Warriors start new streak with victory over Hutch Trinity
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School football team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a home victory Friday night against Hutch Trinity, 19-7.
The Warriors now stand at 5-1 and will travel Friday to Cottonwood Falls to take on the 4-2 Chase County Bulldogs for the start of district competition.
The Warriors started the contest on offense deep in their own territory.
Trevor Hamm, Nathan Bishop, and Ben Eldridge all rushed and Adam Benson caught a pass before the drive stalled at the Warrior 32.
Good defense from Nick Abramowich, Brandon Pickens, Will Pratt, Anthony Jones, Elliott Spechtenhauser, Eldridge, Bishop, and Hamm kept the Celtics scoreless for the first quarter.
With just less than 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Jones set up the first Warrior scoring drive with a fumble recovery at the Celtic 25-yard line.
Bishop moved the ball eight yards on a first-down quarterback keeper.
Hamm and Bishop combined for two more attempts to move the chains, but on fourth-and-short at the 14, Pratt lined up to kick a field goal.
Instead, the Warriors called a fake, snapping the ball directly to Pratt who ran down the right sideline for the score.
The extra point was no good, but PBHS led 6-0 with seven minutes, 33 seconds left in the first half.
Penalties made it difficult for either team to move the ball the rest of the half.
The PBHS defense remained tough and held the Celtics scoreless with stops by Thomas McGee, Jones, Pickens, Pratt, Bishop, Benson, Sean Corona, Hamm, and Spechtenhauser.
The Warrior defense stated the second half and continued with tough stops by Abramowich, Bishop, Corona, Hamm, Clint Jones, Pratt, Spechtenhauser, Andrew Loucks, and Benson.
The Celtics passing game was contested all night with good coverage from Benson, Pickens, Spechtenhauser, and Hamm.
Pickens came up with two interceptions in the fourth quarter, the second grab set up the next PBHS scoring drive.
Warrior offense put the ball in play at the Hutch 16 with 7:25 left to play.
A penalty on first down moved the ball back to the 21-yard line.
Bishop ran keepers on first and second down, to set up a third-and-three at the seven.
A Hamm run set up a first-and-goal at the five.
With no gain on first down, Bishop punched the ball through the line for the score.
The two-point conversion failed, but the Warrior lead increased to 12-0 with five minutes left in the game.
Good Warrior pass defense forced Hutch Trinity to turn the ball over on downs and set up the final Warriors score of the game.
On second-and-eight from the Celtic 14, Hamm turned the corner on the right and scored.
Pratt kicked the extra point, and the lead was 19-0 with 2:17 left in the game.
A late score from Hutch came with less than a minute left to make the final score, 19-7.
Bishop was 5-10 with 54 yards through the air.
Benson hauled in four for 46 yards, and Spechtenhauser caught one for eight yards.
Hamm rushed 21 times for 61 yards and a touchdown, while Bishop had 45 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
Pratt contributed with 14 yards on the ground and a touchdown, and punted three time for 164 yards.
Pickens had two interceptions and Spechtenhauser had one.
Bishop recorded the Warriors' only sack.
Tackles included Pratt with 7.5, Pickens with five, Hamm four, Bishop and Abramowich 3.5, Benson three, and Corona and Eldridge with two.
Andrew Loucks had 1.5, while Jones and Spechtenhauser each had one.
