Sunday, October 26, 2008
Untimely turnovers and an ineffective offense seldom factor into a winning equation when it comes to high school football.
Unfortunately, both happened to Hopkins County Central (5-3) during the second half of the Storm’s seven-point loss to Calloway County (6-2) on Friday night, inhibiting the team from capturing its first-ever district championship
Leading 21-7 at halftime, the Storm inherited the ball first in the second half, but the tide began to change.
“I think one of the big momentum changes – the biggest – was when we drove the ball down to start the third quarter,” coach Rick Snodgrass said. “They kicked off to us, we drove down within the 10-yard line and then we had two penalties.”
Central stepped to the line on second-and-two from the Laker 8-yard line, but two penalties backed the Storm into a first-and-23 situation from the 32-yard line.
On the ensuing third-down play, Central needed 14 yards and quarterback Jake Powell dropped back and threw to Kelsey Bowman. Instead, Laker defender George Garner stepped in front of Bowman and ran 66 yards before Bowman caught up to make a touchdown-saving tackle.
“That was a huge, huge swing right there and then on that drive we throw the interception that they returned to the 12-yard line,” Snodgrass said. “I think that was when the momentum changed quite a bit because we came out on that drive and methodically drove it down the field and did a good job of moving the ball down to the 10.”
Calloway needed just four plays from that point to convert for the score and cut the deficit to seven.
The Storm’s final turnover came on a halfback pass, pinned close to their own goal line on a third-and-long situation with just three minutes in the game.
Without Powell, who left earlier in the fourth quarter with an injury, Central lacked its starting quarterback and some depth at punting.
Therefore, on third down, back-up quarterback Jesse Almon pitched to running back Troydale Rorer, who took a few steps before launching a ball near midfield.
The jump ball fell into the arms of Laker Austin Hargrove, but Snodgrass said he was aware of the play’s possible outcomes.
“We opted to go with the halfback pass and we figured that would be as good as a punt if we didn’t get it,” he said. “We thought maybe we could get pass interference, maybe pop a big play or at the worst throw the ball down the field 30 or 40 yards and if they pick it, we tackle them. It’s as good as punting the ball out of your own endzone.”
Quarterback Luke Crawley directed the Central offense on the squad’s final drive of the game.
“Crawley has a little bit quicker release, a little bit stronger arm and a little more mobile than Jesse and that’s probably why we went with him then,” Snodgrass said.
Forced to air the ball out and take many chances with less than a minute to go, another Calloway interception ended the Storm’s hopes.
Despite not having Powell under center for much of the final quarter, defensive end Anthony Qualls gave Central fans plenty to cheer about and think of a potential game-winning drive.
With a tie game, Calloway moved near midfield with six minutes to play. On second-and-15 from the Central 47-yard line, Qualls and Nathan Crick combined to sack Laker quarterback Casey Brockman for a 12-yard loss. The very next play, Qualls did it again, this time for a 2-yard loss.
With the back-to-back sacks, Calloway punted away on fourth down to give Central the ball with four minutes.
“He’s been playing pretty well,” Snodgrass said of Qualls. “He’s quick off that edge and he causes some problems for some people. The last three or four weeks especially, he’s been applying pressure to the quarterback.”
In the first half, the Storm offense ran the show, breaking away for two long rushing touchdowns, one by Powell and the other by Rorer.
“They gave us a 3-3 look and we did a good job of executing, getting guys on the linebackers and making the right reads,” Snodgrass said. “We were actually able to run the football the whole night. In the second half, we just missed some assignments up front and of course when Jake went down, our game plan changed quite a bit.”
Powell’s long dash in the first quarter would not have been possible, however, without a key block from receiver Keith Couch inside the redzone.
“We busted it and Jake made a nice run and it was just pure hustle by Couch to get down there and make the block to spring him to take it to the endzone,” Snodgrass said. “It was going to be a huge gain for us, but with Keith hustling down the field to make the block, that’s what made that thing go for a touchdown.”
In the end, Snodgrass said he thought Central had its success, but a few unfortunate mistakes in the second half erased it.
“We were able to move the ball and control them, but we gave up a couple big plays and a couple crucial penalties at bad times,” he said.
Central statistics
Passing: Powell 8-12, 92 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Crawley 3-5, 26 yards, 1 INT
Receiving: Bowman 5-83, 1 TD Rorer 4-22 Kevin Couch 1-8 Keith Couch 1-5
Rushing: Powell 10-89, 1 TD Keith Couch 9-68 Rorer 11-60, 1 TD
Interception: Nikee Caldwell 1-34
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