We have the matchup many have been expecting: Undefeated and No. 1 New Palestine facing once-beaten and No. 5 Pendleton Heights for a sectional championship.
Their game back on Sept. 2 -- which the Dragons won 34-21 -- was essentially for the HHC title. But both teams have been playing well since, and both had strong victories last night.
Kickoff next Friday at Kelso Stadium is 7 p.m. Our HancockCountySports.com broadcast will commence at 6:30 with the pregame show.
Let's look back at last night's games:
New Palestine 27, Delta 14: Delta jumped ahead 14-0, but NP's Connor Simmons threw four touchdown passes -- three to Josh Penley and a thrilling 71-yard pass to Tyler Walden -- to lead the Dragons back. Simmons threw for 235 yards and Austin Monday had 76 rushing yards in the second half as the Dragons ground out the clock. Walden also had a big 33-yard catch to set up an 11-yard TD pass to Penley that helped draw the Dragons within one early in the second. NP's defense also forced two key turnovers and stopped Delta on downs four times in Dragon territory to hold the Eagles off the board for the final three quarters. A more full recap is available deeper in the blog. NP is now 11-0 -- its best start to a season in school history. Delta finishes 5-6.
Archived broadcast | Daily Reporter | Muncie Star-Press
Pendleton Heights 45, Greenfield-Central 14: G-C scored early as Derek Conley ran the opening kickoff deep into Arabian territory and set up a short TD by Matt Dickerson, but PH scored 45 consecutive points, building a 31-7 lead at hafltime to pull away at Arabian Stadium. PH's Mitch Patishall threw for 215 yards and two TDs. WR Austin Coffel had a 100-yard receiving game. Jon Furrow (125 yards) and Jacob Lyons (91 yards) both carried the ground game for PH, and both scored two touchdowns. PH is now 10-1 heading into Kelso Stadium next week. G-C finishes 6-5, its second straight winning season. It's the first time G-C has accomplished that feat in 36 years.
Daily Reporter | Anderson Herald-Bulletin
In Class 3A
Bellmont 22, Yorktown 7: A week after upsetting No. 2 Eastbrook, the Tigers fell against a solid Bellmont team that -- like Yorktown -- spent much of its season playing bigger schools. Yorktown's Joe Todd threw for 181 yards, but the Tigers had four turnovers and surrendered eight sacks in the defeat.
Muncie Star-Press | Decatur Daily Democrat
Looking ahead
Next week:
Pendleton Heights at New Palestine, 7 p.m.
Regional
The winner plays the Sectional 14 champion of either Greenwood (8-3) at Cathedral (8-3) in the regional. If New Palestine plays Cathedral, the game will be at Kelso Stadium. If Pendleton Heights wins, it will host the regional regardless of opponent.
Semistate
The Sectional 15 and 16 title games:
Franklin County (9-2) at Columbus East (10-1)
Jasper (7-3) at Evansville Central (6-5)
(The semistate host is the regional non-host or the "higher-numbered" regional if there is a tie -- e.g., it is likely that the PH/NP/Greenwood/Cathedral regional winner would be on the road in the semistate).
Showing posts with label Bellmont. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bellmont. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
It's Dragons vs. Arabians for the title
Coming into the sectional, most observers -- including us -- would've forecast a matchup between New Palestine and Pendleton Heights for the championship.
That's exactly what will be happening next Friday night.
#5 Pendleton Heights (10-1) will visit #1 New Palestine (11-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Our HancockCountySports.com broadcast will begin at 6:30.
You can listen to our archived broadcast of New Palestine's 27-14 victory over Delta in a great matchup on the Eagles' turf. Delta jumped ahead early 14-0 when Ozzie Mann orchestrated a 62-yard drive after the opening kickoff, which Landon Lambert capped off with a 4-yard run. After a fumble two plays later, Mann carried in from 5 yards out after a short drive, giving Delta a 14-0 lead with four minutes left in the opening quarter.
Things didn't seem to be going well for the Dragons -- trailing by two scores, they faced third-and-15 from their own 29, and QB Connor Simmons was under heavy duress. He managed to escape a sack, roll out to the left and find sophomore Tyler Walden wide open at the 50. Walden caught the ball and dashed all the way across the field -- picking up blockers along the way -- before spinning across the pylon and into the end zone.
That play got the Dragons going. On the next drive, Simmons hit Walden for a 33-yard gain to the 11, which set up a TD pass to Josh Penley that cut the Delta lead to one after a blocked extra point early in the second.
Simmons-to-Penley would be a familiar refrain. They connected three times for 55 yards -- and all three were for TDs. The second came after a fumble recovered at midfield with 1:15 left in the half. The Dragons needed just 52 seconds for Simmons and Penley to connect from 20 yards out to make it a 20-14 game. NP scored on the first drive of the second half -- using Austin Monday to set up a 24-yard TD pass to Penley.
