Warriors lose close one to Sterling
Staff writer
A well-matched home opener Friday gave the Peabody-Burns High School Warriors their first loss of the season. Pitted against the Sterling Black Bears, the Peabody-Burns squad lost a close one, 7-6.
The opening kickoff put the ball in the hands of the Warriors. Penalties on both teams made it hard to establish momentum. Most of the first quarter was spent in the middle of the field with both defensive units stalling offensive play.
The Warriors had two offensive series that ended in punts. Good defensive play was recorded by Nick Conquest, Chris Hamm, Nolan Hurst, Mike Cullinane, Brandon Crabtree, Kurt Phillips, Mario Nava, and Adam Jones.
In the second quarter, the first drive for the Warriors ended in a fumble to the Black Bears. Two plays later, Conquest intercepted a Sterling pass to give the ball back to the Warriors. The PBHS squad could not gain ground and punted back to the Bears. A big gain for the Bears gave them first and goal on the four-yard line.
Two plays later the Black Bears scored. The PAT was good and late in the second quarter the Sterling team put the first score on the board 7-0. The quarter ended with the Warriors shutting down the offense of the Bears. The halftime score was 7-0.
The second half gave the Black Bears the ball first. While penalties still plagued the Warriors, the squad brought a renewed intensity to the field.
A recovered fumble gave the Warriors their first offensive drive in the second half. Three plays later, however, a fumbled exchange put the ball back in the hands of the Bears. It wasn't long before an interception of a Sterling pass by Caleb Good gave the Warriors the ball. With 7:05 on the clock, the team put together a good drive, but turned the ball over on downs at the Bear 21-yard line on a fourth and one.
The defensive unit punished the Black Bears and the next series. Philip Unruh and Justin Mayfield combined for good defensive plays. On a Bear third and 15, Mayfield recovered a fumble and put the Warriors back on offense deep in Bear territory.
The scoring drive consisted of Chris Hamm with a carry for six yards on first down. Nava hit the middle for two yards on a second down. Nolan Hurst, the work horse ball carrier for the contest, ran the ball in on the left side for the score. The PAT was not good and with 47 seconds left in the third quarter, the Warriors were down by one, 7-6.
Throughout the fourth, the Warriors continued tough defensive pressure, catching the Bears on one series at a fourth and 32. The offense however, couldn't sustain a much needed drive. Matt Kangas stopped a late drive by the Bears with a clutch interception. The Warriors lost, 7-6.
"Our kids played with a lot of heart," said Coach Chris Young. "But we've got to be able to do it when it counts. We were in the red zone four times. We just couldn't convert.
"We made some good adjustments at halftime and moved the ball better in the second half. Our kids played pretty well. We'll just go back to work for next week."
The Warriors travel Friday to Halstead.
STATISTICS
Nolan Hurst had 16 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Chris Hamm had 10 carries for 29 yards and one catch for five yards.
Nick Conquest had 23 offensive yards and 7 punts for 218 yards.
Sacks were recorded by Hurst, Kurt Phillips, and Hamm.
Interceptions were recorded by Caleb Good, Matt Kangas, and Conquest.
Tackles were recorded by Kangas, 11; Phil Unruh, 8; Conquest, 7; Hamm, 7; Hurst, 6; Justin Mayfield, 6; Adam Carroll, 5; Brandon Crabtree, 5; Adam Jones, 4; Phillips, 3; Michael Unruh, 3; Mario Nava, 2; Michael Cullinane, 2; Jonathon Foth, 1; Good, 1.
