Menu
Homecoming Hijacked
GREENCASTLE--Too little, too late sealed the fate for the Tiger Cubs (1-4, 0-3 WIC) on Homecoming, as they fell to Cascade (3-2, 3-0 WIC), 34-24.
Greencastle's defense came up strong in the second half, holding the Cadets to just one score in the final 24 minutes of play, but an offense hampered by turnovers and penalties simply could not get going.
"We played pretty poorly in that second quarter," GHS coach Mike Meyer said. "Once we got things going, I was impressed by our kids' will to win, but it was just too much to overcome."
On the Cubs' first drive, it looked as if things might turn out differently for Greencastle. They marched the ball all the way to the red zone, going 45 yards in 12 plays, before junior quarterback Nick Costin was tackled for a loss and then intercepted in the end zone by sophomore defensive back Isaac Guerendo.
Cascade gave the ball to senior wide out Zac Butler, and he carried it 76 yards for the first score of the contest. The Cadets missed the extra point but led 6-0 with 4:28 to play in the first quarter.
Greencastle was quick to answer, as senior Chase Chew returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Senior Jacob Kessler's extra point put the Cubs on top 7-6.
However, the lead was not to last, as Guerendo returned the following kick 85 yards for a touchdown. This time, Noah Mourey's extra point found the middle of the uprights, and the Cadets led 13-7 with just under 4 minutes to play in the first quarter.
Chew got the Tiger Cubs going with another solid kick return, but the drive stalled on a holding penalty, and Greencastle settled for a 31-yard Kessler field goal to pull within three.
The Greencastle defense got a big stop thanks to senior defensive back Alex Hanks, who intercepted junior quarterback Chase Edwards, only to turn the ball over on a Chew fumble.
Cascade then marched the ball down the field on a nine-play, 57-yard drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run for Butler.
The two teams traded possessions, until the Cadets forced the Tiger Cubs to punt it away with just over a minute left in the first half. Edwards' pass found a streaking Butler in stride to put the Cadets up 27-10 at the break.
Greencastle needed to muster a will to win at halftime, and Coach Mike Meyer was able to get the Cubs going on defense. They stopped the Cadets' first drive of the second half, and found pay dirt on a 15-yard Costin pass to junior wideout J.T. Matthews to pull within 10.
The suffocating Tiger Cub defense snuffed out another Cadet drive, and Greencastle went 81 yards in 12 plays, topped off by a 21-yard Costin keeper to pull the Cubs within three at the start of the fourth quarter.
Nevertheless, the comeback was not to be. Cascade, taking a cue from a Notre Dame playbook of lore, gave the ball to freshman running back Connor Horning, and went 80 yards in 11 plays to go up 34-24, halfway through the final period.
Incompletions stalled a final Tiger Cub rally. Greencastle turned the ball over on downs and the Cadets ran out the final four minutes on the game clock to seal the victory.
Greencastle returns to action next Friday night at Robert L. Harbison Stadium as they play host to the Sullivan Golden Arrows. Sullivan comes into the contest with a 3-2 record following a 50-8 victory against Edgewood. Kick time on Friday is 7 p.m.
"We're going to have to clean things up this week," said Meyer. "Sullivan is a strong program and their guys are going to be ready to play."
At Greencastle
Cas 13 14 0 7 -- 34
GHS 10 0 7 7 -- 24
1st Quarter
Cas: Butler 76-yd run (kick failed), 4:38
GHS: Chew 90-yd kickoff return (Kick good) 4:28
Cas: Guerendo 85-yd kickoff return (kick good) 3:59
GHS: Kessler 31-yd FG, 1:03
2nd Quarter
Cas: Butler 2-yd run. (kick good), 7:03
Cas: Edwards 37-yd pass to Butler (kick good), 0:25
3rd Quarter
GHS: Costin 15-yd pass to Matthews (kick good), 6:26
4th Quarter
GHS: Costin 21-yd run (kick good), 11:31
Cas: Horning 1-yd run (kick good), 6:08
Stats
Rushing:
Cascade: Butler 10-100, Edwards 7-53, Horning 15-44, Fox: 3-6, Gates 1-2, Guerendo 2-23
Greencastle: Chew 5-28, Clar 22-134, Costin 6-23, Scanland 1-4
Passing:
Cascade: Edwards 11-18, 189 yards, TD, INT
Greencastle: Costin 9-16, 140 yards, TD, INT
Receiving:
Cascade: Guerendo 1-22, Stephenson 4-33, Butler 4-127, Horning 1-9, Fox 1-(-2)
Greencastle: Rossok 2-6, Chew 1-60, Scanland 2-26, Matthews 3-31, Meyer 1-8