Bears hand Warriors second loss of season
Staff writer
The Peabody-Burns High School football team was dealt its second loss of the season when they were defeated on the road Friday night by Sterling, 34-21.
The Warriors began the contest on defense. Jonathan Foth, Brian Baker, Mario Nava, Ryan Gaines, and Isaiah Eldridge all came up with tackles to stop the first Black Bear series.
The Warriors put their offense in motion on their own 25-yard line. They moved to 39 with a Todd Woodruff pass to Micah Hilliard. Woodruff carried for three on first down. Nava carried on second down for two. The drive ended on the third down with a Black Bear interception of a Warrior pass. Gaines came up with the stop on the play.
The defense held tough on the series and gave the Warriors back the ball on the Warrior 37. Kurt Phillips and Woodruff ran on the first two downs. On third-and-one, Nava took the ball to the Sterling 25. On first-and-10, Phillips picked a path through the defense for the Warrior touchdown. Baker added the extra point to give the Warriors the early lead. With 6:09 left in the first, the Warriors were up 7-0.
Defense held the Black Bears in the next series. Brandon Crabtree, Phillips, Nava, Gaines, and Eldridge all recorded tackles. The Sterling punt was fielded by Nava at the Warrior 20.
The PBHS offense was halted by the Black Bear attack on the next series. The Warriors were forced to punt and the Sterling squad came up with a block that put the Black Bears in good field position at the Warrior 30. On the next play, Sterling found the end zone. They added one and the score was all even at seven with just over two minutes left in the first.
The Black Bears scored once more in the half to give them the half time edge, 13-7.
Defensively in the rest of the first half, the Warriors held Sterling on three drives. Gaines, Phillips, Woodruff, James Morris, Hilliard, Crabtree, Eldridge, and Nava all made stops. Nathan Bishop came up with an interception late in the half to give the offense good field position, but three passes fell incomplete and the Black Bears came back on the field to down the ball just before the half. The Warrior offense struggled through the half. Five possessions ended with no points for the Warriors.
The first Warrior drive in the second half ended in a Black Bear interception of a PBHS pass.
The Black Bear ground and air game took control in the second half, earning three more scores in the contest. The third Sterling touchdown of the half came at the three minute mark in the fourth quarter, making the score 34-7.
The Warriors came back and put up two more scores late in the game. On a Sterling kick-off, Nava took the ball and ran 87 yards for the Warrior score. Phillips tacked on two and the score was 34-15.
The last Warrior drive started at their own 22. Phillips and Nava each recorded yardage on the drive. Bishop caught a short pass on second and goal at the ten for the touchdown. The conversion failed. The last score oft he contest came with just 37 seconds left on the clock. The Black Bears defeated the Warriors, 34-21.
Nava led the Warriors in rushing with 16 carries for 187 yards and one touchdown. Phillips had 15 carries for 54 yards and one touchdown. Woodruff carried 10 times for 31 yards. Woodruff completed 6 of 20 for 53 yards.
Hilliard caught three passes for 21 yards. Bishop caught two passes for 17 yards and one touchdown.
Defensive leaders for the game included Crabtree and 14 tackles and Eldridge with eight tackles and a sack. Bishop had seven tackles and an interception. Gaines chalked up 11 tackles. Hilliard and Nava checked in with 10 tackles. Other tackle totals included Morris 7, Phillips 6, Foth 5, Woodruff 4, Baker 4, and Trevor Hamm 1.
Now 4-2, the Warriors begin district play this week with a Friday match-up against Chase County.
