Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 407, Greencastle, Putnam County, 21 November 1985 — Page 9
Class A semistate South Putnam's defensive line may be key to beating Eastern Hancock
By STEVE FIELDS Banner-Graphic Sports Editor The next game is always the most important, but coaches don’t know if their players are thinking that way. Coach Mark Wildman hasn’t had to worry too much about what the players are thinking this week. South Putnam will host 11-l Eastern Hancock Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Class A high school football semistate. It’s the biggest game in South Putnam football history, the winner advancing to the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis to play the winner of the Jimtown (10-1) and Adams Central (9-3) contest for the state championship. “YOU CAN TELL the players that every week during the season,” Wildman said of the most important game philosophy. “I don’t know whether they believed it then, but they know it now.” Wildman held a team meeting to talk about concentration in practice and to deal with other distractions resulting from the 9-3 season. “There will be times this week they can do that,” Wildman said of the Eagles enjoying the spotlight. “But between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. they’re going to have to knuckle down.” That may be the most accurate way of describing Friday night’s matchup. For instead of the game being in the hands of bigplay quarterback Tony Lewis and his receivers, it could be decided by South Putnam’s defensive line play. “THEY’VE USED THEIR line to get where they are, so it’s got to be pretty tough,” Wildman said of Eastern Hancock’s group of unknown veterans. “From the films we’ve watched their line can make their backs look pretty good. They come off the ball real well and they make some holes. It’s going to be a tough gest for our defensive line. “This is going to be as good as any offensive line they’ve faced. Our defensive play has played real well. Against Sheridan, a team that runs as well as they do, they (the defensive line) played real well. That could be the big match up of the game, their offensive line against our defensive line." the Eagle coach said. While 5-9, 160-pound tailback Bob Reed leads the Royals’ ground game with 1,089 yards and 6-1, 185-Dound halfback Joe South has racked up 670, people notice Brian Ellison first. The 6-3, 287-pound senior was converted from guard to fullback after the 20-0 season-opening loss to Shenandoah and has gained a surprising 627 yards. “YOU’VE GOT TO tackle him low and you’ve got to get a lot of people to him,” Wildman said of stopping Ellison. “He falls forward and they’ve had a good play. Just try to outnumber him, that’s all I know.” At the same time though the Eagles’ can’t read the run too quickly from the Royals’ wishbone offense. Quarterback Kyle Barrentine not only runs the option, but can throw as well. And when the 6-1, 176-pound junior puts the ball up usually split end Andy House is the target, the 5-9,
Lewis enjoys sharing success
By STEVE FIELDS Banner-Graphic Sports Editor Tony Lewis is living a high school athlete’s dream. It’s straight from one of those early 1960’s movies. You’ve seen the flick where the blond-haired, blueeyed kid walks the high school hallways with the best looking girl on his arm, then quarterbacks the football team to victory in the next scene. SO FAR THAT’S been pretty close to the script for Lewis and South Putnam would like to see it continue through Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. Class A semistate game with 11-1 Eastern Hancock. Tickets are still on sale at the high school principal’s office for $4. Lewis has been in South Putnam’s spotlight since his sophomore year. Last year he catapulted into the state spotlight with a school record 1,929 passing yards and another 14 touchdown passes. But it was lonely at the top, even though he was accompanied by his top receiver Brian Meek-a first-team AP all-state selection. Now the statistics have dropped off this year. Lewis has completed 54 per cent (128-235) passes for 1,867 yards and another school record 24 touchdowns, but in 12 games. His statistics didn’t compare with other quarterbacks until the regular-season was nearly over. THE KEY IS Lewis is still playing and a lot of other quarterbacks who were ranked all year are working on another sport. “Last year me and Brian Meek got a lot of recognition, but it wasn’t like... 10 games and you’re done,” Lewis said comparing the two seasons. “But this year we’re going further places and you’re getting more recognition as a team and it’s even ‘funner’ because you’re getting close to the (Hoosier) Dome and you’re thinking, ‘we just got to practice good and do things right and see how it comes out.’” Simply put, the fun for Lewis is team success instead of individual glory. Immediately after last week’s 7-6 overtime victory over host Sheridan, Lewis credited the Eagle defense, although he threw the winning fiveyard touchdown pass. “IT WAS BAD conditions for us, the whole team. Especially for a quarterback if you throw the ball,” Lewis said. “But we had to make do. The defense is what did it. It was a total team effort, or we never would have won the game. The defense just held them
Friday night starters
South Putnam offense QB- Tony Lewis (5-11,160, Sr.) TB- Bruce Bridgewater (6-1,150, So.) FB- Dan Smetzer (5-9,155, Sr.) C- Chris Bombei (5-11,177, So.) G-John Spencer (5-8,145, Sr.) G-- Kent Yocom (6-1,183, Sr ) T- Tony Cash (6-0, 261, Jr.) or, David Woolums (6-1,200, Sr.) T-Jason Baugh (60,227,5 r.) TE-Brian Meek (6-3,175, Sr.) SE - Chris Sullivan (60,144, Jr.) F-John Bridgewater (6-1,173, Sr.) South Putnam defense FS-Brian Meek (6-3,175, Sr ) LB-Rolland Vickery (60,176, Sr ) LB-John Spencer (5-8,145, Sr ) SS-Brian Bridgewater (6-1,156, So.) NB-Darrin Lewis (5-9,167, Sr.) DT-Richard Fox (5-8,161, Sr.) DT- Tony Cash (60, 261, Jr. ) or, David Woolums (6-1,200, Sr.) DE-Bruce Bridgewater (6-1,159, So ) DE-Greg Phillips (6-4,180, Sr.) CB- Chris Arnold (60,157, Jr.) CB-Tim Porter (5-11,133, Jr.)
