Warriors defeated in first round district play
Staff writer
The Peabody-Burns Warriors were defeated Friday in the first round of district play. The Warriors lost to Moundridge 21-0 on the road.
At 5-3 on the season, the Warriors now prepare for a Thursday meeting at home with Canton-Galva. The Warriors need a win to advance to the next round of play.
The Warriors were on offense first against the Wildcats, but the series ended in a punt by Brian Baker.
The Wildcats took possession of the ball mid-field. Four plays later the Cats scored on a pass play. The Warriors were behind 7-0 at the nine minute mark in the first quarter.
Throughout the half, the Warriors had some success moving the ball, with the best drive starting at their own 15-yard line.
Mario Nava and Kurt Phillips covered the ground game. Michael Unruh kept the drive alive with a third and eight run that took the Warriors from the Wildcat 48 to the Warrior 34. The drive ended however with a field goal attempt by Chris Hamm that went wide left.
Defensively the Warriors kept the Cats in check during the first half. Isaiah Eldridge had an outstanding defensive game for the Warriors. Jonathon Foth, Brandon Crabtree, Phillips, Caleb Good, Hamm, Adam Jones, Ryan Gaines, and Adam Carroll all recorded first-half stops.
A late fumble by the Cats gave the ball back to the Warriors. Gaines recovered the ball, but with under one minute to go in the half, the Warriors downed the ball three times and went to half time behind, 7-0.
A short Warrior punt set up the next Wildcat score. With just over five minutes in the third quarter, the Cats took the ball in from the 23-yard line. The Warriors did block the extra point making the score 13-0, Wildcats.
Warrior defense did its job, but the offense just couldn't find the end zone. With six offensive possessions in the half, the Warriors came up short each time.
The Cats managed one more score in the game with a score from the five-yard line with 3:10 left in the game.
The Warrior defense had a pretty good half against the undefeated Wildcats. James Morris, Eldridge, Jones, Foth, Nava, Hamm, Crabtree, Phillips, and Carroll were credited with second-half tackles.
The Warriors were defeated by the Wildcats 21-0.
"We battled, we battled, we battled," stated Coach Chris Young. "We played a good football team. Our team did what they could to stop them. I'm really proud of their performance."
Statistics
Rushing — Mario Nava, 24 carries for 81 yds.
Kurt Phillips, 18 carries for 32 yds.
Michael Unruh, 2 carries for 11 yds
Caleb Good, 2 carries for 3 yds
Tackles — Eldridge, 10; Nava, 8; Phillips, 7; Crabtree, 7; Carroll, 6; Hamm, 5; Jones, 5; Morris, 5; Gaines, 4; Foth, 3; Job Hilliard, 3; Unruh, 1
Sacks — Eldridge,1; Jones, 1
