Sunday, October 12, 2008
Hopkins County Central football coach Rick Snodgrass has 18 years as head coach on his résumé, and he knows when two teams of equal skill-level show up to the field, the game is typically determined on the one aspect that can easily be overlooked.
That aspect is special teams play, and Central (4-2) dominated the category from the first quarter on in Friday night’s 35-31 win over Lone Oak (5-1), notching one fumble recovery for a score and a blocked punt, which led to another touchdown.
“When you get a game like that, an emotional game, with two evenly matched teams, it usually comes down to special teams and turnovers, and I think we won that battle.”
The first of many great special teams plays occurred less than two minutes into the game when the Purple Flash lined up to punt from their own 30-yard line. The center sent a low snap back to the punter, who had a difficult time finding the handle, allowing Troy Dale Rorer and Wade Hendrix to combine for the tackle at the 17-yard line.
It took the Storm just four plays to take advantage of the miscue, scoring on a 2-yard Keith Couch rush.
As the clock on the first quarter ticked down, Rorer once again made an impact on special teams. On fourth-and-nine from its own 20-yard line, Lone Oak attempted to punt, but Lucas Duncan dove in the air to block the ball, and Rorer recovered in the endzone. Central led 20-7 with 1:31 remaining in the first quarter after the play.
“After looking at film (early in the week), we felt like we could block a punt and we came pretty hard on the punts and caused a couple turnovers on that,” Snodgrass said. “We got to the punter one time and got to him just before he could get it off on a bad snap. Of course, Lucas Duncan blocked it and Troy Dale (Rorer) fell on it in the endzone. That was a big play for us there.”
Duncan continued his spectacular night on Lone Oak’s ensuing drive when he jumped in front of a Purple Flash wide receiver to intercept the ball and take it 40 yards for a touchdown as time came to an end on the first quarter.
Despite the large advantage, Lone Oak’s offense sparked to life in the second quarter, scoring 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 28 all. The final touchdown of the half came after the Purple Flash recovered an onsides kick with 15 seconds left before halftime.
After a penalty on the previous play, Lone Oak kicked off from Central’s 45-yard line.
While it may have caught many of the fans off guard, Snodgrass said he was prepared for the play and had his “hands team” on the field.
The kicker tapped the ball and it trickled just past the required 10 yards and into the grip of Lone Oak’s Dylan Murphy. The Purple Flash had time enough for just two plays, but it was sufficient.
Quarterback Jamarielle Brown tossed up a Hail Mary as time expired and the ball landed in the hands of receiver Justin Jackson to tie the game.
During the second half, the game turned into a defensive struggle between the offensive giants.
Lone Oak struck first, scoring on the game’s only field goal just minutes inside the second half.
Another turnover, created by the Storm proved to be the difference-maker in the final quarter though.
With 11 minutes left in the game, Brown scrambled in the backfield to create positive yardage on a busted play, and attempted to make a lateral pitch, but the ball hit the ground and was recovered by Central’s Nathan Crick.
“We were able to get a couple interceptions and that big fumble there at the end gave us decent field position where we could go down and score and take the lead,” Snodgrass said.
Central did just that, scoring on a nine-play, 64-yard drive for a 35-31 lead.
The Storm defense took over from there.
With about four minutes left, Rorer and Anthony Qualls combined to sack Brown for a 13-yard loss, setting up a second-and-28 from the Lone Oak 46-yard line.
“I thought Anthony Qualls played a great ballgame,” Snodgrass said. “He put pressure on the quarterback all night and they were holding him and he was still getting pressure on him.”
Three plays later, Rorer sacked Brown again, but this time for a 15-yard loss, knocking the Purple Flash back across midfield after gaining some ground.
Rorer, typically used a running back, came up big for the Central defense, lining up in multiple positions, including nose tackle at one point.
“We were able to bring Troydale in, bring some fresh legs in to try and apply some pressure and we were able to get to Brown several times, not let him have all day in the pocket to throw down field,” Snodgrass said. “Our guys in the secondary did a great job of covering.”
After the Rorer sack on second down, Central’s Nikee Caldwell and Keith Couch each provided secondary coverage to cause incompletions and turn the ball over on downs.
The defense continued its success on the next Purple Flash drive with Rorer recording a sack, Qualls and Dustin Grant combining on another, and the secondary limiting Brown to two-of-five passing.
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