Warriors suffer first loss of season
Staff writer
The Warriors traveled to Inman Friday and suffered their first loss of the season, 15-20 to a fired up Inman Teutons squad.
The Teutons came on fast and furious early with a 55-yard touchdown run. The Inman squad took a 6-0 lead with 10:45 left in the first quarter.
The Warriors struggled on their first two offensive series. Mario Nava and Kurt Phillips both ran the ball, but penalties plagued the Warriors. Both series ended in punts by Brian Baker.
The Teutons struck again in the first quarter, scoring a touchdown from 80 yards out. The Warriors were down 12-0 with 2:37 left on the clock.
The next series for the Warriors started deep in their own territory at the 14-yard line with Micah Hilliard fielding the kick-off.
Nava ran twice and Phillips moved the sticks on a third and one at the 23-yard line. The Warriors changed end zones on a good gain by Phillips at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter started for the Warriors with Nava carrying from the Warrior 44 to the Teuton 44, to earn a new set of downs.
Phillips gained nine yards on first and 10 at the 44. Nava went 18 yards on second and one to the Teuton 17 yard line. Phillips and Nava both added yardage to set up a first and goal at the six-yard line.
A first down effort by Nava came up short with a loss of two yards. With less than nine minutes in the half, Phillips stretched to just within inches of the goal line on second and eight.
A penalty on the next play set up a third and six from the six yard line. A pitch from Caleb Good to Phillips earned the Warriors a touchdown with 7:34 left in the half. Nava's kick for the PAT hit the upright and bounced wide. The Warriors were down by six, 6-12.
Warrior defense came up huge on the next Teuton series. Nava brought down the runner on the kick-off at the Inman 29-yard line. Tackles by Adam Jones, Ryan Gaines, and Jonathon Foth brought up a fourth and nine punt by the Teutons.
The PBHS squad went to work with just over five minutes left in the half at their own 30-yard line.
Nava and Phillips again did the ground work, earning three sets of downs. A PBHS block in the back penalty and a Teuton sack of the quarterback halted the drive late in the quarter. Time ran out in the half and the Warriors remained down by six, 6-12.
Trouble continued for the Warrior team after half time with a fumble on the kick-off return. The Teutons recovered the football at the Warrior 28-yard line.
The Inman squad scored on a first and 10 from the Warrior 17 and tacked on two more to make the score 20-6 with 9:57 to go in the third.
Baker fielded the kick-off to give the Warriors the ball at their own 32-yard line. The Warriors moved the ball successfully down field, but could not convert a fourth and four at the Teuton 16-yard line. The PBHS squad turned the ball over on downs.
A first down Teuton penalty moved the line of scrimmage to the three yard line. On a first and 16, Job Hilliard sacked the quarterback in the end zone, giving the Warriors a safety, 8-20.
The Warriors started the next series on the Inman 47-yard line. Phillips broke loose from the line of scrimmage for a huge run to the end zone. Nava's kick was good and the Warriors closed the gap to five points, 15-20.
Warrior defense came up big on the next Inman series. Jones sacked the quarterback on a third and 13. The Teutons were forced to punt. The third quarter ended.
The Warriors went nowhere early in the fourth, giving up good mid-field position and punted away again.
Defense again did the job for the Warriors. Jones, Phillips, Chris Hamm, Brandon Crabtree, and Isaiah Eldridge all were credited with tackles. On third and inches, Jones and Eldridge blasted the runner behind the line of scrimmage. The Teuton punt was a huge one from inside the Teuton 20 to the Warrior eight-yard line.
Good gave the Warriors some breathing room on the next series taking the ball from the 11 to the 32 on second down. Nava and Phillips worked down field moving the sticks four times.
With less than three minutes left in the game, the Warriors stalled at the 30-yard line. Each team took a time-out.
On fourth and 14 with just two minutes left in the contest, the Warriors tried a pass from Phillips to Gaines. The pass fell incomplete and the Warriors gave up the ball on downs.
Inman was able to run out the clock and defeated the Warriors 20-15.
"We had a tough time with our adjustments early in the game," stated Coach Chris Young.
"Once we got back on track, we had success. Our stats show we beat them everywhere but on the score board. We're coming back this wee. We're going to work hard. Our kids are hungry for the next win."
Now four and one on the season, the PBHS squad prepares for a home game against Remington.
statistics
Kurt Phillips, 183 yds on 25 carries and 2 TDs
Mario Nava, 172 yds on 35 carries
Caleb Good, 15 yds on 3 carries
Tackles
Nava, 7; Phillips, 7; Eldridge, 5; Jones, 4 and 1 sack; J. Hilliard, 4 and one sack; Crabtree, 4; Gaines, 4; Foth, 3; Adam Carroll, 2; Good, 2; Hamm, 1.
