Olpe puts end to Warriors season
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School Warriors were defeated Thursday by the Olpe Eagles, 34-20. With two losses in District V play, the Warriors will not advance to post-season competition. They ended the year with a record of 5-4.
The Warrior defense held the Eagles on the first series of the contest. The Eagles were forced to punt and the PBHS offense took over at its own 48-yard line. Todd Woodruff, William Pratt, Ben Eldridge, Nathan Bishop, and Nick Abramowich all recorded tackles.
Woodruff, Bishop, and Trevor Hamm all carried the ball to move the sticks twice. Quarterback Derrick Simmonds connected with Bishop to earn a first-and-10 at the Olpe 20. The Warrior drive ended on a second-and-goal rushing touchdown by Woodruff. The PAT was no good but the Warriors took a 6-0 lead with 6:34 left in the first quarter.
The Eagle offense came back almost immediately and posted a score on a pass play that put the teams even at six. The Eagles added the PAT and took a 7-6 lead.
The next Eagle scoring opportunity was halted by the Warrior defense in the end zone. A collision at the one-yard line produced a fumble that was caught in mid-air by Bishop.
The Warrior offense took over at their own 20 and set up the next Warrior score. Micah Hilliard caught a Simmonds pass and Woodruff rushed to set up first-and-10 at the 32. With good blocking from the offensive line, Woodruff sailed right for the touchdown. The conversion pass attempt failed and PBHS led 12-7.
Two minutes later the Eagles moved the ball the length of the field and put up the next score. They added an extra point and took the two-point edge, 14-12, halfway through the second quarter.
The Eagles scored again after forcing the Warriors to punt. Olpe returned it to the Warrior one, and scored with 3:36 on the clock, to lead 20-12.
Derek Benson ended the half with an interception of an Eagle pass and the score stayed the same heading into the half.
Both teams had two possessions in the third quarter before Olpe broke loose for a big run to set up the next score of the contest.
On first-and-goal at the two, the Eagles added to the lead with a touchdown run. They now led 27-12 with 3:11 left in the third quarter.
Turnovers plagued the PBHS offense throughout the second half. Early in the fourth, Olpe intercepted a pass and put another Eagle score on the board. The Eagle lead was 34-12 with 10:32 left in the game.
The Warrior defense did strike late in the game. Benson tackled an Eagle ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.
With 1:17 left the Warriors put together the last drive of the season. Woodruff and Simmonds ran for yardage, and Hilliard and Benson caught passes to move to the Olpe 22. Simmonds connected with Bishop in the end zone to make the final score 34-20.
Simmonds was 10-19 for 139 yards through the air. Woodruff ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Hilliard led the receiving attack with four catches for 62 yards. Bishop hauled in three passes for 60 yards and a score.
Tackles were recorded by: Woodruff 7, Bishop 7, Hilliard 6, Hamm 6, Johnson 6, Benson 4, Simmonds 3, Eldridge 3, Abramowich 2, Dutton 2, Pratt, 1.
