Back

North 27 Central 0 - Central Stadium Oct 17, 2008

Game Stats    Game Recap    Game Possession Chart

Offense

Oct 17 NORTH vs Central VARSITY Offensive Stats
             
Passing              
Player Att Com % Yards TD INT Notes:
WHITLER 21 13 62% 150 1 1 28 yd TD (Parker)
       --        
TOTAL 21 13 62% 150 1 1  
             
Rushing              
Player Att Yds Avg TD Long Fum Notes:
CARLILE 17 79 4.6 1 17 0 2 yd TD
SCOTT 4 29 7.3 0 14 0  
GARRETT 2 13 6.5 0 13 0  
GOTT 1 13 13.0 0 13 0  
CLEMENTS 6 8 1.3 0 5 0  
WHITLER 4 2 0.5 0 5 0 Sacked 1 time for -4 yards
TOTAL 34 144 4.2 1 17 0  
             
Receiving              
Player Rec To " Yds Avg TD Long Notes:
PARKER 8 12 89 11.1 1 28 28 yd TD (Whitler)
GOTT 4 6 45 11.3 0 21  
CLEMENTS 1 2 16 16.0 0 16  
RUSHING 0 1 0  -- 0 0  
         --      
TOTAL 13 21 150 11.5 1 28  
  * thrown to        
             
Returns              
Player Type No. Yds Avg. TD Long Notes:
GREEN INT 1 15 15.0 1 25 25 yd TD (Interception return)
HUFFORD KO 1 17 17.0 0 17  
PARKER Punt 1 27 27.0 0 27  
GOTT Punt 1 0 0.0 0 0  
TOTAL   4 59 14.8 1 27  
             
Kicks              
Player Type No. Yds Avg. Long   Notes:
MEADOR KO 6 313 52.2 57    
PARKER Punt 0 0  -- 0   North never forced to punt!
MEADOR FG 2 53 26.5 31   2 of 2 on Field Goal attempts
TOTAL   8 366 45.8 88    
             
Scoring              
Player Total TD rush TD rec TD ret 2pt XP XP kick FG
MEADOR 9 0 0 0 0 3 2 (31 yd FG); (22 yd FG)
PARKER 6 0 1 0 0 0 0
CARLILE 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
GREEN 6 0 0 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 27 1 1 1 0 3 0

Team Stats

Oct 17 NORTH vs Central Team Stats
       
  NORTH   Central  
15 FIRST DOWNS 7  
9 Rushing 6  
5 Passing 0  
1 Penalty 1  
144 RUSHING YARDS 129  
34 Rushing attempts 37  
4.2 Avg yds per rush 3.5  
150 PASSING YARDS 6  
21 Attempts 6  
13 Completions 2  
62% Completion % 33%  
11.5 Avg yds per completion 3.0  
1 / -4 Sacked / Yards Lost 2 / -8  
294 TOTAL YARDS 135  
55 Plays 43  
5.3 Avg yds per play 3.1  
1 TURNOVERS 2  
0 Fumbles lost 0  
1 Passes HAD intercepted 2  
10 Points scored off turnovers 0  
5 / 45 PENALTIES / YARDS 6 / 42  
4 / 10 3rd down conversions 1 / 9  
3 / 5 4th down conversions 1 / 3  
       

Defense

NORTH VS CENTRAL 10/17/2008 - DEFENSIVE STATS
                   
PLAYER SOLO ASST. T-FL SACK C FUM R FUM INT. B. KICK  POINTS
JAMES MARION 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17
MARCUS GARRETT 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 14
BEN GREEN 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 14
CAMERON CLEMENTS 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 12
TRAVIS CARLILE 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 9
IVAN IRVINE 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 9
MITCH PARKER 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
TONY MENDOZA 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 6
DREW HAWKINS 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5
DEREK HINSEY 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
DAMIEN JACKSON 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
JAMES GOTT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
RYAN HUFFORD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
PRESTON MEADOR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
KYLE HOLLAND 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
BO RUSHING 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
                  0
TOTALS 39 19 3 2 0 0 2 1 113

Game Recap

The rating service predictions for the North versus Central game:

Massey Ratings:  Central favored by 11 http://www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal300x250.cfm?ct=ratings&schoolid=IN4771135590&year=2008

CalPrep Ratings:  Central favored by 7½  http://calpreps.com/2008/ratings/Indiana_league.htm

Sagarin Ratings:   Central favored by 8  http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/hsfsend.htm

The Courier Pick: Central favored by 18  http://www.courierpress.com/blogs/high-school-sports/2008/oct/16/101508/

The final line of last week’s game summary:

“With Central looming on the radar, the Huskies need to capture the first half disciplines of Saturday night's game, take them to heart, and carry them to the field if they are to stave off a similar fate.”

