Warriors post 19-7 homecoming victory years ago
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School football squad posted a homecoming victory Friday over Sedgwick Cardinals, 19-7.
Micah Hilliard fielded the initial kick-off and the PBHS moved the ball downfield on the drive. Mario Nava had two big carries on the series totaling 30 yards. The drive was stopped on fourth-and-nine at the Cardinal 18 and the Warriors turned the ball over on downs.
The first Sedgwick possession ended with Todd Woodruff intercepting a Cardinal pass. Also defending on the series were Ryan Gaines, Brian Baker, Mario Nava, Nathan Bishop, and Jonathan Foth.
Two series later, the Warrior defense backed the Cardinals deep into their own territory. The Sedgwick team punted and the Warrior offense took over at the Cardinal 29. Woodruff ran a keeper on first down to gain six. Nava gained one on second down.
On third-and-three, Woodruff connected with Hilliard to gain 13 and a new set of downs at the nine-yard line. On the next play, Woodruff pitched to Nava and the Warriors earned the first score of the evening with 1:36 left in the first quarter. Baker put the ball through on the PAT and the Warriors led 7-0 late in the first.
Warrior defense was tough on the next Cardinal series and forced a punt on a Sedgwick fourth-and-20. Isaiah Edridge on the return team threw a block to give Nava running room for a 32-yard return to the Cardinal 43. James Morris, Brandon Crabtree, Kurt Philips, Isaiah Eldridge, Foth, and Bishop were given credits for tackles on the defensive stand.
Woodruff made a big gain on first down with a 37-yard carry. The Warriors moved as close as the two-yard line on the series, but turned the ball over on downs at the two-yard line.
The next Warrior score was set up by a Cardinal fumble recovered by Nava at the Cardinal 37 with 4:17 left in the second quarter. Kurt Phillips carried for 11 on first down to move the sticks. Nava answered with 11 more to move the down markers again.
On third-and-four Phillips took the ball to the four-yard line to set up first and goal. Nava scored from the three, but a Warrior penalty nullified the touchdown. The Warriors wasted no time and on the next play, Woodruff found Hilliard for a 13-yard touchdown completion. The extra point attempt failed and the Warriors took a 13-0 lead.
Shortly before halftime, the Cardinals put points on the board with a 26-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and the Warriors led at the half, 13-7.
The second half was hard-fought by both teams on both sides of the ball. Penalties also were a problem throughout the contest. Defensive stops were recorded by Baker, Nava, Foth, Eldridge, Gaines, Morris, Crabtree, Philips, Bishop, and Woodruff.
The defense held the Cardinals on the first trip down the field forcing a turnover on downs at the Warrior one-foot line. Although the Warriors didn't convert on the drive, a Baker punt gave the defense breathing room, pushing the Cardinals back to mid-field.
At the five-minute mark in the fourth, Baker attempted a field goal, but the goal hit the crossbar and bounced out. The score remained unchanged at 13-7.
The Warrior offense was able to get back on the field thanks to a Cardinal fumble recovered by Hilliard. At the Cardinal 37, Nava took off for the end-zone with the assistance of good blocking from the line. The Warrior lead was 19-7 with 3:38 seconds on the clock.
The Cardinals tried an air game during the last minutes of the ballgame, but the Warrior defense held on. The PBHS squad took the ball back when Eldridge sacked the Cardinal quarterback with just under two minutes left in the game. The Warriors ran out the clock for the victory.
Nava led the team with 27 carries for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Phillips was seven for 23. Woodruff was 13 for 144 yards rushing and four for 12 in the passing game for 48 yards and one touchdown.
Hilliard caught two passes for 26 yards and one touchdown. Phillips caught one for 15 yards and Foth caught one for seven.
With a 3-0 record, the Warriors travel Friday to Moundridge for an important league contest. Tackle statistics were unavailable from the PBHS coaching staff.
