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Tiger Cubs fall to No. 1 Bishop Chatard in opener
The No.1 team in Class 3A proved to be too much for Greencastle in the sectional opener as the host Tiger Cubs lost to the Bishop Chatard Trojans 30-0. With the loss, Greencastle ends its season with record of 7-3.
GHS head coach Josh Buis said the outcome was the result of the Tiger Cubs being a smaller squad than the Trojans.
"The thing we ran into tonight offensively is, to he honest with you, their Jimmies and Joes were stronger than our Jimmies and Joes," he said. "And that's what it ultimately came down to.
"Now from a football player-wise, we have good football players -- just as good of football players as them. But it ultimately comes down to size and strength and I can assure you that won't be the case next year," Buis said.
Things didn't start well for the Tiger Cubs in the contest as quarterback Nick Gilliam threw an interception on the first play of the game. The Trojans took over at the Greencastle 27-yard line, but the GHS defense was able to dig in its heels and kept the Trojans out of the endzone.
Bishop Chatard drove the ball down to the GHS two-yard line and where they faced a fourth and goal. Senior Ben Hesler busted through the line and pressured quarterback Max VanVliet whose pass hit the turf short of the goal line.
On its next possession, Derrick Lenihan got things going with a five-yard run, but a screen pass from Gilliam to Lenihan resulted in one-yard loss. Greencastle tried to take a big chunk of real estate on the next play, but Gilliam's pass was short of receiver Ryan Battin and was picked off. This time Bishop Chatard would make the Tiger Cubs pay for their mistake.
Trojan runner Ryan Kleinschmidt began the drive with a 19-yard run, but it was Sean Parson three plays later that gave Bishop Chatard the lead on an 11-yard run with 3:10 to go in the quarter.
Greencastle's defense experienced its fair share of struggles in the first half and the Trojans were more than happy to capitalize on them. Bishop Chatard added 16 more points in the first half, including a safety to take a sizeable 23-0 halftime lead.
The offense for Greencastle had problems finding its way Friday, but was able to put together a sustained drive toward the end of the third quarter. The Tiger Cubs went on a drive that landed it on the doorstep of the endzone.
Facing fourth and one, Lenihan rushed for a little more than a yard to give Greencastle a first down at the 12-yard line. But that's when the Tiger Cub offense went silent.
On two consecutive plays, Gilliam tossed a pass to Nick Hutcheson in the endzone, but the receiver wasn't able to haul in either catch. That was followed up with another incomplete pass as the third quarter ended.
After switching ends of the field, Greencastle faced a critical fourth down play, but Gilliam's pass was behind receiver Chad Keyt as Keyt maneuvered in the endzone.
Bishop Chatard added another touchdown before the end of the contest to bring the contest to its final total of 30-0 in favor of the Trojans.
After the team meeting on the field, Greencastle's underclassmen formed a tunnel as the senior class walked off the field for the final time in their GHS career.
Following the team's loss, Buis reflected on the season and what the future has in store for the Greencastle football program.
"I think obviously we had some success this year," Buis said. "It's been a long time since Greencastle has had a good football team. Not only a football team, but also a football program. I think our senior class this year has done a great job of laying the foundation for our young kids to build on.
"This year was a measuring stick. We did some good things tonight. Offensively we put a drive together. The defense played very well, especially with some of the situations we put them in, but we have to continue to get better," he added.
Buis said the team would have a little break before it got back to work for next season, but he also threw down the gauntlet for his returning players.
"I told our kids after the game, we're going to give them until after Thanksgiving break to really decide if they want to pour their heart and soul into this football program, this community and this school," Buis said. "We'll find out after Thanksgiving break who wants to be part of a great winning tradition here. Because we're going to hit that weight room hard every single day and we're going to find a way to take this program back to greatness. We have good young kids."
The coach pointed out the varsity and junior varsity program were a combined 15-3 on the season and he said the sky's the limit for the program.
Buis also gave kudos to new Greencastle superintendent Lori Richmond and school administrators for their commitment to the football program and GHS athletic department.
"We have some great things to look forward to at this high school," Buis said.
Greencastle ends the season with a record of 7-3.
At Greencastle
Class 3A Sectional
Bishop Chatard 7 16 0 7 -- 30
Greencastle 0 0 0 0 -- 0
First Quarter
BC -- Parsons 11 yard run, kick good 3:10
Second Quarter
BC -- Van Vliet 2 run, kick good 11:06
BC -- Safety 3:02
BC -- Hepp 23 pass from Vliet, kick good 1:10
Fourth Quarter
BC -- Parsons 5 yard run, kick good 4:09
Stats
Bishop Chatard
Rushing -- Kleinschmidt 24-127, Van Vliet 6-8 TD, Weimer 4-37, Hartley 4-7, Parsons 3-24 TD
Passing -- VaVliet 16-25 192, TD
Receiving -- Wagner 6-80, Hill 5-56, Hepp 2-33 TD, Fagan 1-9, Weimer 1-9, Sahm 1-3
Greencastle
Rushing -- Lenihan 8-10, Christy 3-9, Gilliam 2 -(-12)
Receiving -- Shuee 5-65, Battin 4-19, Keyt 1-7, Lenihan 4-3
Passing -- Gilliam 14-31 104, 3 INT, Muncie 0-1