To say the Huskies pulled off an upset on Friday night at Central Stadium is accurate, but it short changes this squad of over-achievers.  Throughout the season the Huskies have put themselves in position to challenge for victory only to give up a big play or a turnover that changed the game around:

These examples are not cited as excuses.  These examples are not cited to lay claim that this team is worthy of state ranking.  These examples are cited as a testimony to ‘what might have been’ had this team played for four quarters with the intensity which it did Friday night.

…and what a Friday-night-for-the-ages it was.

FIRST QUARTER

The 2008 season has been marked by a weakness on the part of the North defense to stop a power running game.  The Bears brought a big, powerful tailback to Central Stadium who had not been contained by any city defense.

To say they were confident on this night would be an understatement.

To say they left the field proud of their running game would be a gross overstatement.

After picking up a quick first down with two running plays, Central stayed with the same plan for their second set of downs.  North’s defensive staff quickly recognized the game plan for what it was, put eight men in the box and forced the Bears to ‘own the gaps’ in the line.

They didn’t.

The Husky defense rose to the occasion.

BIG MEN = BIG STOPS

DT Marcus Garrett stopped the big Central tail back for no gain on first down.  DE Damien Jackson brought down the fleet footed Bear quarterback as he sprinted toward the end of the line and held him to a one yard gain.  DT Ivan Irvine met the big tailback at the line of scrimmage on third down and introduced him to the dust at the line of scrimmage.  If Central wanted to play “smash mouth” football, North had issued the first ‘bloody lip’ of the evening.

A short punt was fielded by James Gott at the North 47 and the Huskies made short order of the Bear defense.  Where Central seemed to want to beat back the North defensive line, Coach Wilson’s plan for the evening was to attack the edges of the Bear defense.

PARKER DIVES IN

Following an off-tackle run by RB Travis Carlile on first down, QB Cameron Whitler hooked up with Gott for a 21 yard pickup on second down.  With the ball resting on the Central 28 and barely a minute into the possession, Whitler looked for his most familiar target, 6’3” WR Mitch Parker, on the next play.

Parker took a screen pass in the open near the right hand sideline and ran untouched for nearly twenty yards.  When a Bear defender caught up to him inside the five, the lanky wide receiver refused to go down and instead lunged forward for the end zone.  North went up a touchdown with the extra-effort.

When Central’s allegedly talented-sophomore-speed-burner (see the Evansville Courier’s appraisal of his talents) muffed the kickoff, skipped to one side, stumbled to regain his footing, and fell down to little more than a grazing blow at the one yard line, it set up a turn of events that would tell the tale of the evening..

BIG HITS ALL AROUND

This was a special night for the Big Green “D”.  One of the reasons the night was special was a player named Green—Ben Green to be exact

On first, just when it appeared that Central’s big running back might find a seam in the defense and break free, Green delivered perhaps the biggest blow of the evening.   Moving up in run support from his strong safety position, the under-sized senior met the runner head on and blasted the tailback backward with a ferocious blow.  What had looked for an instant like a potential big gainer became a ‘ho hum’ one yard run.

On third down, Carlile, returning to defensive end for the first time in two games, ran down the allegedly talented-sophomore-speed-burner quarterback from behind and slammed him to the ground for a four yard loss.

The North defense had dealt its second ‘bloody lip’ of the evening.

When junior LB Tony Mendoza got a hand on the punt that the Bears kicked from their end zone, it set up a short field for the Huskies to take advantage of.

MEADOR’S RECORD

If there’s one un-sung hero to the season, it has to be K Preston Meador.  His long booming kickoffs have consistently presented the opposition with long fields from which to seek their points.  He has converted every field goal attempt—including some that were waived off when penalties gave North first downs.  He has made touchdown saving tackles from his kickoff position.

