Tiger Cubs top Arrows 29-28 to stay perfect

SULLIVAN — Greencastle posted a shutout in the second half, outscoring host Sullivan 13-0 in the final 24 minutes as the Tiger Cubs remained undefeated with a 29-28 victory at Sportland Field on Friday night.

“This was a big win for us,” said Greencastle coach Mike Meyer. “It was good to go on the road and get a win against a very good team.”

The Tiger Cubs improved to 6-0, 3-0 in the West Division of the Western Indiana Conference. The Golden Arrows, the two-time defending conference champs, slipped to 4-2, 1-2.

“We just got beat by a better team,” said Sullivan coach Blaine Powell. “They are physical and they are tough.

“They are very good defensively. They made it very difficult on us, especially in the second half.”

Despite an 86-yard kickoff return by Damon Moody and a 6-yard run by Moody sandwiched around a 25-yard field goal by Hector Lezama, the Tiger Cubs trailed 28-16 at the half.

Sullivan halfback Jakeb Skinner scored his second TD of the half, a 1-yard run to cap a 77-yard drive that consumed 58 seconds.

“We scored right before the half and were up 12 points,” said Powell. “I thought we were in good shape.

“But you have to give them credit, they were more physical than we were on both sides of the ball. They really controlled the line of scrimmage and we just couldn’t get anything going.”

Sullivan’s Daylan Curtis fumbled after being flipped in the air on the tackle on the opening kickoff.

Greencastle needed just one play to capitalize as quarterback Brayden Baxter found Dakota Campbell running behind the SHS secondary. The 23-yard pitch-and-catch and Lezama’s second PAT closed the gap to 28-23 just 12 seconds into the third quarter.

Moody, who finished with 27 carries for 194 yards and finished with 305 total yards including 111 return yards, went untouched around right end and ran in front of the GHS faithful, 66 yards for a score with 8:38 remaining in the game.

“Moody does a great job of running behind our line,” said Meyer. “At times, they stopped him for no gain, but then he would bust through and made a big play.”

Even though Sullivan had 480 yards compared to 353 for Greencastle, the Arrows had no answer for the Tiger Cubs in the second half.

Sullivan had drives in the second half to the Greencastle 43, 24, 30 and 41 but were shut down on fourth or fumbled to end drives.

The Arrows did come up with one stop at their own 34-yard line, but Alex Costin’s pooch punt died at the 1 and was returned to the Sullivan 8 by Karter Vernelson.

“He really likes that pooch punt,” said Meyer. “That turned about to be a big play because we backed them up in the shadow of their own goal line.”

Gavin Bollman sacked Conner twice on the final drive, which ended the game with 44 seconds remaining.

“Bollman made a couple of huge plays defensively,” said Meyer. “He also had a big run to set up Moody’s touchdown run late in the first half.”

Powell said the Arrows just made too many mistakes (two lost fumbles in the second half) and had too many penalties (8 for 63 yards).

“We have to get better. We have to come together as a team,” he said.

Sullivan quarterback Jack Conner completed 13 of 27 passes for 229, including a 67-yard pass to Kyle Vernelson on the first play from scrimmage, tying the issue at 7-all.

Conner added a 1-yard run in the 21-point second quarter by the Arrows. Conner was limited to 35 yards on 14 carries.

He did catch a 57-yard halfback option pass from Karter Vernelson.

“Conner is a very good athlete,” said Meyer. “I was happy with the way our defense responded.”

Greencastle will host Northview on Friday for first place in the West Division of the WIC, while Sullivan will be at home against South Putnam in another conference game.

“That one is going to be even bigger than tonight,” said Meyer.

First quarter

G — Damon Moody 86 kickoff return (Hector Lezama kick), 11:45.

S — Kyle Vernelson 67 pass from Jack Conner (Kathleen Ming kick), 11:31

G — Lezama 25 FG, 8:45.

Second quarter

S — Conner 1 run (Ming kick), 10:37.

S — Jake Skinner 15 run (Ming kick), 6:56.

G — Moody 6 run (kick failed), 1:14.

S — Skinner 1 run (Ming kick), :16.9

Third quarter

G — Dakota Campbell 23 pass from Brayden Baxter (Lezama kick), 11:48.

Fourth quarter

G — Moody 66 run (run failed), 8:38.

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Greencastle: Moody 27-194, Gavin Bollman 4-66, Campbell 2-44, Baxter 4-(minus 18), Sullivan, Karter Vernelson 4-78, Skinner 17-73, Conner 14-35, Grant Bell 1-6, Ky. Vernelson 3-5.

PASSING — Greencastle, Baxter 5-12-2-67 Sullivan, Conner 13-27-0-229, Ka. Vernelson 1-1-1-54.

RECEIVING — Greencastle, Campbell 2-34, Alex Costin 2-22, Moody 1-11. Sullivan, Ky. Vernelson 5-130, Conner 1-54, Ka. Vernelson 5-37, Skinner 2-37, Bell 1-25.