Warriors top Teutons in match-up
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School football home opener Friday pitted the Warriors against the Inman Teutons. PBHS defeated the Teutons 14-13 to even its record at 1-1.
The game opened with a William Pratt kickoff that gave the Teutons the ball at their own 21-yard line. Warrior defensive stops by Pratt, Micah Hilliard, and Derek Benson forced a punt and the Warrior offense went to work at their own 38-yard line.
Nathan Bishop and Trevor Hamm moved the ball on the first two downs, but a Todd Woodruff pass fell incomplete on third down and the Warriors were forced to punt.
The Teuton offense was stopped again by the Warrior defense. Hilliard, Benson, Bishop, Derrick Simmonds, Ryan Johnson, and Nick Abramowich all had defensive stops.
At the six-minute mark in the first, the Warriors couldn't move the stick, and Pratt was forced to punt again.
PBHS held once again on the next series and stopped the Teutons with two minutes left in the quarter. Woodruff, Benson, and Mike Gfeller were credited with defensive stops. Hamm recorded a sack to set up the Inman punt. A short kick gave the Warriors good field position at the Inman 31-yard line.
A first down pass fell incomplete and a holding penalty was assessed. On first-and-15, Bishop had a solid carry to bring up second-and-seven. Bishop again took the ball and covered 21 yards to give PBHS a first-and-10 at the Inman 11-yard line. Hamm took the ball into the end zone on the next play. The PAT was no good, but the Warriors took a 6-0 lead with 1:06 remaining in the first quarter.
The Warrior defense continued to dominate in the first half, with tackles by Hilliard, Woodruff, Bishop, and Andrew Loucks. Bishop and Loucks each recorded a sack in the second quarter as PBHS took a 6-0 lead into halftime.
The second half started with the Warrior offense but PBHS was forced to punt after a three-and-out. The punt set the Teutons up with a short field on the Warrior 34-yard line.
Inman moved the ball to the Warrior five to set up a first-and-goal. On third-and-goal at the five, the Teutons scored and added the extra point for a 7-6 edge with 8:53 left in the third quarter.
Four series later, PBHS, now being led by Simmonds, went to work at midfield. On second-and-seven, Simmonds connected with Hilliard for a 57-yard touchdown. Bishop ran the two-point conversion in to put the Warriors up 14-7.
Inman came right back to score a touchdown on the PBHS kickoff. A penalty on the PAT was enforced and the Teuton kicker failed to connect. With 11 minutes to play the Warriors clung to a 14-13 lead.
The PBHS defense remained tough for the rest of the contest. Anthony Marple, Johnson, Loucks, Bishop, Pratt, Abramowich, and Benson all made defensive plays in the half.
The Warriors put together a long drive after the Inman score to eat up nine minutes off the clock. Hamm, Bishop, and Simmonds combined to move the ball but the drive was stalled at the Inman 11-yard line.
The Teutons had one more chance, but Benson intercepted a pass to stop the drive. The game ended with a Simmonds kneel down.
PBHS will travel Friday to play Sedgwick.
Simmonds was 2-6 for 60 yards, and Woodruff was 4-9 for 20 yards. Nathan Bishop led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 82 yards. Hamm had 16 carries for 49 yards and one touchdown. Woodruff chipped in with five carries for 39 yards. Hilliard led the receivers with three catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Pratt had five punts for an average of 28 yards per punt.
Tackles
Bishop-7, Woodruff-6, Hilliard-5, Johnson-4, Loucks-3, Pratt-3, Simmonds-2, Hamm-2, Abramowich-2, Marple-2, Gfeller-1. Eric Dutton-1, D. Benson-1, and Adam Benson-1.