Friday night he wrote his name into the North All-Time Record Book.

When North’s drive stalled at the 14, Meador came out and coolly kicked his fourth field goal of the season and it tied a North record that had stood since 1974 (K Brent Hawkins, father of current senior Drew Hawkins).  When later in the game he would kick his fifth, it established the new single-season mark and tied Hawkins’ career mark for field goals.

SECOND QUARTER

THE OFFENSE ‘CORNERS’ THE BEARS

Now up 10-0, the Huskies forced a Bear punt and began the second quarter with the ball deep in their own territory.  The Husky plan to attack the corners of the Central defense would again bear fruit and they began the drive with a nine yard gain on an option pitch to RB Travis CarlileWhitler found Parker open on a left hand ‘hook’ route for a 20 yard pickup to move the ball near midfield.

Parker then provided a great block on another option pitch to Carlile and this time he rambled 17 yards around right end and carried the ball to the Central 38.  Another Parker catch followed by a Bear personal foul after the play put the ball at the Central 15 yard line.

When the Huskies were called for holding and moved back to the 20 for a second and 15 situation, it appeared the Meador might have to be called on again to boot another field goal.  Coach Wilson had other intentions, however.

RB Cameron Clements has been an unheralded component of the North offense this season.  Often called upon in tough short yardage situations, he has done something else that has missed mention: excelled as a pass catcher.  On seven pass receptions in 2008, Clements has averaged nearly 24 yards gained per catch.

On a play the Huskies use sparingly, Whitler rolled to his right on a play action pass and turned and looked back to his left for Clements who was isolated in the flat.  Grabbing the pass, Clements barreled to the four yard line for 16 yard pick up and a first down.  Another Central personal foul on the play spotted the ball at the two.

When sophomore OG Colton Tenhumberg blasted open a pathway into the end zone, Carlile ducked his head and ran to six more points.  Meador’s extra point made the score 17-0 and the rout was on.

DEFENSIVE DOMINATION

To put it bluntly, the defense took names and kicked a** on the next two possessions—and not necessarily in that orderMarcus Garrett again taught the Central tailback the meaning of the word “respect” on a fourth and two from the Central 41.  North took over at the Central 38 after the play following Garrett’s three yard stop for loss

On their final possession of the half, LB James Marion got in on the action and stopped the big Bear for a loss on first down and ten at the Central 40.  Central lined up in the shot gun formation on the next play to give their young quarterback time to throw.

It didn’t make any difference to DE Travis Carlile.

Blowing past his blocker, the two year starter set his eyes upon the allegedly talented-sophomore-speed-burner-quarterback, grabbed his jersey before he could escape, and wrestled him to the ground for a four yard sack.  The Bears left the field with a whimper and with the exception of their halftime Homecoming had no reason to stay for the rest of the evening’s events.

SECOND HALF

Central had to learn to live with disappointment early in the third quarter.  Utilizing the quarterback draw, they picked up a first down in North territory.  They took advantage of a North penalty on a 4th and 6 and then converted a fourth and inches opportunity.  When their quarterback managed a run to the left for 11 yards to the North 18 it appeared they might still make a game of it.

When DB Drew Hawkins stepped in front of a ‘ruptured duck’ pass into the end zone on second and ten, the Bears were through for the evening.

THE KNOCKOUT BLOW

If Central was expecting anything different from North by this point in the game, they were in for further disappointment.  The Huskies took the ball at the 20 yard line and embarked on the season’s longest drive.  Nineteen plays of ‘grind it out’ football yielded no single play longer than 14 yards.

The Huskies ate up over eight minutes of clock, converted three third down opportunities along with a fourth down chance, and drove downfield.  They again continued to attack the corners of the Bear defense and the offensive line owned the line of scrimmage.

Parkerstretched’ his way to one first down on a slant pass.  RB Brandon Scott streaked to the sideline with an option pitch to the right, appeared caught at the line of scrimmage, and then turned on the speed for a 14 yard pickup.  WR James Gott ran a reverse to pick up a third-and-seven first down.  Whitler sneaked his way to a first down on fourth and inches at the Central 25.  Parker caught a 9 yard pass on 3rd and 8.