Simmons completed 12-of-23 for 235 yards and four TDs. He broke several school records tonight -- becoming the first Dragon to reach 3,000 passing yards for his career (he's now at 3,014) -- and passed Mark Shepler's 24-year-old career TD pass record of 35, with his 38th TD pass tonight.
Monday had a big second half -- he finished with 86 yards on 19 carries -- including 76 yards on 15 touches in the second half. The Dragons came out wanting to establish the running game in the second half and shortened the contest -- each team had only three possessions in the half, and the Dragons' defense stopped Delta in NP territory three straight times to preserve a 27-14 lead and turn it into a 27-14 victory.
Meanwhile, Pendleton Heights got there with a convincing 45-14 victory over Greenfield-Central. The Cougars drew first blood -- thanks to a long return by Derek Conley that set up an early TD -- but PH then scored 45 straight points. Mitch Patishall threw for 200+ yards, Jacob Lyons and Jon Furrow had big rushing games again.
So, NP is 11-0. PH is 10-1 -- with the only loss to the Dragons on the same field where they'll play next week. The only loss between either team is NP's 34-21 victory over PH all the way back in Week 3. PH hasn't scored less than 30 points since.
G-C's season completes with a 6-5 record -- the Cougars' second straight winning season. The last time G-C achieved that feat was 1973-75 -- an era that included two state runner-up finishes.
Also in the HHC
We're down to two conference teams, as Yorktown fell to Bellmont tonight on the road 22-7, ending the Tigers' season at 6-5.
That's exactly what will be happening next Friday night.
#5 Pendleton Heights (10-1) will visit #1 New Palestine (11-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Our HancockCountySports.com broadcast will begin at 6:30.
You can listen to our archived broadcast of New Palestine's 27-14 victory over Delta in a great matchup on the Eagles' turf. Delta jumped ahead early 14-0 when Ozzie Mann orchestrated a 62-yard drive after the opening kickoff, which Landon Lambert capped off with a 4-yard run. After a fumble two plays later, Mann carried in from 5 yards out after a short drive, giving Delta a 14-0 lead with four minutes left in the opening quarter.
Things didn't seem to be going well for the Dragons -- trailing by two scores, they faced third-and-15 from their own 29, and QB Connor Simmons was under heavy duress. He managed to escape a sack, roll out to the left and find sophomore Tyler Walden wide open at the 50. Walden caught the ball and dashed all the way across the field -- picking up blockers along the way -- before spinning across the pylon and into the end zone.
That play got the Dragons going. On the next drive, Simmons hit Walden for a 33-yard gain to the 11, which set up a TD pass to Josh Penley that cut the Delta lead to one after a blocked extra point early in the second.
Simmons-to-Penley would be a familiar refrain. They connected three times for 55 yards -- and all three were for TDs. The second came after a fumble recovered at midfield with 1:15 left in the half. The Dragons needed just 52 seconds for Simmons and Penley to connect from 20 yards out to make it a 20-14 game. NP scored on the first drive of the second half -- using Austin Monday to set up a 24-yard TD pass to Penley.
Simmons completed 12-of-23 for 235 yards and four TDs. He broke several school records tonight -- becoming the first Dragon to reach 3,000 passing yards for his career (he's now at 3,014) -- and passed Mark Shepler's 24-year-old career TD pass record of 35, with his 38th TD pass tonight.
Monday had a big second half -- he finished with 86 yards on 19 carries -- including 76 yards on 15 touches in the second half. The Dragons came out wanting to establish the running game in the second half and shortened the contest -- each team had only three possessions in the half, and the Dragons' defense stopped Delta in NP territory three straight times to preserve a 27-14 lead and turn it into a 27-14 victory.
Meanwhile, Pendleton Heights got there with a convincing 45-14 victory over Greenfield-Central. The Cougars drew first blood -- thanks to a long return by Derek Conley that set up an early TD -- but PH then scored 45 straight points. Mitch Patishall threw for 200+ yards, Jacob Lyons and Jon Furrow had big rushing games again.
So, NP is 11-0. PH is 10-1 -- with the only loss to the Dragons on the same field where they'll play next week. The only loss between either team is NP's 34-21 victory over PH all the way back in Week 3. PH hasn't scored less than 30 points since.
G-C's season completes with a 6-5 record -- the Cougars' second straight winning season. The last time G-C achieved that feat was 1973-75 -- an era that included two state runner-up finishes.
