Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 125, Number 46, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 13 November 2002 — Page 13
Ramirez hurt early—host Indians surprise Panthers
by Barb Keiser Editor • North Wood High School’s foot- ! ball season came to an end in disap- ; pointing fashion Friday night, ■ November 8, with the Panthers ' falling to the host South Bend St. Joseph Indians. 28-12, in their Class • 3A Sectional championship contest. ! Coach Rich Dodson and Crew ! close with a respectable 9-3 mark. • and a No. 8 ranking entering the • game, while unranked St. Joe ! advanced to 9-3 and move on to ; regional competition. It is St. Joe’s first sectional crown since 1995 when the team won a state title. North Wood’s loss snapped a string of six consecutive sectional ■ titles, dating back to 1995. as well as a current six-game win streak. Of ; his team, Dodson reported, “Overall • this was a good season for us. The ' kids did a good job putting together ; our six-game winning streak.” i The host Indians scored on their first possession and led 28-6 by halftime, with the Panther turnovers and an early injury to sophomore standout Michael Ramirez 1 (sprained knee early in second quarter) contributing to the score. Dodson stated, "They came out ! and had some big splits, and we just 1 didn’t play with the assignments we
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KIM KEISER PHOTOS Coaches at Work Coaches Rich Dodson, top, and Gene Zercher, bottom, check the action during Friday night's sectional championship Class 3A football tournament at South Bend Clay Field. The Panthers closed their season with a respectable 9-3 mark, while St. Joe advances to regional action this week, via a 28-12 win over North Wood.
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needed to play with at the start. It’s not very different, but they take big splits and the quarterback is going to run people out in front of him when he ball-fakes it. He knows when he’s going to keep it Our option—we don’t always know.” The Indians were led by their junior QB Joe McDonnell, who kept the ball 28 times for 122 yards. North Wood had a highlight of their own in the first quarter, when Trevor Shields scampered 57 yards to paydirt at 3:45, off a pass from BeMiller. to tighten the score at 146 (kick for PAT failed). However a blocked punt led to another score by the Indians, and a fourth TD before halftime put the Panthers in a deep hole. “The fumbled return, a blocked punt —we got ourselves to where we couldn’t afford to be patient,” stated Dodson. “We also couldn’t afford to lose Michael Ramirez. That’s our leading rusher, leading receiver, leading scorer and a leading outside linebacker.” He continued, “We did a fine job rallying back and accomplishing some things, but we just didn’t play very well tonight. That’s the bottom line.” t North Wood’s other tally came at :12 of the third period, when freshman Darren Lengacher scored from
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five yards out. The pass for two extra points failed, and Panther scoring was over for the season. On the night, North Wood managed just 187 yards of offense, to 225 for their hosts. The Panthers fumbled four times, losing two. while St. Joe was 2-1. North Wood was penalized three times for 25 yards and the Indians 3-20. Senior E.J. Yehl was the leading ground-gainer, with 61 yards on seven carries, while BeMiller added 43 on 12 keepers and Lengacher had five totes for 18 yards. BeMiller was 4-17 through the air for 83 yards and one TD. with Shields hauling in one for the score and Andrew Huber grabbing the other three. Senior Jason Cudd. with 16 hits, two for loss, and junior Chad Davis, with 10 hits and a fumble recovery, led the Black Crunch “D.” Senior Brandon Stutzman added seven tackles, a QB sack and one for loss, while senior Austin Perkins added six, with two for loss, and junior Joe Beer also had six. The Indians will square off against Fort Wayne Concordia. Friday night, November 15, at Ft. Wayne. Kickoff is set for 7:30p.m. Concordia advanced to regional action with Friday's 35-27 win over Harding.
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Black Crunch ♦«- ” RPHO, ° The Panthers' Black Crunch defense puts a stop to St. Joe's ground game during sectional tournament championship action, Friday night, November 8, at South Bend's Clay Field. It wasn't enough, however, as the Panthers fell 28-12, closing out their season with a 9-3 record and a tie for second-place in the Northern Lakes Conference. Congratulations Panthers on a good season
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Working It Out m KEISER PHOTO Coaches work with the Panthers in an attempt to stop St. Joe, during a time out Friday night, November 8, at South Bend. St. Joe struck early and hard, coming awdy with a 28-12 win to stop the Panther season, and advance to regional action this Friday night at Ft. Wayne.
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Advance News • Wednesday, November 13, 2002
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