Warriors take first loss of season
Staff writer
The Peabody-Burns High School football squad suffered its first loss of the season Friday in a road game. The Warriors were defeated, 56-6, by the Moundridge Wildcats.
Nathan Bishop stopped the first Wildcat with the ball on the kick-off at the Wildcat 36-yard line. Mario Nava, Micah Hilliard, Jonathan Foth, and Brandon Crabtree were credited with tackles early, but the Wildcats moved the ball down the field and scored at the 9:47 mark, 7-0.
The Warriors' first series was three-and-out, with offensive tries by Todd Woodruff and Nava. Brian Baker punted and the Wildcats again put up a quick score, 14-0.
First-half tackles were recorded by Foth, Bishop, Hilliard, Woodruff, Baker, Crabtree, Ryan Gaines, Kurt Phillips, James Morris, and Isaiah Eldridge.
Warrior offense had a tough go in the first half, earning only a handful of first downs. The running game was slowed by the attack of the Wildcats. The passing game showed promise with two receptions, one to Hilliard and the other to Bishop.
The Moundridge offense scored three more times before the half, making the deficit, 35-0.
The second half started with a Warrior turnover on the kickoff. The Warriors had a hard time once again containing the Wildcat offensive game. Three more Moundridge scores were put up in the second half to give the Cats 56 points on offense.
Defensive stops in the second were credited to Crabtree, Phillips, Nava, Bishop, Morris, Gaines, Foth, Hilliard, Woodruff, and Baker.
The Warriors did put up a score late in the contest with an 80-yard run by Phillips. With 52 seconds left in the game, the Warriors put up a touchdown and the game ended with the score, 56-6.
Woodruff was 4-for-17 in the passing game with 54 yards. He also rushed seven-for-34 yards. Nava carried 11 times for 46 yards. Phillips carried seven times and scored a touchdown.
Hilliard caught three for 21 yards. Bishop caught one for 33 yards.
Brian Baker punted six times for 215 yards.
Hilliard led the team in tackles with 14. Nava had 12 and Crabtree had 11. Other tackle totals included Gaines with eight. Phillips and Foth each had seven. Woodruff and Bishop had six each. Morris had five. Baker and Eldridge had two each.
The Warriors are now 3-1 on the season as they prepare for a home match-up Friday against Canton-Galva.
