Warriors chalk up first win
Staff writer
Playing for a home crowd, the PBHS Warriors claimed their first victory Friday night. After a dismal first half, the squad came back to the field in the second half and dominated the Inman Teutons to take the victory, 44-13.
Up next for the team is a road game Friday at Bennington.
The first half of play for the Warriors was filled with miscues, penalties, and fumbles. While the Warriors did move the ball down field on five possessions, and were in the red zone twice, the team didn't put any points on the board.
PBHS defense did hold Inman to just one score that came at the 7:45 mark in the first. The Teutons added an extra point and led 7-0 at the half.
Tackles in the half were made by Elliott Spechtenhauser, Todd Woodruff, Nathan Bishop, Will Pratt, Ben Eldridge, Eric Dutton, Andrew Loucks, Derrick Simmonds, Nick Abramowich, and Adam Benson.
The second half began with the Warriors receiving the ball. Woodruff took the kick-off and returned it to the endzone only to have a penalty bring the ball back to the Warrior 42. The offense stalled after four downs and a punt return set up Inman on their own 49.
On the next three plays, Pratt sacked the quarterback, broke up a second down pass, and recovered a fumble.
PBHS set up offense on the Teuton 42. Hamm ran right for a big 28-yard gain. Hamm again carried on first-and-10 at the 14.
On the next play Bishop put the Warriors on the scoreboard with a 10-yard run through the middle of the Inman defensive line. Pratt added an extra point and with 8:42 left in the third, the score was tied, 7-7.
Simmonds set up the next PBHS offensive series with an interception of a Teuton pass.
Starting at the 50-yard line, Hamm gained five yards on second down. On third-and-five from the 45, Todd Woodruff exploded through the middle for the second Warrior score. Pratt kicked the PAT and the Warriors were up 14-7 with 7:07 left in the third.
Pratt kicked off low and the ball rolled into the Inman return man and bounced off. Benson fought for the live ball and put the PBHS offense back on the field.
Hamm and Simmonds carried to set up first-and-goal at the eight. A hold put the Warriors back to the 18. Woodruff ran to the right side into the endzone to give the Warriors a 20-7 lead. Pratt added the PAT. The squad opened up a 21-7 lead with 6:16 left in the third.
Brandon Pickens took down the Inman return man on the kick-off and Inman had to open their next offensive series deep in their own territory. With a swift Warrior defensive pursuit, the Teuton quarterback was tackled by Bishop in the endzone and the Warriors were awarded a safety to make the score 23-7.
The Inman kick-off gave the Warriors the ball at their own 43. Three Hamm runs and two Simmonds' passes, one to Hamm and one to Bishop set up a second-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Hamm went through the middle and gave the Warriors a 29-7 lead. Pratt added one and the squad went up 30-7 with 2:32 on the clock in the third.
Warrior defense held the Teutons until late in the quarter. Aided by a pass interference call, Inman scored on a pass play to make the score 30-13 with eight seconds left in the period.
The fourth quarter started with another PBHS drive that put the offense at the Inman 29. Bishop, Hamm, and Woodruff all gained yardage. Simmonds converted a crucial fourth-and-three at the 10 to set up a first-and-goal at the six. Bishop carried the ball for the score and again the Warriors tacked on seven, including a Pratt extra point. With less than eight minutes to play in the contest, the Warriors led 37-13.
Inman took a complete air game but after seven plays, had to punt. Woodruff returned the punt to the Inman 39. The offense scored for the final time in the contest on a third-and-inches pass play from Simmonds to Pickens. Pratt added another point and the Warriors were up 44-13.
Simmonds picked off another Inman pass and stopped the next Inman drive and the PBHS reserves were able to play the final four minutes of the contest. The Warriors claimed the victory, 44-13.
Pickens caught a 30-yard reception for a touchdown. Hamm carried the ball 19 times for 124 yards and one touchdown. Woodruff caught one pass for 40 yards, had 12 carries for 154 yards, and two touchdowns. Bishop had 12 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Simmonds carried four times for 32 yards and was 6-for-11 in the passing game for 81 yards and a touchdown. Justin Bryan carried two-for-four and Henry Hammann carried one time for a yard.
Simmonds had three interceptions. Pickens and Welsh each had a sack and Bishop recorded a safety.
Bishop and Eldridge led the team with 10 tackles each. Other tackles recorded were Woodruff, seven; Pratt, seven; Benson, six; Corona, five; Hamm, four; Simmonds, three; Abramowich, three; Spechtenhauser, three; Dutton, two; Unruh, two; Foth, two; Slater, two; Loucks, two; Jones, two; Pickens, one; Brooks, one; Welsh, one; and Hammann, one.
