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Tiger Cubs hang on for repeat win
Costin’s 2nd pick saves another 3-point victory
It took everyone and everything, all three phases of the game, for Greencastle to earn a 33-30 victory over West Vigo on Friday night in the opening round of the IHSAA Class 3A football tournament at Harbison Stadium.
• Devin Clar rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and Nick Costin was 12-14 passing for 110 yards and one touchdown.
• The Greencastle defense held West Vigo to 51 yards rushing and intercepted two passes.
• And on special teams, Ben Webb kicked field goals of 35 and 30 yards that provided the final cushion for the Tiger Cubs, who beat West Vigo by three points for the second time this season..
Greencastle (9-1) will now host Danville, a big winner over Indianapolis Northwest on Friday.
From beginning to end, this contest was filled with excitement. If you went for popcorn you missed a big play. The Tiger Cubs bobbled the opening kickoff and that set up West Vigo’s first touchdown because the Vikings got the ball at the Greencastle 34-yard line.
Greencastle trailed 15-7 at halftime, was down 22-13 in the third quarter, then took a 33-22 lead and held on to win by three. It’s tournament time, so survive and advance.
West Vigo scored with eight seconds left in the first half to lead 15-7 at halftime. The Vikings got the ball first in the second half, but the Tiger Cubs forced them to punt and Greencastle’s Gavin Bollman blocked the punt. The Tiger Cubs took possession on the West Vigo eight-yard line.
Three plays later, Nick Costin hooked up with Jackie Scanland on an eight-yard touchdown play. The Tiger Cubs lined up for a two-point conversion, but were called for a false start and brought on the kicking team. West Vigo blocked the point-after kick, and the Tiger Cubs trailed 15-13 with 9:22 to play in the third period.
West Vigo’s Jarret McCallister broke the kickoff return for 79 yards and a touchdown, giving the Viking a 22-13 lead.
That appeared to fire up the Greencastle line, as they plowed over West Vigo for a five-play, penalty assisted touchdown drive. Derek Ummel scored on a five-yard run and Webb’s PAT kick cut the West Vigo lead to 22-20.
Greencastle’s Alex Costin intercepted a West Vigo pass and returned it 42 yards to the Vikings’ 22-yard line to set up the Tiger Cubs’ go-ahead touchdown.
Clar got a big hole from the offensive line and reached the one-yard line. He scored on the next play and Webb kicked the PAT, putting the Tiger Cubs ahead 27-22 with 6:16 to play in the third quarter.
Big defensive plays by Greencastle’s Brayden Bollman and Cade Winslow gave the Tiger Cubs possession at the West Vigo 36. That led to Webb’s 35-yard field goal and a 30-22 lead with 1:19 to play in the third period.
It appeared Greencastle put things out of reach when Webb kicked a 30-yard field goal to put Greencastle up 33-22 with 4:30 to play.
But West Vigo scored a quick touchdown with the help of two penalties against Greencastle. The first was a pass interference call and the second was against the Tiger Cubs’ bench after a coach threw something on the field. West Vigo’s McCallister scored on a 20-yard pass from Jake Lautenschlager, who then passed for the two-point conversion.
With 4:09 to play, Greencastle was clinging to a 33-30 lead. The Tiger Cubs ate up three minutes of that time, but West Vigo got the ball back with just under a minute to play.
Greencastle 7 0 23 3 — 33
West Vigo 0 15 7 8 — 30
G — Devin Clar 1 run (Ben Webb kick) 7-0 0:12 Q1.
WV — Jarret McCalister from Tyler Kernstein from Jake Lautenschlager (Sean Beaver kick) 7-7 11:48 Q2.
WV — McCalister 3 run (McCallister run) 15-7 :08 Q2.
G — Jackie Scanland 8 pass from Nick Costin (kick blocked), 15-13 9:22 Q3.
WV — McCalister 79 return (Beaver kick) 22-13 9:08 Q3.
G — Derek Ummel 5 run (Webb kick) 22-20 7:08 Q3.
G — Clar 1 run (Webb kick) 27-22 6:16 Q3.
G — Webb 35 field goal, 30-22 1:19 Q3.
G — Webb 30 field goal, 33-22 4:30 Q4.
WV — McCalister 20 pass from Lautenschlager (Joe Creasey pass from Lautenschlager) 33-30 4:09 Q4.
WV G
First downs 8 17
Rushes-yards 23-51 44-213
Passing yards 162 110
Comp-Att-Int 9-23-1 12-14-0
Total offense 46-213 58-323
Return yards 143 130
Punts-Avg. 1-25 2-15
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-54 13-118
Individual statistics
Rushing – West Vigo: McCalister 15-38, Noblitt 6-8, Denny 2-5. Greencastle: Clar 33-199, Ummel 7-17, Scanland 1-7, N. Costin 3-(-10).
Passing – West Vigo: Lautenschlager 9-23-2—162. Greencastle: N. Costin 12-14-0—110.
Receiving – West Vigo: McCalister 2-90, Kernstein 4-32, Frey 2-35, Noblitt 1-5. Greencastle: A. Costin 5-52, Edwards 2-16, Scanland 2-16, Matthews 2-15, Young 1-11.
Next game – Next Friday, Greencastle (9-1) will host Danville in the Class 3A Sectional 29 semifinals. West Vigo finished the season 5-5.