Hickam accounts for five TDs as GHS wins
CLOVERDALE -- Greencastle and Cloverdale entered Friday's contest in similar places. Both were coming off losses and looking to establish some firm footing to make a push at the midway point. Greencastle struck a good balance on offense and defeated Cloverdale 44-13.
Both Greencastle and Cloverdale are known ground grinders, so the start to Friday's game was a bit of a surprise.
The Tiger Cubs knew they needed to get the advantage early and they did just that. Just 14 seconds into the game, quarterback Jordan Hickam connected with Ashton Marshall for a 79-yard touchdown. It was just the beginning of a tremendous night for Greencastle's junior quarterback.
"Jordan Hickam is coming into his own," GHS head coach Mike Meyer commented. "Everything's coming together and we did some nice things and I've very happy with the way it turned out. We did a nice job today, pretty sound and hey -- it's a win."
Greencastle scored on its next possession when Marshall took the ball in from three yards out making it 13-0 in favor of the Tiger Cubs. They scored again at the 1:53 mark when Hickam slashed through the defense for a 14-yard score, putting GHS up 20-0.
Cloverdale responded on its next possession, when Jordan Brinkman sent a laser shot to Devin Looper for a 41-yard touchdown strike to pull the Clovers to within 13 points.
Greencastle hit its first rough patch of the game after regaining possession as Marshall fumbled the ball, but after a Cloverdale four-and-out, the Tiger Cubs continued to their assault on the end zone.
Hickam found Tyler Pettit for a 41-yard score to push the margin back to 20 points. Greencastle was moving the ball again, but Hickam had a pass picked off by the Clovers' Donovan Scisney to stall the drive.
With just a minute left in the half, Greencastle got the ball back and continued to do what they had done all night -- score.
Again it was Hickam that provided some highlights for GHS. He called his own number and slithered through the Clover defense and 41 yards later to make the score 34-7 in favor of Greencastle at the half.
The teams opened the second half by trading possession, but it was Greencastle that struck pay dirt first.
Patrick Richardson set up the Greencastle score by taking the ball 30 yards down to the four yardline. And who found the end zone for GHS? If you said Hickam, you'd be right. He took the ball around the left side and strolled into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the evening.
Cloverdale's Brinkman was replaced in the third quarter by backup Brandon Moon and it was Moon that provided Cloverdale's biggest moment of the night.
Facing a fourth-and-12 at midfield, the Clovers had little choice but to roll the dice. Moon dropped back, looked over the middle and found a streaking Zak Osburn for a 49 yard touchdown, making the score 41-13.
Greencastle added a 27-yard Buzz Deer field goal in the fourth to bring the score to its final tally.
Hickam finished the night with a combined 292 yards rushing and passing and found the end zone five times.
Cloverdale also had an impressive showing in the air, with Brinkman and Moon throwing for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Meyer was pleased with his team's performance on both side of the ball and saw some things he believes his team can build on to become better.
"The defense played well," he said. "We had some silly penalties that we didn't need, turned the ball over a couple of times that we didn't want to, but I liked what the kids did. I liked the way we moved the ball on offense. We ran the ball well and when you do that, it's going to come out right for you."
Both teams were coming off tough losses and both coaches were pleased for the most part with the way their teams handle the adversity.
"Oh, very proud. It's tough; Coach Winkler had the same problem. You have a bad day and you have to come back and get them fired up. Our kids came back and hung in there and I liked that. I liked that a lot." Meyer commented.
"I had four starters replaced in this game, so I'm pleased with those guys that stepped it up," CHS head coach Kyle Winkler said. "I liked the fact that the kids that have heart and pride stuck with the program after last week. I know it was kind of tough for some kids."
He acknowledged that some of the kids had a tough time after last week's loss, but he said they kept their head held high and that's what they're taught at Cloverdale.
"Our kids are trucking on and we're going to get ready for next weeks opponent and force this one out of our head and go from there," Winkler said.
Greencastle will have their homecoming against Cascade at 7 p.m. Friday, while Cloverdale will travel to Owen Valley at 7 p.m. Friday.
At Cloverdale
Greencastle 20 14 7 3 -- 44
Cloverdale 0 7 6 0 -- 13
First Quarter
GHS -- Hickam 79 yd. pass to Marshall (missed kick) 11:46
GHS -- Marshall 3 yd. run 6:22
GHS -- Hickam 14 run 1:53
Second Quarter
CHS -- Brinkman 41 yd. Looper 11:50
GHS -- Hickam 41 yd. pass Pettit 8:31
GHS -- Hickam 42 yd. run :52
Third Quarter
GHS -- Hickam 4 yd. run 2:40
CHS -- Moon 49 yd. pass Osburn :28
Fourth Quarter
GHS -- Deer 27 yd. field goal
Individual Statistics
Greencastle (3-4, 3-2 WCC)
Rushing -- (37 carries, 286 yards) -- Hickam 17-147 3 TD, Marshall 5-35, Richardson 8-88, Ford 3-7, Hesler 2-7, Rickenbaugh 2-2
Passing -- (3-6-2-1, 145 yards) -- Hickam 3-6-2-1, 145 yards 2 TD
Receiving -- (3 catches, 145 yards) -- Marshall 1-79, Pettit 1-41, Buchanan 1-25
Cloverdale (2-5, 1-4 WCC)
Rushing -- (40 carries, 138 yards) -- Brinkman 15-58, Moon 8-26, Osburn 6-20, Lockwood 7-13, Couse 2-11, Scisney 2-10
Passing -- (10-24-3-1, 204 yards) -- Brinkman 8-20-2-1, 151 yards, Moon 2-4-1-0, 53 yards
Receiving -- (10 catches, 204 yards) -- Osburn 3-72, Looper 3-64, Keefer 3-58, Lockwood 1-10
Next game -- Greencastle will have their homecoming against Cascade at 7 p.m. Friday, while Cloverdale will travel to Owen Valley at 7 p.m. Friday.