Warriors shut out Yates Center
Staff writer
While the Peabody-Burns High School football team struggled on offense at times Friday night, the defense and special teams picked up the slack to help the Warriors to a 30-0 defeat of visiting Yates Center.
The home victory ensures post-season play for PBHS.
With victories in its past two games, the Warriors will travel Thursday to Olpe for the final district contest to decide the championship.
Will Pratt opened the game with a kick that sailed through the end zone for a touchback. The PBHS defense was tough from the start and stopped the first drive of the Wildcats where it started, at their own 20-yard line.
Pratt, Ben Eldridge, Trevor Hamm, Nathan Bishop, Elliott Spechtenhauser, Thomas McGee, and Brandon Pickens all recorded tackles in the early minutes of the game.
The first scoring drive for the Warriors started at their own 24. Hamm and Eldridge moved the ball on the ground and Pickens helped out with two pass receptions.
On third-and-goal at the two, Eldridge burst through the middle of the Yates Center defense for a touchdown. Pratt kicked the extra point, and PBHS led 7-0 with two minutes, 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
The defense continued to play well with stops from Sean Corona, Anthony Jones, Bishop, and Pratt.
Nick Abramowich then blocked a Wildcat punt to set up the Warrior offense at the Widlcat one-yard line.
On second-and-goal at the one, Eldridge re-visited the end zone for another Warrior score. Pratt tacked on the extra point and the Warrior lead was 14-0 with 10:14 left until halftime.
While Yates Center had some success moving the ball, the PBHS defense remained strong and helped keep the Wildcats scoreless the rest of the half
Defensive plays were made by Bishop, Pickens, McGee, Adam Benson, Spechtenhauser, Hamm, Eldridge, and Abramowich.
A change at center came late in the half with Christopher Brooks left the game with a leg injury. Trevor Foth took over, and PBHS led 14-0 at the half.
The defense came up big several times early in the second half with forced punts, a fumble recovery by Bishop, and an interception by Pickens.
The PBHS offense did not score in the third, despite the good field position set up by the defense.
Early in the fourth, Pratt booted a punt that stopped at the Yates Center one-yard line. The Warrior defense pushed the Wildcats into their own end zone on the following play, and the Warriors earned a safety to make the score 16-0.
The PBHS defense produced the next score by creating a fumble on third down at the Wildcat six-yard line. Pratt scooped up the ball and dashed into the end zone for the score. He added the extra point to shift the lead to 23-0 with seven minutes left in the game.
With six minutes on the clock, a Wildcat fumble recovered by Pratt brought the Warrior offense back on the field at the Yates Center 49-yard line.
A 34-yard pass from Bishop to Benson set up first-and-goal at the Wildcat two. Hamm took the ball on first down and charged in for the score. Pratt kicked the extra point and the Warrior lead was 30-0 with just more than four minutes left in the contest.
The Warrior defense held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half, and the game ended 30-0.
Bishop was 8-12 passing for 82 yards. Pickens caught five passes for 45 yards, Benson had one for 34, and Hamm caught one for three yards.
Hamm carried the ball 18 times for 76 yards and a score, while Eldridge gained 74 yards on 22 carries to go along with his two touchdowns.
Pratt had two fumble recoveries, while Jones and Bishop each had one.
Bishop led the defense with 9.5 tackles, and Pratt was next with 5.5.
Abramowich recorded 4.5, Hamm and Pickens each had three, Benson had 2.5, while Jones, Eldridge, and Spechtenhauser each had two.
Corona recorded 1.5, and McGee and Jacob Simmond chipped in with one.