145-pound senior catching 31 passes for 468 yards and five touchdowns. South’s offense may be looking at a 43 or 44, depending upon which coach you want to believe. Coach Bob Copeland said his Royals play a 4-3 (four down linemen and three linebackers). However, against Clarksville they showed a 44, according to Wildman. "WE’VE WORKED MORE against a 44 this week,” Wildman said, noting Sheridan coach Larry Wright, who had also scounted the Royals earlier, saw' a 44 defense. But a lot of teams have played a 43 against the Eagles this season because of Lewis’ passing and the variety of receivers he uses. “We could see them in either one,” Wildman said, noting their secondary is basically man-to-man. Look for Lewis to audible, according to what kind of defense Eastern Hancock shows. “They do pressure. I don’t expect as much (pressure) as Sheridan though,” Wildman said of the three blitzing Royal linebackers. “WE EXPECT THEM to give an outside pass rush. The only thing that might change is how he (Tony Lewis) might drop (back to pass),” Wildman explained. “Plus, if they blitz their linebackers a lot, we might see something open over the middle.” * Copeland watched South Putnam nip Sheridan 7-6 in overtime. “I could tell from the playing conditions their quarterback still threw the ball well. It just wasn’t catchable. He still threw the ball well,” the Eastern Hancock coach said. It’s possible the Eagles and Royals could be playing in the rain and mud again. The weather forecast says 60 per cent chance of rain Friday.
Fields' Findings
enough for the offense to do one play.” And that’s been the big key for South and Lewis this year. The defense has taken a great deal of pressure off Lewis and his offensive mates. In past seasons if the senior righthander completed just five of 16 passes and threw an interception the Eagles lost. Not this year. Although Lewis is recognized as one of the team’s leaders and a key to any success or failure, it has not been a one-man show. Coaches around the county and West Central Conference have talked all season about the number of good athletes on South’s team. LIKE MOST OF his teammates Lewis is a threesport athlete. Whenever football ends he’ll move with Meek, Greg Phillips and Chris Sullivan to basketball, while John Bridgewater, Tony Cash, Rolland Vickery and others go to wrestling. This spring Lewis will play baseball, as will Phillips and Chris Arnold, while Cash, Bridgewater and Brian and Bruce Bridgewater turn to track. “I don’t know what it is. South Putnam has just got a lot of people going three different sports. You just go from one season and nobody thinks anything different about it,” Lewis said. That is a key asset to Lewis’ and South’s success. He is one of a few Class A quarterbacks who doesn’t play defense. Eastern Hancock’s Kyle Barrentine will also play defensive back this Friday and last week Doug Rodgers doubled as a defensive back in Sheridan’s secondary. "MY SOPHOMORE YEAR I had to play a little bit, three games or so, of defense and I was dying (tired)
Eastern Hancock defense MLB-Mark Roberts (5-10,165, Sr.) OLB-Jason Hockett (5-10,145, So.) OLB-Mike Gilbert (5-9,155, So.) DE-Brandon Jones (5-10,155, Sr.) DE-Chris Conley (5-9,160, Sr.) DT-Larry Dusang (5-10,185, Sr.) DT-Camdron Ellison (60,173, Sr.) S-Kyle Barrentine (6-1,176, Jr.) S-Andy House (5-9,145, Sr.) CB-Bob Reed (5-9,160, Jr.) CB-Joe South (6-1,185, Sr.) Eastern Hancock offense QB-Kyle Barrentine (6-1,176, Jr.) TB-Bob Reed (5-9,160, Jr.) FB-Brian Ellison (6-3,287, Sr.) HB-Joe South (6-1,185, Sr.) C-Mark Roberts (5-10,165, Sr.) G-Larry Dusang (5-10,185, Sr.) G-Camdron Ellison (60,173, Sr.) T-Chris Conley (5-9,160, Sr.) T-RonNelson (60,187, Sr.) TE-Brandon Jones (5-10,155, Sr.) SE-Andy House (5-9,145, Sr.)
