Plainsmen Defeat Indians
The Oakley Plainsmen jumped out to an early lead over the St. Francis Indians on Greene Field on Friday, October 7, and never really were threatened. The Indians played much better later in the contest and showed some spunk, but could never recover from the big plays given up early in the contest.
St. Francis won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Oakley received the opening kickoff, and scored on a 60 yard run around the left end on their second play from scrimmage. The conversion run was also good, and the Plainsmen took a quick 0-8 lead with thirty-two seconds gone in the contest.
The Indians answered quickly on a 74 yard run by Thomas Douthit on the Indian's third play from scrimmage. The 2-point attempt failed, and the game stood at 6-8 with 10:26 left in the first period.
After a short kickoff, the Plainsmen set up their offense near their 35 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Gabel ran 64 yards over left tackle for another Plainsmen TD. The conversion attempt failed, but the Plainsmen had scored twice in three plays from scrimamge. With 10:09 left in the first period, the Indians trailed 6-14.
St. Francis set up offense on the 20 yard line after the kickoff. Three plays later, the Indians were looking at 4th and 4 1/2. The Indians used a long count to try and draw the Plainsmen offside, but it did not work. The Indians were forced to punt. The punt was blocked by Hefner and recovered on the Indian's 15 yard line. This time, it took the Plainsmen two plays to score. Gabel ran for a 10 yard touchdown with 7:40 left in period one. Albers ran for the conversion points. The Indians trailed 6-22 less than halftway through the first period.
Oakley got good kickoff coverage, and the Indians were trapped on the 9 yard line deep in their own territory. After 3 plays, the Indians were facing 4th and 8 and punted. The punt was short and returned to the Indian 36 yard line. A holding penalty on the Plainsmen backed the ball up to the 46.
Oakley soon scored again, this time on a 6 yard run by Cox. The PAT kick was good. The Indians fell behind 6-29 with 3:08 left in the first period.
The Indians set up offense on the 26 yard line. The first quarter closed with the Indians facing 4 and 9. The second quarter began with an Indian punt to the Oakley 35 yard line.
Oakley methodically moved the ball up field, but fumbled near the 20 yard line. Oakley recovered the fumble on the Indian's 17 yard line. A few plays later, a Keller pass to Gabel covering 9 yards put the Plainsmen in the end zone again. Cox ran for the 2-point conversion. The score was 6-37 with 7:46 left in the first half.
St. Francis mishandled the kickoff, but recovered on the 24 yard line. A late hit on the Plainsmen advanced the ball to the 39 on the markoff. Three plays later, the Indians punted again.
Oakley began on their 27 yard line. On 3rd and 8, the Plainsmen gained 7 yards. On 4 and 1, the Plainsmen committed an illegal procedure penalty making the down and distance 4th and 6 with under 4:30 to go. The Plainsmen punted for the first time in the contest.
Beginning on the 36, the Indians soon faced 4th and 4. The Indians elected to go for it, and Ty Zweygardt responded with a nice run over the left side to the Oakley 39 yard line with 2:41 left in the half. A short time later, a pass intended for Dylan Peter was intercepted by the Plainsmen on the 17 yard line and returned to the Oakley 37.
Two nice passes executed by the Plainsmen had them setting up on the Sainty 18 yard line with 44 seconds left in the half. A few plays later, the Plainsmen's Gabel kicked a field goal to close the half. The Indians were reeling 6-40.
The Indians showed some spunk in the second half. They scored on their first play from scrimmage on a 73 yard run over the left side by Dylan Wolaver. Thomas Douthit ran for the 2-point conversion and the Indians trimmed the lead to 14-40 with 11:41 left in the third. This Indians also appeared to be more aggressive defensively in the second half.
After the kickoff, Oakley set up on their 39 yard line. This Plainsmen drive was highlighted by a nice run by Cox to the Sainty 38 and a 4th and 7 pass for another Oakley TD. The conversion run failed moving the score to 14-46 with 7:58 to go.
The Indians began offense on their 32 yard line. On 4th and 6, Douthit rambled for a first down to the Indian 44. Later, on 4th and 1, Wolaver appeared stopped at the line of scrimmage, but rolled over the pile to pick up a needed first down on the Oakley 24 yard line. Facing 4th and 6 on the 20 with 0:49 left in the third, the Indians went to the air. A Plainsmen defensive back (Gabel) picked off the pass at the 14 ending what had been a nice Indian drive.
Oakley completed a 60 yard pass to their own 29 yard line at the end of the third period. A short time later, Cox ran for a 15 yard touchdown, but it was called back due to an illegal block. On 4th and 3 at the 19, Cox again found his way around the left side to the end zone. The two point conversion failed. The Indians trailed 14-52 with 10:11 to go.
Ty Zweygardt ran the kickoff back to the Oakley 47. On 4th and 2, Mike Leibbrandt made a nice 40 yard run to paydirt. The conversion attempt failed. The score stood at 20-52 with 8:48 left.
Cox found the end zone again with approximately five minutes left, but a block in the back call nullified the TD. A few plays later, Albers scored for the Plainsmen on an 8 yard run. Albers also scored the conversion points. The Plainsmen led 20-60, and the clock ran continuously for the remainder of the contest.
St. Francis had a nice kickoff return, but offsetting penalties erased the play. On the re-kick, the Indians returned the ball to the 28 yard line. Both Douthit and Leibbrandt had nice runs in this possession to advance the ball up the field. Thomas Douthit scored from 41 yards out around the right side for the final touchdown of the contest. Leibbrandt ran for the conversion points. The Indians were defeated by a good Plainsmen team 28-60.
The Indians will play Ellis in Ellis on Friday, October 14th.
