Back

North 17 Memorial 34 - Central Stadium Sep 19, 2008

Game Stats    Game Recap    Game Possession Chart

Offense

Team Stats

Defense

Game Recap

"If you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all..." Bambi (1942)

LB Cameron Clements played an outstanding game on Friday evening.  From the opening play, he was in constant pursuit of the opposition and made numerous tackles at or behind the Memorial Tigers' line of scrimmage.  His six tackles for loss were the most in any single game by a Husky in over three seasons.  DB Ben Green intercepted a pass on his own two yard line and returned the ball to the North 30.

Those are the last defensive players that will be mentioned by name in this article.

The North Huskies squandered a 17-14 halftime lead versus the Memorial Tigers on Friday night and wound up losing 30-17.  In one of the poorest displays of tackling witnessed by the Husky faithful during the last ten seasons, Memorial escaped countless predicaments, converted multiple third downs, and ran past the Huskies to victory. 

Time and again alignments were set, plays were called, and a Husky was in position to make a game changing, momentum stopping tackle.  Time and again the Husky defense failed to seize the moment.  Defeat was grasped from the jaws of victory.

1st QUARTER

The game started with tremendous fireworks.  QB Cameron Whitler (who would go on to distinguish himself as only the second quarterback in North history to throw for two or more 200 yard passing games in a season) lined up under center on the game's third play and found WR James Gott open on a short hook pattern.  Gott quickly outmaneuvered the cornerback, streaked past the deep safety, and flew 56 yards down the sideline.  Following K Preston Meador's extra point kick, the Huskies led 7-0.

Memorial's first possession saw the Huskies stymie the Tiger drive at midfield.  On 3rd and 15, the Memorial QB threw a desperate pass to a covered wide receiver.  The North linebacker had the opportunity to stop the play for no-gain or a loss.  The drive remained alive.  Five plays later they were in the end zone.  North blocked the point after attempt and continued to lead 7-6.

The Huskies next possession was marked by a mix of reverses, runs, and short passes and resulted in an 11 play drive.  Gott started the drive off with a 12 yard run (lowering his season average per carry to just under 19 yards per attempt!) and RB Travis Carlile punctuated one 13 yard gain with a ferocious shoulder to the solar plexus of a Tiger linebacker.  Whitler stood tall in the shot gun formation and coolly converted a 4th and 13 at the Memorial 24 with a pass to WR Drew Hawkins.  The Huskies had first and goal at the Tiger five yard line as the quarter ended.

2nd QUARTER 

A Memorial blitz on third and goal moved the ball back to the six yard line and Meador came on to kick a 24 yard field goal.  The Huskies led 10-6 and, other than two missed tackles on the earlier drive by the Tigers, looked to have the game going their way.

Memorial took their second possession of the game and utilized misdirection runs, draws, and screens to their maximum effectiveness.  In eight plays they drove from their own 21 to the Husky 30.  The big Tiger tailback converted a third-and-nine with a 15 yard gain on a 'draw' play and then followed it up with 12 yard pickup on another draw. 

At the 30, the Tigers called for a screen play and the Huskies over-ran the receiver, missed an opportunity to pinch him off against the sideline, and watched helplessly as he ran into the end zone.  The TD gave Memorial their first lead of the night at 13-10.

Lightning strikes

North got good starting position following a short kick which Hawkins returned to the 38 yard line.  Whitler opened up with a quick pass to Gott in the flat that the fleet-footed receiver turned into a 27 yard gain.  Anxious to take advantage of the Tigers' decision to crowd the line of scrimmage, Coach Wilson called for WR Mitch Parker to run a fly pattern down the left sideline.  Catching the Tigers pulled in tight, Parker ran and Whitler rared back and delivered a long spiral.  The tall Husky receiver stretched out horizontal to the ground and caught the ball at the Memorial four yard line.  RB Cameron Clements bulled into the end zone off left tackle and put the Huskies back on top.

Three drives had netted three scores and a North 17-13 lead.

Following an exchange of punts, the Tigers again rushed their way into Husky territory as the half-time Homecoming ceremony began to line up and take shape.  Yet again Memorial utilized the 'draw' play and their big tailback ran 33 yards straight through the heart of the Husky defense.  A medium pass was followed by a quarterback 'draw' and the Tigers were down to the North 13 yard line.  At this point, S Ben Green stepped in front of a Tiger pass and ended the threat with an interception.

SECOND HALF

The Tigers took the opening kick of the second half and manufactured a twelve play drive to the North 3 yard line.  Despite two Clements tackles for loss early in the drive, the Tigers converted a 3rd and 13 situation with a 14 yard screen pass.  They were further assisted by a 15 yard penalty for 'roughing the passer' and a half-the-distance-to-the-goal penalty on the next play.  With first and goal from the 8, the Huskies suddenly got stingy and denied the Tigers the end zone on three straight plays.  When fourth and goal saw the Memorial quarterback complete a touchdown pass, it was North who benefited from a yellow flag--instead of six points, an 'ineligible receiver downfield' call resulted in a 5 yard penalty and a loss of down.

North had the ball at their own eight, 1st and 10, and had dodged a bullet.

Disaster strikes

The Huskies quickly moved the ball to the 45 yard line with two passes and a run.  This would mark the "high water" mark of the Husky evening.  A ten yard sack of the quarterback set the ball back to the North 35.  A long fly pattern to the right side soared past the receiver's outstretched hands and set up fourth and 16.  The ensuing snap of the ball sailed over the punters head, bounced at the 25, was picked up by the Husky punter at the twenty, he stumbled to his left to avoid pursuers, gave ground, and was eventually tackled at the ten.

Two running plays later Memorial led 19-17.

If bad things come in threes, the second bad thing was an 'unsportsmanlike conduct' penalty on the ensuing kickoff that backed the Huskies up to their own 11 yard line.  Despite that fact, two moderate gains netted a 1st and 10 at the North 31 with just under a minute to play in the third quarter.  Whitler set up to pass and the third bad thing happened.

Memorial intercepted the pass and ran it back 39 yards for a touchdown.  Following a two-point conversion, they led 27-17.

The final outcome

Injuries took their toll on the Husky desire to fight in the fourth quarter.  Memorial blitzes past inexperienced linemen went unblocked.  A tipped balls saw only Tigers pursuing it in the air and turning it into an interception.  North never found an answer for either the screen or the draw play and the game mercifully wound down with a lot of clean white jerseys on the field for Memorial.

Next week sees the Huskies visiting the Harrison Warriors.  A month ago this looked like a certain "W" on the schedule.  The Warriors are winless in their last seventeen games.  They do, however, possess game breaking speed and an aggressive offensive play scheme.  If the Huskies tackle no better next Friday than they did this past one, no would wager anything but long odds on a North victory. 

POSSESSIONS:

BACK TO TOP