Eagles Turn Homecoming Game Over To Rams

Eagles Turn Homecoming Game Over To Rams

By David Sharp

Knox County turned the football over four times while recovering two Schuyler County fumbles during their 2010 Homecoming football game. The Rams were able to cash in three recovered fumbles for touchdowns, claiming a 34-14 victory.
Schuyler County (2-3, 2-0) led 16-8 at intermission. The Rams mounted an impressive 70 yard scoring drive on their first possession of the second half. The Schuyler County touchdown drive set the tone for the final 24 minutes.
The Rams stopped Knox County on their first offensive series. Schuyler County controlled the line of scrimmage most of the night, neutralizing the Eagle’s most reliable weapons. Their pass rush and running game.
Aaron Fowler hauled in a six yard touchdown pass from Tim Gorman with 3:21 showing on the first quarter clock.
The reception capped a 97 yard scoring drive. Tim Gorman ran in the two point conversion Brandon Baird bottled the Rams up on their three yard line with a 45 yard punt.
Schuyler County forced another three and out. The Rams partially blocked a punt, taking over on the Knox County 35 yard line with 2:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The Eagle defense rose, stopping Schuyler County on four straight downs.
Kellen Gillaspy connected with Colton Danger for a 56 yard pass play. The Eagles scored with Gillaspy powered home from three yards out on a quarterback sneak with 11:31 to play in the first half.
Kellen Gillaspy ran in the two pointer, knotting the score at eight all.
Knox County stalled the subsequent Ram drive. Tim Gorman punted the football nearly 50 yards. The punt was muffed and Schuyler County had the ball back on the Knox County 25 yard line. The Eagle defense stepped up again.
Tim Gorman executed a pooch punt well, bottling the Eagles up on their five yard line with 7:31 to play in the half. The Eagles fumbled the ball away on their two yard line.
The Rams overcame a five yard penalty. Dakota Schmitter converted the fumble into six points on a three yard run at the 3:54 mark of period two. Troy Tallman ran in the two point conversion for a 16-8 Schuyler County lead.
Knox County drove the football to the red zone, only to lose another fumble. The Rams ran out the final minute for a 16-8 halftime lead.
Stats were close during the first half. Each team had seven unofficial first downs. Knox County nearly doubled the Ram rushing total at 86-42. Schuyler County held a 96-63 yard passing edge. Knox County had more total yards at 149-138.
Three Knox County turnovers were part of the first half difference. The Rams had two first half touchdowns called back by penalties.
Schuyler County came out of the dressing room with a purpose. The Rams ran and passed their way down the field, traveling 70 yards in just under 90 seconds of clock time.
Tim Gorman raced 15 yards for a score with 10:32 showing on the third quarter clock. The two point pass failed and Schuyler County led 22-8. Knox County turned the football over again on their 15 yard line.
Dakota Schmitter scored on a one yard run with 8:14 to play in period three. The two point pass was no good leaving the Rams up 28-8. The Eagles were not through abusing their chances for victory.
A high snap sailed over punter Brandon Baird’s head for a 30 yard loss. Schuyler County got the ball on the Eagle two yard line with 6:52 to play in the third quarter.
Aaron Fowler caught a well executed two yard dump pass from Tim Gorman with 6:14 to play in the third quarter. Knox County blocked the extra point kick, leaving the score at 34-8 Schuyler County.
Schuyler County forced another punt. Fortune started turning the Eagle way. Davin York recovered a fumble, stopping a Schuyler County drive on the Knox County 19 yard line.
The Rams were flagged for running into Knox County punter Brandon Baird. Knox County was punting from inside their 20 yard line. The Eagles punted again, bottling Schuyler County up on their eight yard line.
The Rams began teeing off on Knox County’s quarterback in obvious passing situations. Bo Ridgeway and Nick Crossgrove had Schuyler County quarterback sacks. Jon Harder had a sack for -6 yards.
Brady Morton recovered a fumble on the Ram 14 yard line late in the game. Davin York scored on a six yard run with 4:01 to play in the game. The two point run failed leaving the final score at 34-14 Schuyler County.
“Everybody keeps telling us we have a young football team. This is week five. We shouldn’t keep making the same mistakes we made in week one,” Knox County coach Alex VanDelft said.
“We have to stop making stupid penalties. We have to give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
“(Schuyler County) has a good team. They came out and executed. They took advantage of our mistakes. Whenever we had turnovers, they scored off it. We have to keep on getting better. We had a lot of teachable moments out there.”
Schuyler County had an 18-11 edge in first downs. Knox County rushed 32 times for an unofficial 135 yards. Davin York led the way with seven carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Damon Hemmerling had eight carries for 42 yards. Kellen Gillaspy carried five times for 29 yards and a score. Kellen Gillaspy was 2-13 passing for 63 yards. Colton Danger had one catch for 56 yards. Justin Reeves had a seven yard catch.
Knox County had five penalties for 31 yards unofficially. Brandon Baird punted five times for a 30.4 yard average. Damon Hemmerling recovered a KC fumble. Schuyler County defender Bo Ridgeway had three fumble recoveries and 15 tackles.
The Rams rushed 31 times for an unofficial 120 yards. Dakota Schmitter led the way with 12 rushing attempts for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Tim Gorman rushed 15 times for 65 yards and a touchdown.
The returning all conference quarterback was 10-18 passing for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Fowler had four receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Schuyler County had six penalties for 60 yards unofficially.
Tim Gorman punted twice for a 35.5 yard average. Knox County hosts another of the top teams in the conference when Putnam County comes to town for an October 1 Tri-Rivers Conference set.
An added bonus will be Knox County and Putnam County completing their suspended softball game at 5PM before the 7PM football contest.
Midget players to watch include running back Kyle Hoskins, quarterbacks Brett Thomas and Blaine Robinson along with running back Kyle Gadberry. Dakota Valentine and Dallas Halley are two of first year Putnam County coach Wade Auld’s better linemen.
“It doesn’t really matter what we do in week five,” Alex VanDelft said. “We have to get to weeks eight, nine and ten. I saw the intensity in these kids’ eyes. They don’t want to feel like this ever again. They will put the work in so they don’t.”
“That scoring drive at the start of the second half seemed to take the wind out of our sails. People were in position to make tackles. We were going for that big hit rather than being more technical, break down and make the tackle,” Coach VanDelft said.
“We preached gang tackling all week. We made improvement. We can’t wait until the fourth quarter when the game result is already determined. Putnam County has a great running back (Kyle Hoskins.) I think they are going to spread us out and run it.”
“Our kids didn’t quit. They played as hard in the fourth quarter as they did in the first. We made too many mistakes, especially against a good team,” Alex Van Delft said.