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Tiger Cubs stay unbeaten with 31-13 win
CLAYTON — Greencastle’s coach and two of its top seniors were mostly happy with Friday night’s 31-13 win over Cascade, but not completely.
“We had too many turnovers [two], too many penalties [nine] and gave up a couple of big plays on defense,” Greencastle coach Mike Meyer said.
Quarterback Nick Costin agreed.
“In this game, we just wanted to get out with a victory,” said Costin, who kept his team undefeated at 5-0. “We were making silly mistakes, turned the ball over and had penalties. Other than that we did what we were supposed to do.”
Running back Devin Clar, who had a standard performance of 177 rushing yards, likes the fact that the Tiger Cubs overcame their errors.
“Even though we made mistakes, we fought through them and got out with a W,” Clar said. “It wasn’t clean, but we’ll take it.”
None of them wants to be greedy, though. They were all there last year, which didn’t go as well.
“I’m glad we are 5-0 now,” Costin said. “We haven’t done that for a while. We have to go down to Sullivan next week.
“They’re tough, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Clar still wasn’t sure he could believe where his team stands compared to a year ago.
“It’s definitely surreal from going 1-9 last year to 5-0 this year,” he said. “It’s just proving that all the hard work we put in over the offseason is paying off.”
Clar has the ability to both break tackles and get outside to utilize his speed. He knows the main reason for his success, though.
“Our line,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to get anything. That’s what our offense is — getting behind our offensive line and just reading holes.”
The Tiger Cubs perhaps lulled themselves into a false sense of security on the game’s opening drive.
Clar opened the game with a 16-yard run, adding a 25-yarder later in the opening drive, and Costin hit his brother Alex on an 11-yard touchdown pass just 3:49 into the game for a 7-0 lead.
The teams then exchanged punts, with Cascade taking over on the Tiger Cub 41. a 22-yard run by freshman Jason Mantooth coupled with a pair of Greencastle penalties allowed the Cadets to quickly tie the score on a four-yard run by sophomore Connor Horning with 3:10 left in the opening period.
Jackie Scanland then returned a short Cascade kickoff to the Cadet 46, and the Tiger Cubs settled for a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker Ben Webb to take the lead for good.
The versatile Scanland then intercepted a Cascade pass at the Cadet 34 and returned it to the nine. Two short carries by Clar resulted in the only touchdown of the second quarter and a 17-7 Tiger Cub lead.
Greencastle had another chance to score late in the period, but a Costin pass went off the hands of an open receiver and was intercepted by the Cadets to stop the threat.
Cascade opened the second half by nearly scoring on the opening kickoff, returning the kick 88 yards for an apparent touchdown that was called back due to a holding penalty.
Greencastle’s defense held and forced a punt, with the Tiger Cubs getting the ball back at their own 15 following another penalty during the runback.
Costin marched the Tiger Cubs deep into Cascade territory again, and in a near repeat of an earlier play hit a receiver in the hands with a pass that glanced off and was again intercepted by the Cadets.
Greencastle still led 17-7 after the scoreless third period, but got an insurance touchdown early in the fourth period.
On the second play after a Cadet punt, senior Derek Ummel took off on a 65-yard run that took the ball all the way to the Cadet 12. After yet another Tiger Cub penalty, Clar scored from 17 yards out to make it 24-7 with 9:26 to play.
Cascade got one of the big plays that undoubtedly interrupted coach Meyer’s regular sleeping pattern on Friday night on the third play of the ensuing drive. Speedy senior Tanner Fox took a handoff and raced 66 yards downfield before being tackled at the one. Edwards then scored on a quarterback sneak, and it was 24-13.
“We kept them in check and they didn’t get that many yards overall,” Meyer said. “But once they got out there, they have some good speed.”
Ummel, who pairs with Clar for a deadly 1-2 combo out of the backfield, finished with 127 yards rushing and scored a four-yard touchdown later in the final period to account for the final score.
Meyer knows his team has a big chore next week in trying to stop Sullivan and all-state quarterback Trey Powell, who racked up 70 points on Friday night in a win over South Vermillion.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Meyer said.
Greencastle 10 7 0 14 — 31
Cascade 7 0 0 6 — 13
G — A.Costin 10 pass from N.Costin (Webb kick)
C — Horning 4 run (Deurloo kick)
G — Webb 27 FG
G — Clar 4 run (Webb kick)
G — Clar 17 run (Webb kick)
C — Ch.Edwards 1 run (kick failed)
G — Ummel 4 run (Webb kick)
G C
First downs 15 8
Rushes-yards 36-327 39-163
Passing yards 55 8
Total offense 382 171
Passing 8-16-2 1-7-1
Penalties-yards 9-81 6-42
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Punts-avg. 2-21 6-33.3
Individual statistics
Rushing — Greencastle: Clar 18-177, Ummel 12-127, N.Costin 5-18, A.Costin 1-5. Cascade: Mantjooth 11-39, Horning 9-8, Fox 9-91, Co.Edwards 4-12, Ch.Edwards 7-14.
Passing — Greencastle: N.Costin 8-16-1 55. Cascade: Ch.Edwards 1-7-1 8.
Receiving — Greencastle: Matthews 2-12, A.Costin 1-11, Clark 2-14, Edwards 3-18. Cascade: Mourey 1-8.
Next game — Greencastle (5-0) plays at Sullivan on Friday, while Cascade (1-4) hosts Owen Valley.