“WE’VE HAD A lot of success the last two weeks playing in that. I don’t know if I want to push our luck,” Copeland said. It didn’t rain on Eastern Hancock’s 27-0 win over Clarksville, but it was muddy. “Records or rankings, as in our case, mean nothing. South Putnam proved their a good team by beating a perrennial good team and really it was at their (Sheridan) own game too,” Copeland said of the Eagles. South Putnam may have one lineup change because of an injury. Tackle Tony Cash, who played little at Sheridan, may give way to David Woolums because of a deep thigh bruise. Cash has been out of contact all week and on crutches. TEAM STATISTICS SP Opp*. First Downs 132 99 Rushing yards 378-1,566 412-1,133 Passing yards 1.952 939 Passes 134-242-14 72-199-23 Total offense 620-3.518 (11-2.992 Return yards 8l« NA Punts-Avg. 441-31.52 59-29.78 Kumbies-lost 30-18 39-23 Penaltles-vards 72-868 71-759 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS SCORING: John Bridgewater 190, Brian Meek 38, Tony I-owls 38, Darrin Lewis 39, Bruce Bridgewater. Roiland Vickrey 24. Chris Sullivan 22. Dan Smetier 18, Greg Phillips 18, Brian Bridgewater 14. Tony Cash 6. Tim Porter 6, Jim Reynolds 1. RUSHING: Dan Smetier 78-597; Bruce Bridgewater 89382; Darrin Lewis 108-380; Tony Lewis 55-108. PASSING: Tony Lewis 128-235-14, 1887 , 24 touchdowns; Chris Arnold 2-3-0, 38. RECEIVING: Brian Meek 44-838: John Bridgewater 32804; Chris Sullivan 28-319; Greg Phillips 19-218; Darrin lewis 8-96; Brian Bridgewater 2-30. EASTERN HANCOCK (11-1) EHS Opp. First downs 149 108 Rushing yards 2.880 902 Passing yards 750 1.247 Passes 49-81-2 NA Total offense 3.610 2,149 Punts-Avg. 32-35.6 NA Fumbles-lost 35-22 NA Penaltles-vards 95-750 NA INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING: Bob Reed 173-1.089; Joe South 106-670; Brian Ellison 114-627. PASSING: Kyle Barrentine 49-81-2,750. RECEIVING: Andy House 31-468. SCORING: Bob Reed 94, Andy House3o.
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Greencastle High School athletes competing in fall sports were honored during Wednesday night's banquet and the Kiwanis-MVP Awards announced. MVP's for the fall sports are (front row, from left): Carrie Nealon for the second year in a row for the undefeated sectional champion girls swim team; Tawnya Pierce for the 16-6 volleyball team and Jill Gossard for the golf team. And
Greencastle girls need to swim even faster now
By STEVE FIELDS Banner-Graphic Sports Editor Coach Paul Bretscher said all but one of the Greencastle High School girls swimming team turned in season-best performances en route to the SouthmontIHSAA sectional title. Seven more of the same are needed Friday and Saturday in the State Championship Swimming Meet. Carrie Nealon will compete in the 200 and 500-yard freestyles, Cristina Opdahl and Lori Combs in the 100-yard backstroke, Dina Duncan in the 100-yard breaststroke, Jodi Billman in diving and Nealon, Opdahl, Combs and Kim Hinkle in the 400-yard freestyle relay. COMPETITION BEGINS AT 6 p.m. Friday at the lUPU-Indianapolis Natatorium with preliminary swimming events. Diving competition will be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, with the state finals in swimming competition to start at approximately 3:15 p.m. “If anybody scores at all we’ll consider it a plus,” coach Bretscher said of expectations in the state meet. "Nobody has done anything yet. In fact, if they swim their best times and don’t score it’s still a plus.” Nealon and Billman are making their
on offense,” Lewis recalled. “Just calling the plays I was having trouble.” The rest also allows Lewis to talk strategy with coach Mark Wildman, who admits to giving him a free hand. “I knew the defense real well and I knew the offensive line,” Wildman said of moving up to head coach when Bob Gaddis left for Danville. “But as far as what we try to do on offense, Tony Lewis probably spent more time with our offense than I had. It’s like having another coach on the field.” Wildman did add a new dimension to Lewis’ attack by having him run more. The coach noted that as defensive coordinator under Gaddis, Randy Ragsdale and Wayne Schuetter it was tougher to prepare for a scrambling or running quarterback. ' “I LIKE RUNNING it. I didn’t think I would. Last year I was sort of a little timid running the ball,” Lewis said. Maybe the best