Indians unable to upset Maples
By Mickey Alvarado
Adrian’s varsity football team won the Southeastern Conference White Division outright after handing Tecumseh’s Indians a 55-7 loss at Indian Stadium on Friday, Oct. 8.
The Maples are one of the toughest teams in the conference with a record of 5-0 and an overall record of 7-0 and they didn’t allow the Indians much when it came time to punch the ball through the end zone.
The Maples, on the other hand, were more bite than bark, baring their teeth early in the rivalry contest and scoring two touchdowns in the opening quarter on short runs by Marrcell Grayer.
After stopping the Indians just 15 yards away from Adrian’s end zone, Maple quarterback Sebastian Johnson added another touchdown on a keeper in the second quarter for a 21-0 advantage. He finished the contest with five carries for 25 yards and completed 10-of-12 passes for another 149 yards.
The Maples totaled 253 rushing yards on 30 carries while the Indians were limited to 183 rushing yards and 49 yards from passing.
Tecumseh’s Matt Napieralski scored the Indians only touchdown of the game on a pass from Brad Vannatter in the second quarter. Napieralski was sidelined during the early season with a broken leg so it was a special touchdown for the Indians’ homecoming king.
Adrian added another touchdown with 45 seconds left in the second quarter with Grayer rushing into the end zone from just two yards out to give Adrian a 28-7 lead at halftime.
Cody Nolan hit the end zone on a 27-yard pass from Johnson and a good kick after by Ryan Dempsey gave the Maples a 42-7 lead with 9:26 left in the third quarter.
Vannatter completed 3-of-7 passes for 47-yards with two being intercepted. One was returned 78 yards for a touchdown by Adrian’s Tyler Frank with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter. The Maples then held a 48-7 lead after missing their extra point kick.
Dempsey scored the rest of Adrian’s points. He added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard run and scored the game’s last touchdown on a 14-yard run. He also kicked the ball through the uprights after both touchdowns.
The Maples logged 396 yards while the Indians were limited to 218 total yards.
Ronnie Bechtol led Tecumseh’s ground game with 16 carries for 76 yards. Austin Shartle had 15 carries for 56 yards. Vannatter rushed five times for a loss of 16 yards. Tecumseh’s back up quarterback, Nick Coffin, threw one incomplete pass and rushed twice for zero yards. Coffin led the Indians defense with nine tackles, three of which were solos.
The Indians will carry a 1-6 overall and 1-4 SEC White record into Indian Stadium on Friday, Oct. 15, when they face Bedford (7-0, 5-0 SEC Red).
George Preston and the Indians got caught by the jersey tail as Adrian’s defense limited them to just one touchdown. Photo/video by Mickey Alvarado.
It's a sad season. You said
It's a sad season. You said it Sparky, you can't run the ball every play. IT DOESN"T WORK. They will make corrections, stop the run, and shut you down. It has happened every game this year. It's no differen't than college, or the pros. The team that makes the corrections and adjustments win the game. It's simple. I believe that our coaches just refuse to make the adjustment. Small time thinking I suppose? It's very obvious to me, you have to spread the defense out for the run game to work well. Give them a lane to hit, an opening if you will. As it is now, all the defense is lined up nose to nose with the offense, all players bunched together in the middle. Doesn't make it easy for the running back for sure, hats off to him. Stretch the receivers out, make the corners work, and make them use the linebackers and safetys. Am I wrong? Any other suggestions? I will be there, I can't stay away. I love my town, and I love football. Go Indians !
Offense
The offense was once again exposed for the true fraud it is! I would like to see these athletes under a different offensive scheme! Its not the kids fault, they are playing there hearts out. Heard from a parent after the game that the coach said they didn't play hard enough. The score was 55-7 coach, its not the players fault. Looks to me like you got outcoached again!!!
AMEN Brother!
The double wing offense is good.....once in awhile... to shake things up, but when you use it over and over and over, your opponent, if properly scouting, will pick up on it. Which they did and dominated on it. Of course Mensing will never point the finger at himself, he either has to fight with the opposing team or blame the kids for not playing hard enough. And if he really did say "they did not play hard enough", shame on him and what a joke for coach and mentor. I'm sorry these kids busted their butts that night, they were just out coached plain and simple. Of course we all seem to blame Mensing, there are other coaches on the sidelines and up in the box, so it seems to be a group effort or lack of.