Warriors open season with 2-0 record
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns Warriors remain unbeaten for the season with a victory Friday in their home opener.
The Warriors slayed the Halstead Dragons, 28-0. The PBHS squad is now 2-0 in the early going of the 2003 season. They prepare to travel to Sedgwick Friday to take on the Cardinals.
Chris Hamm kicked off for the home team and the Dragons started the game mid-field. The Warriors made a huge defensive stand with stops by Adam Jones, Ryan Gaines, Brandon Crabtree, and Isaiah Eldridge.
The Dragons were forced to punt. Kurt Phillips blocked the punt and the Warriors started their first offensive series deep in Dragon territory on the five-yard line.
A Halstead penalty moved the ball to the three-yard line to start the series. On first and goal at the three, Phillips ran the ball in for the score.
The PAT was good and the Warriors went up 7-0 with 10:19 on the first quarter clock.
The defensive team went right back to work with a good stop by Jonathan Foth to make the Dragons start play at their 36-yard line. The Warriors held the Dragons on the series.
Both teams took a turn at offense with each series ending in punts.
The next offensive series for PBHS started with 4:10 on the clock and at the Warrior 37-yard line. Mario Nava, Phillips, and Hamm each covered ground to move the sticks, earning two sets of downs on the drive.
The quarter ended with the Warriors at the five-yard line.
After changing end zones and with just a few seconds off the clock, Hamm ran right side to the end zone to make the score 13-0 with 11:57 remaining in the quarter. The PAT was blocked and the score remained 13-0.
Good defense again by the Warriors started on the kick-off with a tackle by Michael Unruh. The Dragons again at mid-field could not advance the ball against the Warrior defense and punted on a fourth and 29.
The Warriors and the Dragons traded offense for one series.
The next scoring drive for the Warriors started on the Dragon 20-yard line due to a good punt return by Brian Baker. Hamm and Nava each chipped in yardage. On third and eight, Nava went to the left side and scored.
Phillips carried the conversion and the Warriors went up 21-0 with just over five minutes left in the half.
The Warriors kicked off again and they ran only one play from scrimmage. Job Hilliard came up with a fumble recovery to put the Warrior offense back on the field.
The series, however, ended in a missed field goal attempt and the Dragons had one more offensive try before the half.
Again, the Halstead squad couldn't move the ball against the Warrior wall. Stops were made by Crabtree, Phillips, Gaines, Hamm, Hilliard, Foth, Jones, and Adam Carroll.
The Warriors took a knee to end the first half, up 21-0.
The Warriors opened the second half on offense, but punted back to the Dragons with 10 minutes left in the third.
The Dragons moved the ball on the next offensive series, but the Warrior defense stopped them cold with a blocked field goal attempt.
The Warriors took the ball over on their own 30-yard line. Hamm broke to the outside for a huge run on first down, moving the ball 57 yards. Phillips and Nava helped with ground work.
With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, the Warriors scored their last touchdown of the evening. On a third and goal at the nine-yard line, Hamm took the ball to the right side of the end zone. The PAT was good and the Warriors made the score 28-0.
Throughout the remainder of the game, Warrior reserves took on the first team of the Dragons and held them, not allowing them into the end zone.
Good defensive stops were made by Chad Litton, Ryan Johnson, Baker, Isaac Good, Micah Hilliard, and Jason Unruh.
Johnson came up with a fumble recovery late in the game to put the Warriors back on offense as the game ended.
In an end zone team meeting after the game, the varsity players had high praise for the junior varsity.
"The junior varsity stepped up their play tonight and all week at practice," said Foth, a Warrior team member.
Big varsity plays also were pointed out by many of the team members in the huddle.
"We are an improved team this week," said Coach Chris Young. "We are stepping up to our new offense and we executed it pretty well. We pulled together." "Our defense was dedicated tonight. They came up with big plays. It was a great victory for the players," he added.
statistics
Hamm — 9 carries for 111 yards, 2 TDs
Nava — 14 carries for 63 yards, 1TD
Phillips — 31 carries for 29 yards, 1 TD
I. Good — 3 carries for 5 yards
Cole Welsh — 3 carries for 5 yards
Litton — 2 carries
Nava — 3 kick-offs for 112 yards
Hamm — 2 kick-offs for 75 yards
Baker — 5 punts for 175 yards
Sacks on QB — 1 each, J. Hilliard, Jones, Crabtree, Johnson
Tackles — Crabtree, 8; Nava, 7; J. Hilliard, 7; Phillips, 5; Gaines, 6; Hamm, 5; Baker, 4; Carroll, 4; Foth, 4; Good, 3; Jones, 2; M. Hilliard, 2; M. Unruh, 1; Eldridge, 1; Johnson, 1; J. Unruh, 1; Brett Bass, 1, Litton, 1.
Fumble recoveries — 1 each, Nava, J. Hilliard, Johnson.