example of what his running does for South Putnam came in the sectional championship game with Attica. Reading Attica’s zone pass defense perfectly, Lewis marched the Eagles down to about the 30 yard-line. On a crucial third down he dropped back to pass, but found all but four Attica players back on pass defense and a good majority of them on the left side of the football field flooding South’s flood patterns. Lewis continued to look left, while he gradually rolled right, picking up speed, then finally tucking the ball away at the last minute to run. It appeared he was going to run out of bounds after getting the first down when a Attica player closed in on him. But when the Attica defender lowered his head for the hit, Lewis gave him a little right-left dance step and cut back inside for another 10 yards. IN THAT PARTICULAR situation Attica couldn’t come up at the first sign Lewis was going to run because he throws so well on the run. “We’ve done it for three or four years and I’m really more comfortable throwing on the run. I can throw in the pocket and the line gives me good time both ways,” the quarterback explained. We need a happy ending for this movie. Something happy, just like the early 1960’5, which was before the Eagles were born. The Hoosier Dome would be a nice setting for the final scene.
(back row, from left) Mike Wells as the No. 1 singles player on the tennis team; Bob Chandler for the 8-4 County Champion and regional qualifying cross country team and Steve Penley, the school's all-time leading scorer, for the 9-1 football team. (Banner-Graphic photo by Steve Fields).
second straight trip to the state finals, while Duncan qualified in two events as a freshman, but has not been since. This is Opdahl’s and Combs’ first trip to the big show. “I THINK IT’S going to help Jodi a lot,” Bretscher said of the previous experience. “Carrie has enough experience now I don’t think it’s going to make that much difference.” Swimmers are seeded according to their sectional championship times. Bretscher figured out from heat and lane assignments that Nealon is the highest seed of the Greencastle record seven state meet entries. The sophomore, who became the first Tiger Shark to score in the state meet last year with an 11th place in the 500-yard freestyle and 13th in the 200-yard freestyle, is seeded fifth this year in the 500 and 11th in the 200. Nealon will be swimming against the defending state 500-yard freestyle champion, Lynn Etnyre of Columbus North, in the third heat. OPDAHL IS SEEDED 20th and Combs
Cougar freshmen lose
ROACHDALE—North Putnam opened the high school freshman boys basketball schedule Wednesday night with two losses to Cascade, 38-23 in the B-Team contest and 61-31 in the ATeam game. DAVID MAISH LED the North Putnam B-Team with 12 points followed by Darren Hazlett with three and Jeff Wilson, Russ Evans and Todd Ulrey with two each and Chris Hites with
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November 21,1985, The Putnam County Banner Graphic
25th in the 100-yard backstroke among the 32 entries. Opdahl qualified despite a second place finish in the sectional by getting under the state’s 1:04.35 standard with a 1:04.26. Combs just missed the standard in a third place finish, but was taken as one of the state’s top 32 sectional performers in the event. Duncan’s 1:14.43 first place time in the 100-yard breaststroke at Southmont seeds her 30th out of 32 entries at the state meet. Greencastle’s 400-yard freestyle relay team is seeded 20th out of the 32 teams, but coach Bretscher feels Hinkle, Opdahl, Combs and Nealon can improve upon the 3:54.57 sectional championship time. Looking at their best splits individually, the coach said there is possibly 10 more seconds of speed if they can all turn in their best splits in one race. BILLMAN WILL BE the No. 2 diver Saturday. The order of diving is determined by blind draw. The junior qualified for the sectional with a 327.80 score and third place finish at Southmont.
one. Jackson paced Cascade with 12 and Templeton netted 10. Jeff Smith’s nine points led the Cougar A-Team, followed by Travis Nicholson with six, Jason Hartman, Casey Lashley and Chris Gough with four each and Mike Mitchem and Brandon Knowling with two each. BRIDGES LED CASCADE with 16 points.
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