The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 45, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 November 1986 — Page 8

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., November 5,1986

Sports

Black crunch crushes Warriors, 14-0

(By MARK HUFFMAN Sports Writer A black cat from North Wood crossed the Warriors path once too often Halloween night as two first quarter touchdowns stood up to make the difference, with Wawasee going down to defeat for the first time this season, 14-0. Paw prints could be found painted over a “Go Wawasee” sign on the road (US 6) to Nap-

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FORCED TO PASS — Wawasee quarterback Chris Cotton troduced receivers to the air early last Friday night, throwing I pigskin 17 times for 10 completions and 86 yards after falling behi I i-O in the first quarter.

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panee from Wawasee High School earlier in the day — perhaps symbolic of the Panther parade that would tread on Warrior hearts later that night. “We needed greatness to win and we just didn’t have it, while North Wood played an outstanding game,” Coach Myron Dickerson lamented. A 21-yard run by senior running back Phil Wilson, who took game honors on the ground with 76 yards, capped a short scoring

drive by the Panthers after a Wawasee fumble at the WHS 28. Wilson glided past the Warrior secondary at the 5:39 mark, giving North Wood the only points it would need with his sixth touchdown of the season, before sophomore Phil Jenkins converted the PAT. The Warriors then found themselves in an unfamiliar situation, a situation that Coach Dickerson had feared would haunt them when he stated before

in- Offensive linesman Mike Eastman gives Cotton more time by fenthe ding off defensive end Mark Ingle in the second quarter, but the senior lind quarterback wasn’t as fortunate later in the evening — finding himself on his back six times after heavy North Wood rushes. ( Photo by Dale Tobias)

OUT OF REACH — NorthVVood defensive back Ken Helmuth knocks away a pass from Wawasee senior Nate Rhoades during second half action of the Panther’s 11-0 win last Friday night. (Photo by .Mark Huffman* Sffl i SALE ® | Y Jriff TV'itqnc't \ V O "Hijrlr pmi . Pn««tr -£rr * 49 20% W? Y NEW FALL ITEMS Y Y ARRIVING DAILY \ y | Qene’g f X boutique X X SPECIALIZING IN LARGE X WOMEN'S ANO MISSY SIZES YlO5 W. Emeline, Milford 658-9177 Y Opon Mon. TbrvFri. 10-5, So*. 9-5 y Easy To Find.. Turn East At The SR 15 Stoplight V A In Milford Thon Go 3 Blocks A

the game, “I’m concerned with how we will react if we fall behind.” That concern turned to dismay as toe Wawasee mentor watched his team falter on its next possession and yield another seven points to a‘charged-up Panther squad five minutes later. Todd Crowder gathered in a Wawasee punt at the 15 and pushed it to the WHS 38 before being drug down by two Warrior defenders.

Junior signal caller Doug Odiome showed the poise of a seasoned veteran on the ensuing play from scrimmage, rifling a 16-yard aerial to Matt Schwartz to the Wawasee 22. Daric Gessinger finished the damaging series, running a slant to the end zone, where he stole a 19-yard pass after an attempted tip by defensive back Brett Traviolia. North Wood converted the play on a fourth and seven situation, a rarity against a strong Wawasee defense that had given up an average of 2.3 points before the contest. The Wawasee offense also had its troubles, sputtering throughout the first half, unable to push the ball past toe 50-yard line. “We just dug ourselves in a hole early and couldn’t get out,” Dickerson reasoned, noting, “We played the second half like we wanted to play the first. ’ ’ That second half saw the Warriors gain good field position, including a stint at the North Wood 14 with 5:50 left in the third stanza, but a stubborn Black Crunch defense kept them from toeing the line of the end zone. “North Wood did an outstanding job inside its 25-yard line,” Dickerson confirmed. Forced”to pass, quarterback Chris Cotton did manage to tally 86 yards through the air, including 48 yards on four attempts to tight end Ken Wright, but he also found himself in a situation Odiome had to cope with six weeks earlier — being sacked six times. “They just blitzed us and we didn’t pick it up well — Chris did a commendable job, in fact he did a pretty outstanding job,” Dickerson lauded. Odiome was also subject to praise from both coaches, who saw him rebound from six sacks and an 8-0 setback earlier in the season. “We tried to get positive yardage so we could pass when we wanted to and Odiome helped us do that,” Coach Jim Andrews said. The junior scrambler accounted for 78 “big” yards through the air on four completions. Four of his other 12 passes were also catchable, with Panther receivers having trouble finding the grip on occasion. The ball carriers, however, had no trouble with their grip, gaining 115 yards at will, while the Warriors were held in check on 10 yards rushing. The much-anticipated matchup t 'tween Wawasee workhorse Scot McDowell and the Panther’s Wilson never fully materialized, with the Warrior fullback seeing limited time due to the flu. When he did enter the game, his defensive heroics helped shrink North Wood yardage as he garnered seven solo tackles and assisted on two. Linebacker Scott Robinson tallied seven and one, followed by linebacker Troy Reiff, who played much of the season with a separated shoulder, five and six; Chris Yoder, four and three, and Erick Jones, three and three. Jones also accounted for the only Wawasee sack of the night, dropping Odiome for a loss of seven yards. On the winners side, defensive back Troy Andrews and tackle

