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Tiger Cubs grind out 10-0 win over Athenians
CRAWFORDSVILLE — The defensive line was about the only area on the football field for Greencastle not decimated by graduation after last season.
While an almost entirely overhauled offense worked its way through occasional bouts of inexperience, the Tiger Cub defensive front completely shut down Crawfordsville’s offense in a 10-0 season-opening win on Friday night.
“I wish our offense had been a little more consistent,” Greencastle coach Mike Meyer said. “But we didn’t give up any points on the board, and we did what we had to do — we started the season with a win.
“That’s the most important thing.”
Greencastle took the opening kickoff and drove to the Crawfordsville 10, but fumbled on fourth down and turned the ball over.
After forcing the Athenians to punt, the Tiger Cubs took over near midfield and drove 53 yards in eight plays. Junior quarterback Alex Costin carried the ball in from six yards out for the game’s only touchdown early in the second quarter.
That would be all the scoring until Greencastle senior kicker Evan Crowe easily drilled a 33-yard field goal with 3:08 to play for some insurance points.
Between those two scores were a few turnovers on both sides, several punts, some passes going uncaught that should have been grabbed and a few passes probably better unthrown.
Whatever offensive growing pains Greencastle had were overshadowed by the performance of the defense, which allowed Crawfordsville just 65 yards rushing and 72 yards passing (most coming in the final two minutes).
“I was very happy with our front four,” Meyer said, talking about a group that included Gavin Bollman, Marcus Watson, Jacob Meyer, Trever Wood and Cade Winslow.
Meyer pointed out two times his team was deep into enemy territory but was unable to convert as areas most in need of improvement.
“Andrew Fajt ran well and Andrew Buttery ran well, but we just have to get more consistent on offense,” he said. “We have to eliminate our mental mistakes.”
Not only did several young Tiger Cubs get their first chance at prominent action, but several chronologically older players also had their biggest roles to date.
“Some of those guys haven’t played much before, but we have to work with them and they’ll get better,” Meyer said. “We won the first one, and we’re on our way.”
Neither Fajt (5-7, 145 pounds) nor Buttery (5-6, 155) is a bruiser in the backfield, but the pair of juniors combined for 155 yards. Sophomore Dakota Campbell and Costin both had some good runs.
Costin only completed two of 10 passes, but one was a key 36-yarder to Bollman on third-and-eight to keep the drive alive that produced the only touchdown.
The Tiger Cubs will travel to Cloverdale next week to take on the Clovers.
Greencastle 0 7 0 3 — 10
Crawfordsville 0 0 0 0 — 0
G — Costin 6 run (Crowe kick)
G — Crowe 33 FG