Trailing 28-7 in the fourth quarter, Eastern finally got its high-powered passing game going to make its Mid-Indiana Conference game at Northwestern interesting. The Comets scored twice in the final 6:23, and nearly got the ball back on an onside kick attempt with 3:18 left, but the Tigers were able to hold on for a 28-21 victory Friday night.
Northwestern dominated the early stages of the game. The Tigers scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, while holding Eastern to just one first down in its first five offensive series. Just :50 into the second quarter, Northwestern led 21-0 and looked ready to blow away the Comets.
“After the first quarter we just didn’t execute very well,” Northwestern coach John Hendryx said. “There were lots of opportunities we just didn’t take advantage of. Fortunately, our defense made some big plays when we had to have them. This reminds me a lot of how we played against Hamilton Heights (a 24-17 loss).”
While the Tigers’ offense was running all over the Comets, their defense was just as impressive. Eastern had minus 4 yards rushing in the first half on eight carries. The Comets didn’t cross into Northwestern territory until its sixth and final possession of the first half. That drive died at the Northwestern 20 as time expired.
Northwestern’s final three drives of the first half ended with two punts and a lost fumble. That fumble was scooped up by Eastern’s Joey Price who raced into the end zone from 17 yards out, leaving the halftime score 21-7.
The Tigers’ offense found its rhythm again late in the third quarter, thanks largely to the running of Michael Schulte. The senior fullback ran seven times for 27 yards during that drive, including a two-yard touchdown plunge that proved to be the game winner. With 11:50 left in the game the Tigers looked in control, leading 28-7.
“Mike’s a tough kid,” Hendryx said. “He runs hard and has some speed.” Schulte rushed 18 times for 118 yards and caught a pass for 5 more yards.
Eastern followed Schulte’s touchdown with by far its best drive of the game. The Comets’ quarterback Jonathan Keith engineered a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive to make things interesting. Keith connected on 8 of 10 pass attempts during that drive, including a 1 yarder to Tyler Harnish to close the gap to 28-14 with 6:28 left.
The Comets’ defense forced a three and out on Northwestern’s next possession and Keith went back to work. This time Eastern scored quickly, needing just five plays and 1:14 to go 92 yards. Keith hit Blake Donson for 42 yards on the first play of the drive. The Comets advanced the ball to the 37 on the next four plays, aided by a 15-yard interference call. On first down from the Tigers’ 37, Keith tossed a lateral pass to Harnish who threw a wobbly, but accurate bomb to Caleb Gibson for a touchdown with 3:22 to go.
Eastern attempted its onsides kick, and for the third time, Northwestern recovered.
Helped by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Eastern sideline, Northwestern was able to run out the clock to preserve the victory.
Keith completed 23 of 37 pass attempts (60 percent) for 249 yards and a touchdown.
Northwestern ended the regular season at 7-2 overall, and 5-2 in the MIC. The Comets fell to 4-5 and 3-4.
Sports
FOOTBALL: Tigers hang on for win
Comets close fast but can’t get the upset
- Sports
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Tipton, Madison-Grant reach final of Eastern Sectional
Tipton’s softball team had enough to get past Elwood and into the championship of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional on Wednesday night. Friday night, the Blue Devils will need more to hoist the hardware.
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Beeler, Hurst pitch Panthers into title game
Western softball pitchers Erika Beeler and Madi Hurst are getting their first meaningful postseason innings in the circle in this year’s Class 3A Twin Lakes Sectional, but unknowing spectators would never know.
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Raiders hold off Wildkats
Kokomo and Harrison each had three hits after two innings of their Class 4A Lafayette Jeff Sectional game on Wednesday in Loeb Stadium.
Control problems for Kokomo starting pitcher Chase Hatfield allowed the Raiders to turn their three hits into four runs and they used those runs to earn a 6-5 win.
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Benton C. turns back N’western
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Eastern netters fall to defending state champions
Carmel’s girls tennis team lived up to its billing Tuesday in the Kokomo Regional semifinal round.
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Hursh silences Comets
Eastern softball coach Jerry Haines looked out to an empty field after his squad lost 1-0 to Tipton on Tuesday night in the first round of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional and made an observation that may as well have been a warning.
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Eastern’s girls track, tennis set for regional action today
Eastern ranks No. 4 among the five Howard County high schools in enrollment — but it is clearly No. 1 when it comes to 2012 girls spring sports.
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Local softball squads eye demanding sectionals
In any sport, the postseason is a proving ground.
This week in Greentown, whomever emerges from the proving ground of the Class 2A Eastern Softball Sectional will be legit. No questions asked.
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Bacon sizzles on Kokomo dirt track
One word to describe the racing action Sunday night at the Kokomo Speedway is, Wow.
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Western, NW, tackle sectional
The IHSAA state softball tournament opens today and very quickly, the contenders will rise to the surface.
Western surfaced and flourished in last year’s postseason. The Panthers won the Class 3A Twin Lakes Sectional, then captured regional hardware the following week.
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