What goes around, comes around

Nearly two years ago, this sports-crazed person retired from his sports journalism career at The Mail-Journal to enter private business. At that time, several people, including myself, questioned - the move. But, that’s okay, it was the right decision. Nevertheless, I am living proof that whatever goes around, comes around again. Still, before the cards, letters and phone calls come in, let me share with you why I have returned for another engagement with The Mail-Journal. Do you have the time to hear me out? As some of you remember. I served as sports writer under Tom Charles 20 months ago. That stint was enjoyable but not totally convincing that journalism was in my future. After Charles left for Pennsylvania, I decided I would accept my father-in-laws offer to manage his sporting goods store in Fremont, Ohio. It seemed the right thing to do. Especially with Charles leaving and my fiance, now wife, encouraging me to try the business, I went east.

Ryan Miller accounted for 26 tackles, while also causing havoc in the Wawasee backfield with one sack each. Linebacker Jeff Lengacher and defensive end Mickey Marks accounted for the other four sacks. “Our kids just played their hearts out, the little kids got inside them and they played with the intensity you need to pull this kind of an upset,” said a pleased Coach Andrews, who had emphasized mental toughness

■Sr jfl V OVERPROTECTED — While Wawasee found itself on the run tn the hackfield. North Wood quarterback Doug Odiorne was given enough time to add to the Panther’s total of 193 yards, with 78 yards on four big completions. Here Scot McDowell (41), who was used sparingly due to the flu, attempts to get around fuliback Phil Wilson (31). (Photo by Dale Tobias) Bul B 1 - X bL * a # . W tE Av IL. A» ■*X. \ W M A .-* ■ r ' ***• *• *“■* ■ PANTHER IN PURSUIT — Senior running back James Braggs manages one yard before being corralled by a duo of North Wood Panthers. The customary strong ground game of the Warriors was limited to 10 yards last Friday night, as North Wood went on to win 14-0 to advance to the sectional final against Norwell. (Photo by Dale Tobias).

On The Mark MARK ■ fOkj WEINSTEIN O jQ But. just like in Notre Dame’s football game against Michigan this season, I gave it a solid es- \ fort, but came up on the short end. The only difference was that I knew I would leave the business after one year. The Irish still had a slight chance of winning until John Carney’s wounded duck field goal attempt sailed wide and short at the end. 1 guess the bottom line is that 1 missed writing, and this area. Now I have some goals in mind, and am dedicating myself to the completion of these desires. Also. Northern Indiana is a much nicer place to raise a family than the

throughout toe week. North Wood will have to preserve that toughness this Friday when they face Norwell, a 29-14 winner over Plymouth last week. “Physically and emotionally we spent ourselves — we’ll just have to try to ‘get at it’ on the practice field again this week,” Andrews remarked. At the other side of the chalk board, Coach Dickerson will reluctantly put away the game films and throw his whistle into a desk drawer for another seven

northern parts of that state they term ‘Buckeye Country ”. Those people over there are nuts, I had to escape before it was too late. Thank-you Indiana, for reaching out your hand and inviting me back Your invitation is appreciated because it gives me the chance to work with some old friends. I am looking forward to the working days with Hal Traviolia. Tim CaldwefLdScott Siler. Dale Brannock. Neal Frantz, and even my good friend from North Webster. Mitch Willaman. It feels good to be a “Hoosier" again. Just in case you are interested in officiating basketball in Indiana this year, there will be a clinic tonight at Fort Wayne s Regional Vocational Center beginning at 7:30. The event, which will review IHSAA rules, is open to officials and coaches. How quickly fame can fail you. Tom Seaver, one of finest pitchers ever in baseball, will not be retained by the Boston Red Sox

months. “We had a great season and aren’t going to look back,” Coach Dickerson said of the 9-1 Warriors, adding, “We had a lot of overachievers; if our players next year put anywhere near the effort we’ve put in this year we ll be successful.” Nineteen senior players will be honored, along with the entire NLC championship team, at an awards banquet Tuesday. Nov. 18, at 5:45 p.m. in the WHS cafeteria.

past the 1986 season. The former Cy Young award pitcher was notified that his contract option will not be renewed by the Red Sox. Others falling in the same boat are Tony Armas. Dave Stapleton. and Sammy Stewart, all from Boston. Congratulations to Myron Dickerson's football team and staff on a great season. Too bad it ended so quickly, but 1 am sun' a lot was learned which enhanced Wawasee's program, and the players' lives. Just a reminder, if you forgot. Wawasee will be hosting the Nor them Lakes Conference girls swim meet tomorrow at WHS The Thursday evening event begins at 5:30 and continues Saturday with diving slated for 9 a m Finals are scheduled., for 2:30 p.m. Saturdav. J i'V The Warriors, presently , in third place in the NLC. have a 4-2 conference record. Concord presently leads the conference with a 6-0 conference slate While Goshen is 5-1 in NLC action. ’ ■ 'll