Three redzone stands propels Tuscola football over .500
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Ben Crane
The Tuscola Warriors football team improved to 2-1 this past Thursday after beating the hosting Meridian Hawks, 24-6.
In three Meridian trips to the redzone, the Tuscola defense held strong and did not let up a singular point.
“I’ve never had a team that I think could grow to a ceiling more so than this team. We’re still young, but we’ve got some experience,” explained head coach Andy Romine postgame. “But God, I believe in them, and I I’m probably too hard on them at times, and I’m aware of that, but I also tell them I love them all the time, and I’m unapologetic to how high my expectations are of them, because I don’t think I’ve ever met a human being that was worse off because somebody had really high expectations of them. So, we’re going to keep creeping towards that ceiling, and I think the ceiling is pretty high.”
Jon Pettry got his second start under center for the Warriors, as he completed 11-20 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown. It was the Dylan Graves and Cooper Lyons show in the backfield, as Lyons finished with 44 rushing yards and a touchdown while Graves had 20 carries for 85 yards and five total tackles on defense to pace the Warriors.
The unsung hero for the Warriors all season has been kicker Keller Beachy, who registered four touchbacks on kickoffs and a 30-yard field goal.
“I hope he never graduates, it just doesn’t happen in high school, right? I mean, he’s automatic from everywhere and here’s the thing: if he happens to kick the ball in play and doesn’t get the touchback, he’s the best cover guy we have. He’s ridiculous,” said Romine.
The field position battle was critical in stifling the Hawks’ offense, with the Warriors only allowing six total points. The Warriors had different success on kickoffs, however, with Parker James opening the scoring for Tuscola early in the first quarter on a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Tuscola received the first kickoff to begin the game and immediately were swarmed by the Hawks defense. A three and out would have to do for the Warriors as they punted the ball away.
Meridian came out flying, completing a 12-yard pass before a 44-yard touchdown reception with 8:46 left in the first stanza gave them the lead, 6-0.
With the home crowd riled up, James put on the silencer as he returned a 67-yard kickoff return touchdown, with Beachy converting the extra point, 7-6 advantage Warriors. The visiting team would not trail for the rest of the game
The Warrior defense held strong, forcing a three and out before another James touchdown, this time off of a 35-yard touchdown reception from Pettry with 3:38 left in the first quarter to extend the lead to 14-6.
A huge Meridian pass and subsequent run had the Warriors on their heels as the Hawks found themselves eight yards from the endzone. On 4th and four, Tytus Hornaday came off the edge, forcing the Meridian quarterback into an incompletion, Tuscola’s first of three defensive stands within the 10-yard line.
The Tuscola offense began to stagnate as they were forced to punt inside their own 10-yard line. Meridian once again found themselves close to tightening the lead, this time from three yards out. The defense held again yet again, recovering a fumble.
Pinned inside their own five-yard line, the Warriors were forced to punt again. And again, the Hawks flew to the 10-yard line. On fourth down, the Warriors held again with 40.6 left in the first half.
The Hawks received the ball to start the second half, which quickly became a defensive battle. Both teams started their second halves with three and outs before the Warriors forced another turnover, converting it into a 1-yard Lyons touchdown rush, making the score 21-6.
The Warriors forced yet another three and out before a 30-yard field goal from Beachy made the score 24-6, the last points of the game.
Tuscola’s defense showed up again, forcing a Meridian fourth and a cab ride, where all the Warrior offense had to do was burn clock, resulting in victory formation.
The Warriors host Central A&M Friday at 7 p.m. and look to move to 3-1.