Scott's six TD passes help Greencastle beat Cloverdale 49-24

Saturday, October 5, 2013
Greencastle senior Tyler Scott throws the ball to junior Ryley Cook on the sideline during the first half on Friday. Scott completed 26 passes for 332 yards and six touchdowns in the win, including 11 to Cook for 99 yards. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The Greencastle football team came into the season with big goals and, despite entering Friday's game with Cloverdale with just one loss, they hadn't quite lived up to them.

The Tiger Cubs beat the Clovers, 49-24, and moved the ball through the air better than they have all year, but they're still not where they need to be, GHS coach Josh Buis said.

"It's a bittersweet win," he said. "Last week we played a complete game and this week we didn't."

Senior quarterback Tyler Scott had the best game of his career--one the best in school history--throwing for 332 yards and six touchdowns, including 312 and five in the first half.

Four of those scores--and 137 of the yards--went to senior wideout Seth Brown. Brown also had eight catches but was used primarily as a decoy for much of the game.

Junior Ryley Cook had career-highs of 11 catches and 99 yards, all in the first half, and sophomore tight end Brandon Gierke had six catches for 60 yards.

"In order to go far and accomplish our expectations, we're going to have to throw the football," Buis said. "Tonight we did a good job of spreading the ball out a little bit. We've had to work on that. We have to work on getting the ball to people other than Seth Brown.

"Ryley Cook had a heck of a game. Brandon Gierke had a heck of a game. Calvin Hughes came in offensively and played some key roles for us."

Hughes had 34 receiving yards but zero catches. Brown caught a pass in the third quarter on a hook route that he lateralled to Hughes for a big play down the sideline.

Greencastle's offense spread the field and picked the Clovers apart with swing passes to the edge of the field, working their methodical offense to efficient success.

When Cloverdale had the ball, the team had a dramatically different approach.

The Clovers had seven plays of 25-or-more yards, the majority going to senior wide receiver Wade Warren.

"We had some kids step up and make some plays tonight," CHS coach Jarrod Duff said. "We're never not going to take big plays."

Working the strong sideline Warren's speed and leaping ability gave him an advantage over the Tiger Cubs' one-on-one coverage. He finished with seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns and had four of the Clovers' big plays.

CHS senior quarterback Mark Osmialowski finished 10-for-21 for 238 yards and added another 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

"We were able to move the ball, especially early on in the game," Duff said. "We're getting there. We're getting closer. I hope that we keep progressing and keep getting better."

While the Clovers moved the ball effectively throughout the game, it's primary offense came through the explosive plays. Each possession, it seemed, would include one pass downfield and a series of moderately-effective runs. Senior Andrew Howard had 18 carries for 69 yards and speedy junior Ethan Boyd had three carries for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Greencastle's defensive line has been drastically bigger--and will remain bigger--than any team its come up against, so running the ball can often seem like a wasted play. As good as that aspect of the defense has been for GHS, the secondary has fallen apart and given up big plays far too many times, Buis said.

"That's the history of our defense this year," he said. "The book is not closed yet, but if you're on chapter seven right now, we give up big plays. Last year we didn't give up big plays.

"We've got to take that out of our game, and it's as simple as getting our corners and DBs backpedaling and being physical."

Cloverdale became the fourth team in seven games to score more than 20 points against the Tiger Cubs' defense, a group that gave up only 14 points total during the 2012 regular season.

The marked improvement from Cloverdale over last season's 64-0 loss against Greencastle impressed the Tiger Cubs' coach.

"Coach Duff has done a heck of a job with that program," Buis said. "Those guys are physical. They're playing hard. When you watch film, you can see conceptually what they're trying to do. He's done a great job with that program.

"When he gets his numbers up and gets excitement back into that program they're going to be darn good."

CHS had just 18 players dressed for Friday's game. The Cloverdale coach isn't quite as impressed with the teams improvements.

