.  When the Panthers were faced with a fourth down, they elected to go for a field goal attempt that missed.  North took possession deep in their own territory, but just over two minutes remained to be played in the game.

A fumble on the second play of the possession made for tense moments.  Reitz recovered and put the ball in the end zone to bring the score to 29-26.  If Reitz converted their extra point, an on-side kick attempt might yield them a chance to win the game with a field goal.  As they lined up to kick, the Husky faithful were wondering if lightning could strike a third time.

It did.  In the form of LB George Quarles' big right hand, lightning struck down the third point after attempt of the game for Reitz.  When WR Tyler Wilkie smothered the ensuing on-side kick attempt, the victory was in hand.   Reitz marred the victory somewhat as they took cheap shots at the North offensive linemen during 'kneel down' plays designed to run out the clock.  C Scott Price managed to stay in the game and keep the clock running before having to be helped off the field when the final gun sounded.

With Merriweather running for 116 yards and Pendleton gaining 98 on the ground and 57 through the air, North won a game in which it was a decided underdog upon entering.   Facing Owensboro Apollo this Friday night, the 2006 Huskies are poised to become only the third North team in school history to win or share a City title and only the fourth squad to own a share of a SIAC crown.

First things first, though, and Apollo's Eagles entered this weekend undefeated and ranked #1 in Kentucky's AAAA Region 1.  They will be yet another formidable opponent for the '06 Huskies.

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