Tiger Cubs end season against Danville

Friday, October 27, 2006

DANVILLE -- In football, a team's ability to take advantage of its opportunities can mean the difference between a win and a loss.

For the Greencastle Tiger Cubs it meant a loss.

The Tiger Cubs' season ended with a 34-7 loss to the Danville Warriors in the second round of Class 3A sectional action.

Greencastle, trailing 12-7 heading into the fourth quarter, had several chances to turn the game in their favor during the final 12 minutes but were not able to capitalize.

Two GHS receivers slipped on the rain-soaked field at Danville, robbing the Tiger Cubs of a pair of large gains late in the game.

"Missed opportunities is what did us in," Greencastle coach Mike Meyer said after the game. "We had some chances to get up on them, and we didn't take advantage."

The Tiger Cubs carried a slim 7-6 advantage into the halftime break.

Greencastle's lone first-half score came on a 16-yard run from Drew Evens with 23.1 seconds to go in the first quarter.

The Tiger Cubs maintained that lead until late in the second when Danville quarterback Colton Cooper carried the ball into the endzone from three yards out to cut the GHS advantage to one.

Danville put another touchdown on the board in the third quarter on a six-yard run from junior running back Andrew Lehr that put the Warriors on top 12-7 with 3:38 left in the period.

While the offenses from both teams were quiet through the first three quarters, the Warriors exploded in the fourth, scoring 22 points.

Cooper started the charge with a 14-yard run with 9:32 to go in the game, and Lehr ran the ball in for the two-point conversion, making it a 20-7 contest.

Derek Cullison scored next for Danville, carrying the ball 13 yards for the touchdown before taking it another five yards to complete another two-point conversion, putting the Warriors on top by 21.

Cooper put the final nail in the coffin with 4:33 to go when he ran the ball in from six yards out.

Danville (7-4) will now host Indianapolis Chatard next week to decide the champion of Sectional 22.

"Danville has got a very good football team," Meyer said. "Cooper is just an outstanding player. We just didn't have an answer for him tonight."

The Danville quarterback paced the Warriors' running game, recording 91 yards on 16 carries.

Greencastle senior Cal Gard, who entered Friday's game ranked 13th among Indiana high school quarterbacks in passing yards, had a quiet night, recording just 60 yards on 8-of-25 passing.

The Warrior defense held the Tiger Cubs to just 101 yards in total offense. Greencastle's running game earned just 41 yards in the game, with Evens leading the way with 21 on eight carries.

Besides Gard, 10 other seniors played their final football game in a GHS uniform Friday night.

"We've had a great group of seniors," Meyer said. "I'm very disappointed for them. We came a long way this year, probably a lot longer than a lot of people thought we would."

The Tiger Cubs ended the season at 7-4.

At Danville

Greencastle --7 0 0 0 -- 7

Danville --0 6 6 22 -- 34

First Quarter

Greencastle -- Evens 16 run (Deer kick) :23.1

Second Quarter

Danville -- Cooper 3 run (kick failed) :28.6

Third Quarter

Danville -- Lehr 6 run (pass failed) 3:38

Fourth Quarter

Danville -- Cooper 14 run (Lehr run) 9:32

Danville -- Cullison 13 run (Cullison run) 7:20

Danville -- Cooper 6 run (kick failed) 4:33

Team Statistics

First Downs --Greencastle 6, Danville 12

Fumbles/Lost -- Greencastle 1-0, Danville 2-2

Penalties/Yards -- Greencastle 2-10, Danville 1-12

Passing Yards -- Greencastle 60, Danville 14

Rushing Yards -- Greencastle 41, Danville 202

Total Yards -- Greencastle 101, Danville 216

Individual Statistics

Passing

Greencastle -- Gard 8-25-60

Danville -- Cooper 1-4-14

Rushing

Greencastle --Evens 8-21, Faust 5-0, Smiley 3-(-2), Gard 3-12

Danville -- Lehr 15-84, Cooper 16-91, Thurston 1-0, Cullison 3-15, Hess 3-12

Greencastle finished the season at 7-4.

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