Indians Lose to Eagles in Opener
Five Turnovers Stifle the Indian Offense
The 2010 Indian football season opened on Greene Field against a formidable opponent--the Colby Eagles. The Eagles returned 35 lettermen and 18 seniors. The Eagles defeated the Indians 47-22.
The Indians received the opening kickoff and advanced the ball a short distance, but fumbled the ball on their own 40 yard line. The Eagles recovered. Colby soon scored on a 25 yard pass play with two minutes and 12 seconds gone in the game. The PAT kick failed due to a poor snap. The Eagles had an early lead, 0-6.
On the second St. Francis possession, the Indians moved the ball well, with much of the yardage gained on a 50 yard run by Cody Sherlock to the Eagle 17 yard line. After a loss of a few yards, Ty Zweygardt scored the first Indian touchdown of the season scampering for 19 yards around the left side. The conversion run failed. The game was tied 6-6 with 6:42 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Colby scored on their second possession on a 34 yard run around left end with 1:18 remaining in the 1st quarter. The conversion run was also good. The Indians trailed 6-14.
The Indians again moved the ball well on their next possession. Cody Sherlock had a nice run of approximately 20 yards late in the drive, but lost control of the football on the tackle. Colby recovered on their own 31 yard line. Colby capitalized on the turnover when Arnberger connected with Flanigan on a 40 yard touchdown pass. The PAT attempt failed. Colby led 6-20 with 9:53 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Indians seemed to be plagued by turnovers. On the ensuing kickoff return, Ty Zweygardt fumbled the ball to the Eagles. Colby set up their offense on the Indian 26 yard line. Fortunately, the Indians defense held the powerful Eagle offense and regained possession of the ball.
The next Indian possession resulted in another St. Francis touchdown. The drive featured a nice long run by Ty Zweygardt and culminated in an 10 yard touchdown run by Cody Sherlock over the left side. Ty Zweygardt ran for the 2 point conversion behind some good blocking by the offensive line. The Indians had narrowed the gap to 14-20 with 6:32 remaining in the half.
Colby advanced the kickoff return to the 31 yard line. Two good defensive plays by the Indians had the Eagles backed up and needing nearly twenty yards to gain a first down. The Eagles got the necessary yardage, and then some, on a long pass from Arnberger to Stephens deep into Indian territory. Colby soon scored on a 38 yard screen pass. The conversion run was stopped by the Indian defense. Colby led 14-26 with 3:39 left in the first half.
St. Francis was forced to punt in their next possession. A good kick, and even better coverage, backed the Eagles up to their own 29 yard line with 1:39 remaining. The Eagle offense briskly moved down the field and scored on a 27 touchdown pass to Stephens with 21 seconds left in the half. The conversion pass was also good.
The Indians fumbled again on their next possession. Colby took possession on the Indian 43 yard line. The Indians avoided another Eagle score when Stephens grabbed an Arnberger pass and went down the left sideline to the end zone. The talented Eagle receiver stepped out of bounds at the four yard line erasing what looked like another Eagle touchdown as the horn sounded. The Indians trailed by twenty, 14-34, at half time.
Colby scored on their first possession of the second half on a 49 yard run by Flanigan with 10:38 in the third. The PAT failed. The Indians trailed 14-40.
During the next Indian possession, the first Indian pass of the game was intercepted by the Eagles and returned to the Indian 30 yard line with approximately 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Colby went to a shotgun formation for the next few plays, but the Sainty defense held.
The Indians were forced into a 4th and 18 situation on their next possession and elected to punt. Colby fumbled the punt return and the Indians regained the ball. Later in the drive, Cody Killingsworth scored on a 2 yard plunge. Ty Zweygardt ran for the conversion. The score was 22-40 with 9:53 remaining in the game.
Colby advanced the ball down field threatening to score again. A pass interference penalty on the Indians set up a first and goal near the Indian ten yard line. Colby scored their last touchdown of the game on a 7 yard run by Parker with 4:27 left. The kick was also good.
St. Francis advanced the ball well on their next possession, but again fumbled the ball to the Eagles with 0:20 remaining. The game ended with the Indians on the short end of a 22-47 score.
The Indians will travel to Norton to face a strong BlueJay team on September 10th. The BlueJays defeated the Indians 0-36 last year. The Indians will be looking for some revenge.
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