Indians Hammer the Tigers
Senior Parent Night Observed
The Indians wasted little time in establishing dominance over the Stockton Tigers in high school football on Senior Night, October 24. The Indians scored early and often to take a 55-8 win on Greene Field. The Tigers played hard, but with only eleven available players were just over-matched in the contest.
The opening kickoff by the Indians went into the end zone. Stockton began on their 15 yard line. Four plays later, facing 4th & 4, the Tigers punted.
Taylor Rogers returned the punt to the Stockton 30 yard line. Cade Bracelin carried the ball for 9 1/2 yards on first down. After the measurement, the Indians fumbled but recovered the snap. On 3rd & 9, Justin Pacheco sprinted around the right side for a 20-yard touchdown. The conversion pass from quarterback Quinton Cravens to tight end Jeremiah Neitzel was complete. At 8:49 in the 1st period, the Indians were up 8-0.
Nolan Lowry returned the kickoff to the Tiger 17 yard line where he was halted by a crunching tackle by Travis Rogers. A 15-yard penalty on the Indians moved the football to the 32 yard line. On second down, a pass from quarterback Ethan Hamel to Lowry advanced the ball all the way to the St. Francis 25 yard line. The Indian defense then made a stand. After losing yardage on three running plays, the Tigers attempted a 4th down pass that fell incomplete. The Indians took over on the their own 26 yard line.
On 2nd down, a pass from Cravens to Kyler Zweygardt moved the ball to the St. Francis 37 yard line and resulted in a 1st down. Cade Bracelin then busted through a big hole in the middle of the Tiger defense and rambled all the way to the Stockton 7 yard line. On the next play, Bracelin took the same path into the end zone. The conversion run failed, but the Indians were establishing control leading 14-0 with 4:09 left in the first period.
Bracelin's kick sailed into the end zone. On first down, Bracelin sacked the Tiger quarterback for a 3 yard loss. The Tigers earned a few yards on 2nd down, but were called for holding. The ball was moved back to the 7 yard line. On 3rd & 19, the Indians committed a pass interference penalty, and the ball was moved to the 23 setting up 3rd & 3. An illegal shift penalty against Stockton set up 4th down. The Tigers elected not to punt, and completed a pass short of the line to gain. Justin Pacheco made a nice tackle on the play, and the Indians took over on downs at the Stockton 23 yard line.
On the first play from scrimmage, Justin Pacheco rammed into the middle of the line for a 23 yard touchdown. The PAT kick by by Bracelin was low but good after bouncing off the crossbar. With 2:17 left in the first quarter, the Indian lead was 21-0.
Lowery's return was to the 19 yard line. Pacheco made another good stop for no gain on 1st down. On second down, Ethan Hamel sprinted for a 1st down at the St. Francis 35. The ensuing down ended when Jude Faulkender made a stop for a 2-yard loss after the Tigers had fumbled and recovered the football. The Tigers' pass attempt on the next play was intercepted by Quinton Cravens and returned for another Indian touchdown. Cravens also ran for the conversion points. With 28.2 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the margin had ballooned to 29-0.
After returning the kickoff to the 12 yard line, Stockton ran one play before the first quarter buzzer sounded. On 2nd down, Kale Kuhlman earned a first down with a run to the 24 yard line. After two more Kuhnman runs, the Indians sacked the Tigers on 3rd & 5. Luke Lampe, Cade Bracelin, and Justin Pacheco combined for the tackle. On 4th & 10, the Tigers punted.
Taylor Rogers returned the punt 43 yards for another St. Francis touchdown. Bracelin's conversion kick was good. St. Francis led 36-0 with 9:33 left in the second period.
Quinton Cravens kicked the football as the Indians began using substitute players and playing players in positions other than their usual position. The kick went out-of-bounds just before crossing the goal line so a re-kick was needed. After the re-kick, the Tigers began on the 15 yard line. On 4th & 5, the Tigers gained just enough for the first down, but were called for holding. On 4th & 18, the Tigers punted again.
There was no return of the punt, and the ball rolled dead at the St. Francis 37 yard line. With 8:11 left in the second, full scale substitution by the Indians took place. The Indians fumbled the ball back to the Tigers on the first play from scrimmage.
On first down, Tate Busse tackled the Stockton ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage for a 6 yard loss. On 3rd & 14, Trayton Doyle and Lane Hobrock combined for another stop for no gain. The Tigers punted yet again on 4th down.
The punt came to rest on the St. Francis 4 yard line. A nice run by Garrett Brunk picked up 7 yards on first down. On second down, Cravens completed a pass to Jude Faulkender. The pass and run covered 70 yards for another Indian touchdown. Bracelin's PAT kick was good. The Indians were up 43-0 with 5 minutes left in the first half.
The kickoff was returned to the Stockton 23 yard line. On 4th & 1, Stockton's Kale Kuhlman rounded the right right side and sprinted 47 yards for touchdown causing the Indians to miss several tackle opportunities. The conversion run was also good trimming the margin to 43-8 with 3:28 left in the half.
The Tigers attempted an on-side kick, but Garrett Brunk recovered for the Indians on the St. Francis 33 yard line. On first down, Cravens completed a pass to tight end Jeremiah Neitzel covering 47 yards for an apparent touchdown. The Indians were called for targeting on the play erasing the touchdown. After the penalty, the Indians set up on the Stockton 30 yard line. Cravens completed another pass to Neitzel advancing the ball to the 12 yard line. A penalty on the Indians moved the ball back five yards. Lane Hobrock carried the ball to the 3 yard line on the next play. Cravens followed with a 3 yard run for the score. Bracelin's PAT kick missed left. The Indians led 49-8.
J.R. Landenberger assumed the kickoff duties after the touchdown. Dalton Straub made a nice tackle to end the return at the Stockton 28. Three plays later, after good tackles by Luin Norris and Luke Lampe, the half came to an end.
Stockton attempted another on-side kickoff to open the second half. Jake Faulkender recovered the football at the Stockton 35. Bracelin ran for a first down on the first play from scrimmage all the way to the Stockton 17. Cravens then scored on a 17 yard run with 11:33 left in the third period. The game ended due to the 45-point rule with the Indians leading 55-8.
The evening was also Senior Night. Seniors and their parents were recognized in a short ceremony before the game. Seniors being recognized were: Cade Bracelin, son of Chris and Jill Bracelin; Shakotah Blanka, son of Shawn and Shawna Blanka; Jon Hoard, son of Daniel and Kate Hoard; Kyler Zweygardt, son of Mike and Trisha Zweygardt; Kyla Bandel, daughter of Matt and Mila Bandel; Mariah Beikman, daughter of Andy and Mary Beikman; McKayla Taylor, daughter of Gary and Trish Taylor; Valerie Wurm, daughter of Shane and Christy Wurm; Erik Nelson, son of Randy and Brenda Nelson; and Ashlee Orth, daughter of Roger and Teri Orth.
The Indians will play Logan-Palco in the final game of the season on Thursday, October 30, at Logan.
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