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| Scholastic Sports & RecSaturday, September 6, 2008 10:19 PM CDT |
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BHS upsets NCHS in defensive slugfest
NORMAL -- Momentum was on Normal Community High School’s side of the field in the fourth quarter Friday night. Marcus Johnson didn’t need to be reminded of that. | Week 2 scores | Photo gallery “I was trying to hype everyone up and be a leader on defense. We had to bounce back,” said Bloomington’s standout linebacker. “Big plays are going to happen. We had to get it under control and get momentum back on our side.” The Purple Raiders did just that. Tyler DeHart recovered a fumble on BHS’ 30-yard line and Kyndell Smith later made his second interception as undermanned BHS upset the Ironmen 8-6 in a defensive slugfest in the second game of the Intercity Doubleheader at Hancock Stadium. The result left both teams 1-1 overall and in the Big 12 Conference. NCHS, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, had its 25-game regular-season winning streak snapped. “Last week we were kind of rusty. We had new people on the field,” said BHS senior Davion Howard of a 34-27 double-overtime loss to Danville. “People got used to it and the pressure was off. They knew what to do. It was the most important game of the year.” Howard might have made the most important play. He sacked NCHS quarterback Zachary Johnson on a two-point conversion attempt after the Ironmen cut BHS’ lead to 8-6 with 8:55 left on Travis Mullen’s 8-yard run. NCHS mustered 207 yards of total offense, while the Raiders managed 157. BHS, playing without four suspended starters, broke a four-game losing streak to its arch rivals. “The win feels great. Some of the things how we got to it we want to clean up,” said BHS coach Rigo Schmelzer. “For these kids to look back and what they were facing, it’s a great win for them and because of that I’m happy.” BHS took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. On fourth down from its own 16, the ball was snapped over Zachary Johnson’s head in punt formation and out of the end zone. The Raider defense stopped NCHS inches short of a first down at the BHS 13 midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Mykul Pearson finally got the Raider offense, which had not yet registered a first down, going. Pearson directed an 11-play, 87-yard drive, culminated by a 6-yard scoring pass to Marcus Johnson with 2:12 left in the half. “I thought he would not throw it because I couldn’t see him,” said Johnson. “I saw the ball in the air and tried to hop to get an extra step on it, and I did. It was the greatest feeling in the world.” BHS’ conversion kick was blocked. Adam Peden’s 43-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half was wide right. The Raiders didn’t threaten in the second half, which left it up to their defense. Mullen gained 115 yards on 22 carries, while Tate Musselman caught seven passes for 93 yards. But three turnovers hurt the Ironmen. “We didn’t execute. It wasn’t one area,” said NCHS coach Wes Temples. “To beat a good football team you can’t have miscues and turnovers and lose your head a little bit and give up big plays. It was a combination of things ... We have another game next Friday night. This isn’t the season by any means.” Marcus Johnson led the BHS defense with 10 tackles, including three for loss, while fellow linebacker Tyler Dicken added nine. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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happyone wrote on Sep 6, 2008 7:34 AM:
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