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North 0 Mater Dei 21 - Reitz Bowl Sep 6, 2008

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Offense

Team Stats

Offensive line blocking scores:

Defense

Game Recap

Some days there are no heroes to be found.

The North Huskies were systematically dismantled by the Mater Dei Wildcats 21-0 on Saturday afternoon.  There is little positive that can be said of the North performance outside these three items:

• North did not allow a sack of their quarterback.
• The Huskies completed 50% of their passes.
• North committed a single penalty for just five yards in the game.

The good news is that the Huskies have now faced what are likely to be the three best running backs that they will face this season.  The bad news is that each of them has gained progressively more yards each game and that the opposition as a whole is averaging 318 yards per game rushing.

1^st QUARTER

A Goal Line Stand

In identical fashion to Henderson County and Bosse before them, Mater Dei came out of the locker room and repeatedly handed the ball to their best running back to begin the game.  Eight straight carries took the ball from the Mater Dei 39 to the North four yard line where it looked as though a Wildcat touchdown was imminent.

On second and goal from the five, however, LB James Marion stepped up and made a huge play.  As the big running back turned the corner around the right end, he appeared to have daylight to run to the end zone.  Marion, however, jetted across to close the gap with a thunderous hit and dropped the back at the four yard line.

A heavy Husky rush on 3^rd and goal thwarted Mater Dei’s first pass attempt of the game and forced the Wildcats to attempt a field goal.  When their kicker shanked his kick to the right of the uprights, North dodged a bullet.

It would be the only time in the game that the defense could thump their chests with pride.

Early Runs

Initially it looked as though North might tear a page from their opponents’ play books as they started off running the ball well.  RB Travis Carlile went off tackle for 12 yards on North’s first play, picked up four more on a sweep around right end, and then added another four on a pitch play around left end.  QB Cameron Whitler’s keeper on third and two, however, came up a yard short and the ensuing punt was a precursor of most every Husky possession of the first half. 

Fourth Down Success

Mater Dei’s second drive was a near mirror of their first as they drove downfield 60 yards on 12 plays—ten of which were runs.  The drive was not without what had the potential to be game-changing-stands by the defense.

On third and 3 at the 47, the line surged, the linebackers stuffed, and Mater Dei came up short of the first down marker.  The Wildcats elected to run rather than punt on fourth down and converted.

On second and 4 at the North five, LB Cameron Clements made a ‘statement’ when he stuck a shoulder in the big Mater Dei running back and held him to no gain.  On the next play, LB Brandon Scott contained Mater Dei as they attempted a run around right end and denied them the end zone.  North had once again stopped the Wildcats on third down inside their own 5 yard line.

Unfortunately, on this drive it was fourth down that mattered most.

On fourth down the Mater Dei quarterback attempted only his second pass of the game after twenty running plays and found pay dirt for 6 points.  41 seconds into the second quarter the Wildcats led 7-0 and never looked back.

2^nd QUARTER

North’s First Drive

Following an exchange of punts, the Huskies were only down a touchdown when they took over the ball on their own 13 with 4:48 to go in the first half.  The poor starting field position was a theme throughout the afternoon.  Unable to harness the Mater Dei offense, North was always receiving the ball deep in their own territory and the comparative lack of speed and lack of blocks on returns left the Huskies facing long fields of play.

Carlile carried off tackle for four yards and Whitler ran the option around left end for three more to set up a third down and three. WR Mitch Parker found a seam in the defense with a hook pattern on the right hand side and picked up a first down with an 8 yard reception.

Whitler hooked up with Parker again on the next play for 12 more yards and the momentum appeared to be building.  WR Drew Hawkins converted a third down with a ten yard reception that finally moved the ball into Mater Dei territory.  The distance to scoring territory was too great, however, as the drive died out when a double-pass play from Whitler to Parker to Hawkins failed on third down.

SECOND HALF

For all intents and purposes, Mater Dei won the game on their first possession of the third quarter.  Following a trademark booming kickoff by K Preston Meador that resulted in a touchback, the Wildcats simply drove the ball down the Huskies’ throats. 

Mater Dei ran twelve plays before they were confronted with a third down and that came at the North 2 yard line.  Once again, the defense made what could have been a game changing stop when DT Ivan Irvine jolted the Wildcat running back for a one yard loss.  Likewise, once again Mater Dei converted fourth down with the identical play that had scored their first touchdown.  A quick drop back and slide step by the quarterback gave him the position to zip a ball to an open receiver in the end zone.

The fourteen play eighty yard drive made the score 14-0 and sealed the Huskies’ fate.

Another Drive To Nowhere

North returned a long kickoff out to their 26 and five minutes remained in the third quarter when they first touched the ball.  RB Cameron Clements found momentary daylight to pick up seven yards on a quick-hitter up the middle.  Two Carlile runs brought North to a ‘fourth and inches’ situation at their own 35.  Given the game situation, the Huskies had to go for it.

FB Marcus Garrett entered the game and proceeded to clear a hole as he lead Carlile into the line.  Nailing the linebacker with a ferocious block, Garrett gave Carlile a clear path into the secondary and he rambled 11 yards to the North 46.  On the next play Whitler and Parker hooked up on a 25 yard pass that would be the Huskies’ longest gainer of the day.

Yet again and despite multiple first downs, fourth down gambits, and good execution, the poor starting position hampered the Green and White.  For all their success on this drive they were still 29 yards away from the goal line.  When a second down pass was batted down at the line and a flanker screen to Hawkins failed to gain a yard, the Huskies faced 4^th and 6 at the Mater Dei 25.

The crowd, the coaches, the Wildcats, and most likely the Huskies could sense that any doubt about the game’s outcome hung in the balance on the next play.

Whitler settled into the shotgun formation, took the snap, stepped quickly to his left, and found Parker open in the left flat.  Parker turned and stretched his long form forward grasping for extra yardage.  He came up short by a yard and the Huskies turned the ball over on downs.

More Of The Same

From that point forward there was still an entire quarter of football to play, but none of those twelve minutes differed much from what had come before.  Mater Dei battered and rambled downfield on relentless marches.  Parker made a touchdown saving pass deflection on fourth down.  North yielded another score on a subsequent Wildcat march.  The score ended at 21-0 and could easily have been worse

It was a game marred by poor tackling, missed assignments, and a general lack of production.  It was also a game, however, that presented opportunities to turn it around.  Having held numerous times on 3^rd down, North could have changed the tide of events had they likewise held on 4^th down.  Having driven deep into Mater Dei territory in the third and fourth quarters, the Huskies could have made a game of it.

Errors and miscues dictated the outcome.  The good news is that errors and miscues can be addressed.  The bad news is that it requires time to reinforce the fundamentals that will remove them.  With the season quickly nearing its mid-point, time grows precious.  Here’s to hoping that this Husky club has the fortitude, the good sense, and the dedication to make good use of what there is.

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