Bi-district loss at Solomon ends Warriors' season
Staff writer
A close contest at Solomon Oct. 30 ended in a one-point loss for Peabody-Burns, 28-27.
PBHS ended the season with a 7-3 record.
The Warrior defense took first crack at Solomon, forcing a three-and-out. Stops by Nick Abramowich, Nathan Bishop, and Anthony Jones forced the Gorillas to punt.
The first offensive series for PBHS started at its own 30. Ben Eldridge and Trevor Hamm moved the ball on the ground to earn two new first downs.
Brandon Pickens caught a Bishop pass for another first down at the Solomon 27.
Hamm moved the ball on a run off tackle and set up the Warriors in the red zone.
Four plays produced no yardage, and Will Pratt attempted a field goal from the Gorilla 15-yard line.
The kick was blocked and Solomon returned the ball to the Warrior 34.
The first scoring drive for the Warriors started late in the first quarter. A punt by Solomon set up PBHS on the Warrior 29. A patient ground game by Hamm and Eldridge with the addition of a pass completion by Pickens, put the ball at first-and-goal at the Gorilla one.
Abramowich cleared a path to the end zone for Hamm to put the Warriors on the board.
Pratt's extra point attempt bounced off the upright, but the Warriors still led 6-0 with eight minutes, five seconds on the clock in the second period.
A Solomon fumble recovered by the Warriors set up their next opportunity.
Working with a short field from the Gorilla 18, Hamm earned three on a first down.
Elliott Spechtenhauser moved the ball two more on second down to give PBHS a third-and-five at the 13.
Bishop then completed a pass to Pickens for a touchdown.
Bishop plunged through the defensive line to earn two points, and the Warriors led 14-0 with 5:54 until halftime.
On the next Solomon drive at third-and-two from their own 28, the Gorrillas got on the scoreboard with a 72-yard run.
They added the two-point conversion, and the lead was 14-8 with 4:37 left in the first half.
The Warrior defense held the Gorillas for the remainder of the first half.
Stops were made by Spechtenhauser, Bishop, Pratt, Pickens, Thomas McGee, Andrew Loucks, Jacob Simmonds, and Hamm. The score remained 14-8 at the break.
Solomon took the opening kick-off of the second half the length of the field for another score. The two-point conversion failed, but the game was tied at 14.
With six minutes on the clock in the third quarter, the Warriors began a drive at mid-field.
Hamm had two runs on first and second downs, the second of which produced 19 yards, down to the Solomon 28-yard line.
A Bishop pass to Pickens put the ball at the 17.
On first down, Hamm took off to the left side for a 17-yard touchdown run.
Pratt added the extra point, and PBHS was on top 21-14 with 4:32 left in the third.
Solomon answered with an 80-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard run. The two-point conversion gave the Gorillas the lead by one with 2:13 left in the third.
The next Warrior drive started at their own 31 late in the period.
Hamm rushed on the drive, Benson caught a pass, and a couple of Solomon penalties put the offense at first-and-goal with no time left on the clock.
The first play of the fourth quarter saw Bishop keep the ball and sneak into the end zone for a score.
The two-point conversion run failed, but PBHS led 27-22.
Once again Solomon covered the field with an 80-yard drive that lasted seven minutes.
It was now 28-27 Solomon with 4:26 to play in the game.
The next Warrior drive stalled at mid-field as PBHS turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes to play.
The defense picked up the slack as Abramowich recovered a fumble on the next play, giving the Warriors the ball on the Solomon 49.
Hamm began the drive with a run, and passes to Pickens and Adam Benson moved the ball as well.
A Hamm run set up the Warriors with a first-and-goal at the six-yard line.
Following a time-out, Pratt attempted a field goal with 14 seconds on the clock.
The kick was no good, and the Warrior season came to an end.
Bishop was 9-17 for 95 yards through the air and one touchdown.
Pickens caught six passes for 56 yards and a score, while Benson hauled in two for 26 yards, and Simmonds one for 13.
Hamm rushed 30 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Eldridge chipped in with 38 yards on eight carries, while Bishop had four carries for 12 yards and a score.
Bishop led the Warriors on defense as well with 7.5 tackles.
Pratt had 6.5, Spechtenhauser six, Jones 4.5, and Benson 3.5.
Pickens and Loucks each had three, Abramwoich 2.5, and Hamm and Corona each had two.
Eldridge helped out with 1.5 tackles while Simmonds added one.
