Bennington spoils Peabody homecoming
Staff writer
A 22-point eruption out of the gate by the visiting Bennington Bulldogs, combined with turnovers, proved too much for the Warrior football team to overcome Friday.
While the Warriors knotted the game at 30-30 in the third quarter, a combined 44 points in the first and fourth added up to a 76-42 setback for Peabody.
With two games remaining in the season, the Warriors’ window for postseason play is rapidly closing.
The loss knocks Peabody down to 2-4 on the year and 1-2 in district play.
Despite holding the Bulldogs to 345 yards offense while racking up 432 of their own, with 232 rushing, three turnovers left the Warriors crossing the finish line on flat tires.
That was even with the Warriors having the ball nearly 30 minutes longer, and a 19-10 advantage in first downs.
In a 22-0 hole nearing the midway mark of the second quarter, Rocco Weerts finally got the Warriors on the board, hitting Jess Phillpott for a 9-yard score.
Philpott punched in the two-point conversion to give Peabody life.
Philpott finished the game with 203 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, carrying 21 times for a team-high 146 yards.
Peabody trimmed the lead to 22-16 nine seconds later with Philpott breaking loose for a 44-yard score.
The Warriors couldn’t inch any closer in the first half, with Bennington pushing the lead to 30-16 by halftime.
Peabody came storming back the second half with Philpott scoring on two runs for 22 and 34 yards, knotting the game at 30-30 nearly 3:00 into the second half.
The game took a turn for the worse soon after with the Bulldogs outscoring Peabody 46-12 the rest of the way.
After Weerts found Jack Parks for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:31 left in the third quarter to pull to 38-36, the dam began cracking on the Warriors.
Parks hauled in 2 touchdowns for a team-high 84 yards, hauling in a 72-yard reception with 9 seconds left in the third quarter, bringing the Warriors to within four, 46-42.
The Bulldogs hit the accelerator after that, leaving Peabody in the dust, including the Warriors spotting Bennington more points.
With 8:33 to go and the game sealed, Weerts floated one of his two interceptions that made for a 70-42 game.
Peabody wraps up its home schedule Friday hosting the Goessel Bluebirds at 7 p.m.
Last modified Oct. 11, 2018