Warriors win first district game
Staff writer
A victory Friday put Peabody-Burns High School one step closer to post-season action. They defeated Chase County 13-7 and will play Yates Center Friday at home. This will be the last scheduled game at home and senior athletes will be recognized.
The first quarter of the game went scoreless as both defenses kept the offense out of the end zone.
Second quarter action included a 15-yard off-tackle run from Trevor Hamm to give PBHS the lead. A bad snap led to a missed extra point, but the Warriors took the lead halfway through the second period, 6-0.
Halftime was extended due to a weather delay, but when the teams returned to action, defense was the story for the third quarter.
Both squad went scoreless and the game remained at 6-0 with just one period left to play.
With four and a half minutes left in the contest, Ben Eldridge broke through the middle of the Bulldog defense and romped 35 yards to give the Warriors a 12-0 lead. Will Pratt kicked the extra point and PBHS extended the lead 13-0.
The Bulldogs put together a drive on the next series that ended in the Warrior end zone. They added one and the gap was now six points late in the fourth.
On a crucial fourth and one near the Chase County 20, Warrior offense failed to gain the necessary yard and turned the ball over in Warrior territory.
Pass defense came up huge to break up two pass plays on first and second downs.
Elliott Spechtenhauser wrestled a third down Bulldog pass from the receiver for an interception and put PBHS offense out on the field and the Warriors ran out the clock for the 13-7 district win.
"We moved the ball great from 20 to 20, but we made some big mental errors in the end zone," said coach David Pickens. "The defense did the job when they had to. We got it done and that's what matters."
Nathan Bishop was 3-for-7 for 23 yards in the passing game. Spechtenhauser caught three for 23 yards.
Hamm rushed 116 yards and a touchdown. Eldridge had 72 yards and a touchdown. Bishop had 10 carries for 29 yards.
Spechtenhauser had one interception. Pratt and Bishop led the defense with six tackles each. Adam Benson had 5.5. Other recorded tackles were Spechtenhauser 2.5, Eldridge 2.5, Nick Abramowich 2, and Anthony Jones 1.5.