Cloverdale was zero-for-three on its two-point conversions, had an extra point attempt blocked and five penalties for 36 yards, sloppy mistakes that are preventing the Clovers from taking the next step and learning how to win, Duff said.

"As a coaching staff, we've got to do a better job preparing the kids," he said. "Early on we kind of shot ourselves in the foot. We made some mistakes and took ourselves out of drives.

"We just have to try to clean those mistakes up. It's encouraging that we were able to move the ball again against a good football team. ... I think that we've got a good chance next week against Owen Valley if we just keep getting better."

Greencastle's coach is still waiting for his defense to catch up to his record-pace offense.

The Scott-Brown duo has already combined for 11 touchdowns this year.

"We've got to clean a lot of things up," Buis said. "Today's win was bittersweet, but it's nice to see the fans and seniors get a win on Senior Night."

GHS and Cloverdale both have two more games to sharpen their rough edges before the postseason begins.

The Tiger Cubs (6-1, 3-1 WCC) will wrap up their West Central Conference schedule next week at Cascade (5-2, 2-1 WCC).

Cloverdale (1-6, 0-4 WCC) has its sights set on a home game against Owen Valley (4-3). Both contests are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Friday.

Cloverdale junior Freddy Fislar delivers a big hit on Greencastle junior Nathan Tesmer to break up a pass on Friday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)



At Greencastle
Cloverdale...............0 12 6 6 -- 24
Greencastle...........14 21 7 7 -- 49

Scoring summary
1st quarter
GC 3:35 -- Scott 65-yd pass to Brown (Weinschenk kick good), 7-0
GC 0:57 -- Scott 12-yd pass to Tesmer (Weinschenk kick good), 14-0

2nd quarter
GC 9:11 -- Scott 30-yd pass to Brown (Weinschenk kick good), 21-0
CL 7:37 -- Osmialowski 56-yd pass to Warren (Stout kick blocked by Secrest), 21-6
GC 6:26 -- Scott 13-yd pass to Brown (Weinschenk kick good), 28-0
CL 4:03 -- Osmialowski 38-yd pass to Warren (2 pt no good, Osmialowski to Stout), 28-12
GC 1:03 -- Scott 6-yd pass to Cook (Weinschenk kick good), 35-12

3rd quarter
CL 2:02 -- Osmialowski 2-yd run (2 pt no good, Osmialowski to Secrest), 35-18
GC 0:04 -- Scott 7-yd pass to Brown (Weinschenk kick good), 42-18

4th quarter
GC 8:15 -- Coble 5-yd run (Weinschenk kick good), 49-18
CL 2:14 -- Boyd 46-yd run (2 pt no good, Manion run), 49-24

Individual stats
Cloverdale
Rushing (37-193, 2 TD): Boyd 3-104, TD; Howard 18-69; Osmialowski 12-23, TD, Fumble; Secrest 1-2; Manion 1-(-1); Warren 2-(-4).
Passing: Osmialowski 10-21-238, 2 TD, INT
Receiving (10-238, 2 TD): Warren 7-172, 2 TD; Fislar 1-36; Secrest 2-30

Greencastle
Rushing (29-157, TD): Coble 9-66, TD; Pettit 7-36, Fumble; Scott 7-36; Ummel 5-15; Basile, 1-4.
Passing (27-41-330, 6 TD, INT): Scott 26-40-332, 6 TD, INT; Costin 1-1-(-2).
Receiving (27-330, 6 TD): Brown 8-137, 4 TD; Cook 11-99, TD; Gierke 6-60; Hughes 0-34; Tesmer 1-12, TD; Scanland 1-(-2).

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  • I would like to compliment Mr.Wieman on his sports coverage on all sports. This is the best coverage of all sports and all schools since Steve Fields!!! The coverage means a lot to the students, parents, coaches and schools. GOOD JOB!!!(lots of work I'm sure)

    -- Posted by donnanicholson2013 on Sat, Oct 5, 2013, at 10:58 AM
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