The Huskies ate up yards, the clock, and the Bears’ willingness to play on the drive.  When Meador broke the school record with a field goal at 8:26 to play, Central was “all-in”.

And no where was it more evident than two plays from scrimmage later.

“BIG PLAY” BEN GREEN

Central’s return man ran forty yards on the kick off return.  Unfortunately for Central he ran from one side of the field back to the other side of the field as he went from their nine yard line to their ten yard line.

North flushed the quarterback from the pocket on first down and he picked up five yards.  Central lined up from the shotgun again on second down and attempted an out pass to the tight end.  The tight end never looked back for the ball and Ben Green stepped in front of the pass with an open field ahead of him.  25 yards later the Huskies were up 27-0 and the home team stands began to empty.

DOMINATION

Of the game’s 109 plays from scrimmage, 78 took place in Central’s half of the field.  Time of possession ran 28 minutes for North and 20 minutes for Central.  The Huskies generated nearly 300 yards total offense while holding the Bears to 135. 

Most importantly, the Husky defense held Central on eight of nine third down opportunities.  By continuously refusing to yield first downs, the much maligned Green Defense generated short fields for the offense to play with.

This was a night that belonged to the defense.  Certainly the offense put together long drives as well as quick strikes and acquitted themselves well.  The Bears may claim that having three starters suspended for marijuana related charges put them at risk to be dominated, but there can be no similar claim for their offense—they had all their starters.

And on a night when the Bears wanted to play ‘smash mouth’ football, it was the Husky defense that rose to the occasion and gave Central a mouthful of bloody teeth.  Three tackles for loss, seven stops for no gain, two sacks of the quarterback, a pair of interceptions, and a partially blocked punt—these are the stats that stand out.

Had this been a boxing match, the ringside announcer would have raised a big green glove in the air and proclaimed, “The winner by knock out and STILL the heavyweight champ of the Buehler’s Buy Low Trophy, the North High Huskies!”.


POSSESSIONS:

POSSESSION CHART NORTH vs Central 10/17/2008  
                 
1ST QUARTER            
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C15 7 5 0 6 1 1:30 Punt 3 straight stops for no gain forces punt 0 - 0
                 
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
N47 3 1 2 53 1 1:25 TD Parker 28 yd TD reception 7 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C1 4 3 0 0 0 1:45 Punt Pin Bears on 1 yd line on KO; Mendoza deflects punt 7 - 0
                 
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C17 4 2 1 17 0 1:15 FG Meador 31 yd FG 10 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C26 7 5 0 36 1 3:20 Punt #32 36 yd run one of only two Central plays longer than 10 yds 10 - 0
                 
NORTH SECOND QUARTER after first play of drive  
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
N13 12 6 4 87 5 3:30 TD Carlile 2 yd TD run; never face third down on possession 17 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C23 7 5 0 20 1 3:45 Punt   17 - 0
                 
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
50 5 1 4 18 1 1:45 downs   17 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C32 4 2 2 4 0 0:45 downs Garrett stops #32 for 3 yd loss on 4th and short 17 - 0
                 
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C38 5 1 4 19 1 1:10 INT Deep pass to Parker intercepted in Central end zone on 3rd & 10 17 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C20 5 5 0 24 1 1:25 Half   17 - 0
                 
SECOND HALF            
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
N46 4 4 0 9 0 1:45 downs Consecutive runs stopped on "inches" for 1st down 17 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C45 11 7 3 37 3 5:00 INT Hawkins INT in end zone on 2nd & 10 from North 18 17 - 0
                 
NORTH FOURTH QUARTER after first 11 plays of drive  
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
N20 19 12 6 80 5 8:40 FG Meador 22 yd FG; convert 4 third down opportunities 20 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
C49 2 1 1 5 0 0:40 INT Green 15 yd TD on INT RETURN 27 - 0
                 
Central                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
50 4 4 0 7 0 2:00 downs 47 yd KO return sets up midfield possession; Green big stop for no gain on 4th and short 27 - 0
                 
NORTH                
Start Plays Run Pass Yards 1st Time Result Notes Score
N43 9 8 0 23 2 5:10 Game Scott 31 yd TD run called back by holding penalty with 1:30 to play 27 - 0

BACK TO TOP