Warrior air attack grounds Cardinals
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School Warriors soared to their second victory of the season Friday in a road game at Sedgwick. They defeated the Cardinals, 39-13.
The Sedgwick contest started with an early Cardinal kickoff return for a touchdown, just seconds into the game. The Cardinals added an extra point and the Warriors were down by 7.
The Warrior offense answered on the next series with a drive that started on the Warrior 40-yard line. Two downs and a penalty put the Warriors back at their own 35-yard line.
Todd Woodruff connected on a third-and-15 with Micah Hilliard to earn a new set of downs. Nathan Bishop and Woodruff ran on two downs to move the sticks.
Trevor Hamm got involved on the next two downs to bring up third-and- six at the Cardinal 26-yard line. Woodruff passed to Derek Benson in the end zone to put the Warriors on the board.
William Pratt kicked the PAT and the score was tied at 7-7 with 7:39 on the clock.
The next and last Sedgwick score was put up early in the second period. With 11:10 on the clock in the second, the Cardinals took their last lead of the contest, 13-7.
Hilliard took the Cardinal kick-off to the Warrior 33. On second-and-13, Woodruff called a quarterback keeper and moved the ball to the Warrior 45-yard line. Bishop ran on first down and Woodruff found Hilliard on a pass play for the Warrior score.
The score remained tied at 13 for the remainder of the half.
Warrior defense in the first half included tackles by Eric Dutton, Ryan Johnson, Woodruff, Bishop, Pratt, Mike Gfeller, Hilliard, Nick Abramowich, Benson, Hamm, and Anthony Jones.
Derrick Simmonds broke up a pass late in the half and Benson intercepted a Cardinal pass to end the half.
The next score for the Warriors came in the third quarter.
On a third-and-10 at the Cardinal 40, Woodruff completed a pass to Benson to the four-yard line. The Warrior drive ended on a second-and-goal run by Hamm from the three to put the PBHS squad up 19-13. Pratt tacked on the PAT and the Warriors went up 20-13 with 4:14 on the clock.
The Warrior defense held on the next series and the Cardinals were forced to turn the ball over on downs at the Warrior 35. Jason Unruh, Benson, Bishop, Abramowich, Woodruff, Gfeller, and Jones all had tackles.
The Warrior offense included the running game on the next series from Hamm, Woodruff, and Bishop, but the air attack continued with a completed pass from Woodruff to Hilliard for the next Warrior score. On a third-and-15 at the Sedgwick 25-yard line, the Warriors took a 26-13 lead with 9:12 left in the game. Pratt added one and the score was 27-14.
The Warrior defense overpowered the Cardinals on the next series and sacked the quarterback. Pratt recovered the ball at the Cardinal 45-yard line.
Woodruff passed to Benson to set up a first-and- goal at the six. Hamm took the ball to the right side and scampered into the end zone. The Warrior lead was 33-13 with 7:15 left in the contest.
Defense came up big again on the next series. A Cardinal fumble at their own 22-yard line was recovered and advanced to the end zone by Abramowich. The final score of the game came with 6:10 on the clock. The Warriors were up 39-13.
The Warrior offense had one more attempt for a score late in the game with two runs from Oliver Whitney. Time ran out and the Warriors defeated the Cardinals.
Defensive stops for the rest of the contest were recorded by Brett Bass, Gfeller, Pratt, Jones, Unruh, and Oliver Whitney.
"The defense played well all night," said head coach David Pickens. "We successfully stopped their running game. Our offense stepped it up also and we had big night with pass yardage. The passing game was key in getting this win."
Up next for the team is a homecoming match-up with Moundridge.
Woodruff passed 12-16 for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Hilliard caught seven passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Derek Benson caught four passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Woodruff carried 12 times for 87 yards. Hamm carried 10 times for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Bishop carried 8 times for 17 yards.
Nick Abramowich had a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Sacks were recorded by Eric Dutton and William Pratt. Benson had an interception.
Tackles: Woodruff, 7; Bishop, 6; Benson, 5; Abramowich, 5; Johnson, 5; Pratt, 5; Hilliard, 4; Hamm; 4; Eric Dutton, 4; Gfeller, 3; Simmonds, 2; Jones, 2.
