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North Huskies vs Mater Dei Wildcats - at Reitz Bowl Sep 20 2013

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Offense

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Game Recap

WILDCAT LINE OVERPOWERS HUSKIES IN 35-14 NORTH LOSS

Battling a rain storm and a Mater Dei defensive front line that was the same size as most college teams, the North Huskies lost by a score of 35-14 to the Wildcats at Reitz Bowl Friday night.  In a game that was statistically much closer than the score, North fell victim to three big plays in the third quarter and never recovered.

WILDCATS SCORE FIRST

The rain helped to account for Mater Dei’s first score.  After the Big Green defense forced a three-and-out, North turned the ball over on its second play from scrimmage.  Attempting a counter sweep, the handoff between the quarterback and the runner resulted with a ball on the ground and Mater Dei recovering the ball at the North 23.

The Husky defense yielded ground in short bites, but the Wildcats hammered away with eight consecutive running plays.  They scored from the one yard line and led 7-0 just six minutes into the game.

NORTH ANSWERS WITH “THE PATENT”

2013 has been a season in which the North offense has had to manufacture most of its scores with long, time consuming drives.  In the pouring rain, the Husky line answered Mater Dei’s challenge and pushed its way down the field. 

North’s patent for scoring has been its ability to convert third downs.  Three times on the drive, the Huskies faced third-and-five or longer.  On the second occurrence at the North 36, senior Maalik Butler was hit at the line of scrimmage by a pair of defenders but managed to duck his shoulder and spin free.  He broke into the secondary and ran for 28 yards to the Mater Dei 36.

When it appeared the drive might stall at the 24 on third-and-eight, the line gave quarterback Jesse Millikan ‘all day’ to throw.  Standing behind a solid wall of blockers, he arced a toss towards the five yard line.  Junior Ty Winchell, running a hitch-and-go pattern, battled the free safety for the football and came down with a first down at the three yard line.  Two plays later, junior Ford Johnson completed the 12 play, eighty yard drive by carrying a defender into the end zone on a running play.

A bad snap from center foiled the point after attempt and North trailed 7-6 as the first quarter ended.

SECOND QUARTER

The Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff at the five and returned it out near midfield.  Mater Dei then pieced together its own 13 play drive for a score.  In the driving rain, the North defense bent without breaking, but the juggernaut Wildcat line was able to convert a pair of fourth down opportunities and Mater Dei scored from the two yard line.

The drive effectively wore down the North defense and the rain continued to sap the Huskies ability to recover.

North’s next possession was marred by five penalty calls on seven snaps.  Given the conditions, the frustration of being unable to get into a rhythm due to the constant drop of penalty flags took the Huskies out of their game.  After that drive, the Huskies ability to stem the tide effectively ended for the rest of the football game.

SECOND HALF

The Mater Dei offensive and defensive lines owned the second half. 

On offense, they ripped open holes that resulted in huge “big plays”.  A 60 yard touchdown run on their first possession put the Wildcats up by 15 points.

A forty yard run on their second possession set up first and goal at the five.  Two plays later they led 28-6.

Their quarterback had time to spot an open receiver when his first target was covered on their third possession.  The extra time resulted in a 38 yard gain and a first and goal at the North 3 yard line.  The next play they scored and led 35-6

For their part, North struggled to answer the scores.  Where they had been golden on third-and-long in the first half, the same situation resulted in three disasters in the third quarter.  On one, a tremendous pass rush forced the quarterback to flee the pocket and very nearly resulted in an interception.  On another, a runner was thrown for a six yard loss.  And on the third, the quarterback was sacked for a 12 yard loss while trying to pass.

FOURTH QUARTER

With 10 minutes remaining, both teams began playing their reserve players.  North’s second team offense showed very well for itself by engineering an eleven play drive for 77 yards.  Sophomore Tre Neighbors ran for 25 yards on the drive on five carries and fellow sophomore Austin Curtis ran for 27 yards.  Curtis scored on a 9 yard run with 1:07 remaining and then threw a two-point conversion pass to Brock Johnson.  The final score was 35-14.

SUMMARY

Both North lines got manhandled in the third quarter.  The conditions were miserable and the competition level was high.  The opponent lines were big and talented—North had not seen their like since the Henderson County game.

For 18 minutes of play, North looked equal to the level of competition.  For the next 18 minutes, the game was a mismatch.

North will not see similar skills along the line next Friday at Enlow Field when they take on the Bosse Bulldogs.  What they will face, though, is the area’s top running back and a mobile, strong armed quarterback.  The Huskies are not without weapons of their own, but the tables must be reversed if North is to sustain its 17 game winning streak against the Bulldogs.

If North doesn’t “win” the line-of-scrimmage, Friday night at Enlow Field could resemble last Friday night at Reitz Bowl. 

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