Also in the HHC
We're down to two conference teams, as Yorktown fell to Bellmont tonight on the road 22-7, ending the Tigers' season at 6-5.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Gameday: New Palestine vs. Delta & more
It's Game Night. Join the HancockCountySports.com crew for the 2011 sectional semifinal game between New Palestine and Delta. The teams are a combined 16-2 on the field against everyone else (take out the 1-1 record against each other :) ). With the exception of Delta's two league losses this year and games against each other, they've run the table in the HHC for the last three years.
Join Andrew & Mike LIVE! at HancockCountySports.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday night. We'll also be keeping you updated on all of the other games going on, including the two other HHC games.
#1 New Palestine (10-0) at Delta (7-3 on the field) (broadcast: www.hancockcountysports.com): This is a GREAT matchup. New Palestine has played really well offensively this season, but the defense has posted back-to-back shutouts. Delta has won four straight thanks to a strong defense and a balanced offense. Tremendous QB matchup between Connor Simmons and Ozzie Mann, and their stable of receivers -- Penley and Collins for NP vs. Greenberg, Robinson and Lambert for Delta. Matt Siergiej's return gives the Dragons a lot of balance in the running game, and they've relied on it a lot the last couple of weeks, while Delta is spreading it out with a couple of freshmen getting a lot of totes. Great coaching matchup between Tim Able & Grant Zgunda and their veteran, experienced assistant coaching staffs. This is going to be a dynamite football game -- it was the first time they played, when NP won 31-20 but had to rally in the fourth quarter to win in Week 4.
Greenfield-Central (6-4) at #5 Pendleton Heights (9-1) (broadcast: WRGF-89.7/WEEM-91.7): PH won 34-3 two weeks ago, but that's an indication of how solid of a football team the defending sectional champs have right now. Jacob Lyons and Jon Furrow gobble up yards on the ground -- both ran for 130+ last week vs. a good Mt. Vernon defense -- and Clint Nicholson is a pretty solid third option. WR Austin Coffel had a huge game vs. MV, but PH's real strength is its defense, which hasn't allowed a touchdown in 3 weeks. That's also G-C's strength -- an athletic secondary led by Matt Dickerson and Derek Conley that complements a heavy blitzing linebacker corps that will try to disrupt PH. G-C has 11 return touchdowns this year -- including three last week against Muncie South -- and special teams could be the X factor again in this one.
Potential sectional final matchups:
New Palestine: home vs. Pendleton Heights; at Greenfield-Central
Delta: on the road regardless of foe
Greenfield-Central: at home regardless of foe
Pendleton Heights: at New Palestine, home vs. Delta
Yorktown (6-4) at Bellmont (4-6) (broadcast: WellsCountyVoice.com or WZBD-Bellmont): The Tigers shocked No. 2 Eastbrook last week with a big game from Brendon Barnes, the speedy back who has been a sleeping giant throughout the HHC. Yorktown's record was deceiving because seven of its nine opponents in the regular season were Class 4A teams, but this team has a lot of talent. The winner gets either Mississinewa or Western next week. Expect the Tigers to be a favorite either way. If the Tigers win, they would be home vs. Western next week or at Mississinewa. Both of those teams enter the semifinal matchup 8-2.
Greenfield-Central (6-4) at #5 Pendleton Heights (9-1) (broadcast: WRGF-89.7/WEEM-91.7): PH won 34-3 two weeks ago, but that's an indication of how solid of a football team the defending sectional champs have right now. Jacob Lyons and Jon Furrow gobble up yards on the ground -- both ran for 130+ last week vs. a good Mt. Vernon defense -- and Clint Nicholson is a pretty solid third option. WR Austin Coffel had a huge game vs. MV, but PH's real strength is its defense, which hasn't allowed a touchdown in 3 weeks. That's also G-C's strength -- an athletic secondary led by Matt Dickerson and Derek Conley that complements a heavy blitzing linebacker corps that will try to disrupt PH. G-C has 11 return touchdowns this year -- including three last week against Muncie South -- and special teams could be the X factor again in this one.
Potential sectional final matchups:
New Palestine: home vs. Pendleton Heights; at Greenfield-Central
Delta: on the road regardless of foe
Greenfield-Central: at home regardless of foe
Pendleton Heights: at New Palestine, home vs. Delta
Yorktown (6-4) at Bellmont (4-6) (broadcast: WellsCountyVoice.com or WZBD-Bellmont): The Tigers shocked No. 2 Eastbrook last week with a big game from Brendon Barnes, the speedy back who has been a sleeping giant throughout the HHC. Yorktown's record was deceiving because seven of its nine opponents in the regular season were Class 4A teams, but this team has a lot of talent. The winner gets either Mississinewa or Western next week. Expect the Tigers to be a favorite either way. If the Tigers win, they would be home vs. Western next week or at Mississinewa. Both of those teams enter the semifinal matchup 8-2.
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