Menu
GHS secures first perfect regular season since '95
By GRANT WIEMAN
Staff Writer
The return of senior quarterback Nick Gilliam came just in time for the Tiger Cubs regular season finale, a 36-0 victory over Owen Valley on Friday.
Gilliam played sparingly last week, but he made his first start since returning from an injury, going 14-of-30 for 276 yards and four touchdowns.
The dominant win gave Greencastle it's first undefeated regular season since 1995.
Defense has been the key to the team's success all year -- Friday night was its seventh shutout in nine games -- but an explosive offense was on display against Owen Valley.
"We're pretty dynamic on offense," GHS coach Josh Buis said. "We have an opportunity with our offensive line, with the skill set that we have, to be able to mix it up and take advantage of what the defense is giving us.
"Tonight they were loading the box in the first half. We threw the ball a little bit, and Nick Gilliam did a phenomenal job."
Gilliam finished the first half 10-of-17 for 181 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite the gaudy numbers, it took until the start of the second quarter for the Tiger Cubs to put any points on the board.
Midway through the first quarter Greencastle began using a five-receiver spread offense with junior receiver Seth Brown isolated on one side and four receivers stacked on the other side.
While the play worked once, a second try resulted in an athletic interception by OVHS senior cornerback Austin Hunter.
Gilliam recovered and opened the scoring with an 18-yard pass to senior running back Nate Christy at the 11:08 mark of the second quarter.
Christy, often a workhorse back this season, finished the game with seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while still carrying the ball 13 times for 64 yards.
The Patriots muffed the ensuing kickoff and took over on their own eight-yard-line.
After forcing a three-and-out, Greencastle's Mac Shuee burst up the middle to block the OVHS punt out the back of the end zone for a safety.
Senior Cole Pohlar returned the free kick back to the Patriots 15 and Gilliam connected again with Christy, giving Tiger Cubs a 15-0 lead within just over two minutes of action.
Shuee, Alec Pettit and Brown each added touchdowns for Greencastle later in the game.
Defensively, the Tiger Cubs allowed only 55 yards in the game.
Greencastle has outscored its opponents 279-14 this year, an impenetrable 1.6 points allowed per game.
The only scores came in the first quarter of the season opener against Monrovia and late in the third quarter against North Putnam in week six.
Buis, after getting doused with a barrel of Gatorade, said he is proud of the way his team is playing on both sides of the ball.
"Our defense has been playing extremely well all year long," he said. "Our offense is very high powered. They have the ability to run and pass based on what the defense gives us. I'm proud of the whole team tonight."
Greencastle begins sectional play next week at West Vigo (6-3).
Buis is confident in his team's abilities, but stopped short of any guarantees.
"We're 9-0. We had a heck of a 'preseason,'" he said. "We're expecting to prepare to win. Come Friday night, on the road, against West Vigo, (we have) a great opportunity to take this team to 10-0."
At Greencastle
OWHS -- 0 0 0 0 -- 0
GHS -- 0 22 14 0 -- 36
Scoring summary
Second quarter
G -- 11:08 Gilliam 18 pass to Christy (kick by Weinschenk good), 7-0
G -- 8:56 Shuee blocked punt, safety, 9-0
G -- 8:33 Gilliam 15 pass to Christy (Weinschenk no good), 15-0
G -- 4:40 Gilliam 34 pass to Brown (Weinschenk good), 22-0
Third quarter
G -- 11:34 Gilliam 53 pass to Shuee (Weinschenk good), 29-0
G -- 2:11 Pettit 2 run (Weinschenk good), 36-0
Individual Stats
Rushing
Owen Valley -- Drew Bradley 19, 25; Larry Shaffer 10, 24; Gunnar Ranard 6, -1, Fum.
Greencastle -- Christy 13, 64; Gilliam 4, 24; Tanner Nicholson 2, 24; Pettit 4, 9, TD; Shuee 1, -5
Receiving
OV -- Bradley 3, 17; Caleb Arthur 1, 8; Shaffer 1, 5; Evan Wood 1, 5
G -- Christy 7, 107, 2 TD; Shuee 3, 79, TD; Brown 3, 66, TD; Pohlar 1, 20; Pettit 1, 4
Passing
OV -- Ranard 5/17, 37, Shaffer 1/1, 8
G -- Gilliam 14/30, 276, 4 TD, INT