Oxford —
Tipton turned in a historical performance here Friday night.
The Class 2A No. 4-ranked Blue Devils defeated Benton Central 35-17 to earn their first-ever sectional three-peat Friday night.
The three-time defending Sectional 28 champions improved to 11-1 on the season, and earned themselves a third straight home regional date with No. 5 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers next Friday night.
“I’m really, really proud of our kids,” Tipton coach Aaron Tolle said. “Goal No. 1 when we started on Aug. 1 was to be a three-time sectional champion. Give our kids credit: We had our battles and we found a way to win. I’m extremely proud and extremely lucky to be their coach.”
Friday night’s path to victory was a little different than the last two weeks. Tipton found itself trailing after Benton Central marched 79 yards in 11 plays to start the contest. A Brandon Rooze screen pass to Garrett Gray on a fourth-and-two went for 26 yards and a touchdown. Marshall Sparenberg’s kick put the Bison (5-7) up 7-0 at the 6:10 mark of the first quarter.
Tipton responded six-minute drive that covered 60 yards, all on the ground. James Altherr was the main workhorse as he had 10 of Tipton’s 11 carries, and scored on a three-yard run with seven seconds left in the first quarter. His PAT kick even the score at 7-all.
The Bison responded with another march down the field, but had to settle for Sparenberg’s 27-yard field goal, giving them a 10-7 lead with 10:18 remaining in the first half.
The game changed when the Blue Devils forced two BC turnovers. Tipton had to punt on its next series, but got the ball back two plays later when Nate Hein came up with the first of three Blue Devil interceptions on the night.
Tipton took over at the Benton Central 31-yard line, and needed six plays to take the lead for good. Altherr’s two-yard plunge put Tipton up 13-10 at the 2:32 mark.
Blake Hoover’s 67-interception yard interception return to the house and Altherr’s two-point conversion run extended Tipton’s lead to 21-10 at the half.
The Blue Devils came out and went 70 yards in six plays to start the second half. Two big plays in that drive were through the air. Gunnar Norred made a leaping, one-handed snatch of an Austin Hooker pass that went for 22 yards. Hooker and Altherr hooked up for a screen pass that went 41 yards and gave Tipon and first-and-goal at the BC two-yard line.
Two plays later, Hooker scored on a one-yard QB keeper to put Tipton up 28-10 with 9:22 left in the third quarter.
Alex Mundell’s 65-yard interception return set up Tipton’s final score of the night. The Blue Devils needed six plays to cover 30 yards, with Hein capping the drive with a one-yard TD run. Altherr’s final PAT made it 35-10 with 7:04 left to play.
Benton Central, which was seeking its first sectional title in program history, scored with 2:11 left in the game on a four-yard pass from Rooze to Gray.
“Benton Central had a nice gameplan,” Tolle said. “They came out and executed it very well. They got what they wanted. They won the coin toss, took the ball and went down and scored to take the lead. But, we weathered the storm, to our kids’ credit. We came up with a couple turnovers, which gave us the momentum, and we took control.”
Altherr finished with 19 carries for 96 yards and two TDs. He also had three catches for 71 yards.
Hooker completed 8 of 12 passes for 126 yards. He was intercepted once in the end zone that killed a drive in the third quarter.
Defensively, Tipton held Rooze to 20 of 35 passing with those three interceptions. The Blue Devils also sacked him three times, with Bryce Calvin forcing a fumble that was recovered by Quintin Carter late in the contest.
Sports
November 3, 2012
Tipton claims third straight sectional crown
No. 4 Devils top Benton Central to reach regional round
- Sports
-
- Midgets heat up Speedway The 2013 version of Indiana Midget Week for the USAC Honda National Midget Series had been cluttered with frustrated fans and officials after a pair of subpar events. Those who witnessed all five shows agreed wholeheartedly that the best was saved fo
- King's motors into Elite 8 UCT Youth Baseball League heavyweight King's Heating is rolling in the David A. Kasey Memorial Tournament. King's blasted Southside squad Pizza Hut 16-0 in four innings in a Sweet 16 game Monday night at Eastside. King's led 5-0 after the first innin
-
Kokomo Bowling Association Hall of fame welcomes new class
It was quite the unique event, a celebration of exceptional achievement. But then, it has been for the past 15 years, especially for those who've turned the simple game of bowling into a special occasion and carefree pastime. There are noteworthy eve
-
Castro sparks Cubs rally in 5-2 win
Scott Feldman allowed two hits in seven innings and Starlin Castro hit a two-run double to left in the Cubs' three-run eighth inning and Chicago beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Saturday. Feldman (6-5) struck out six and had an RBI single in the fourth
-
Neher shuts down Cossell's in Kasey tourney opener
Southside's Neher Insurance opened the David A. Kasey Memorial Youth Baseball Tournament play with a 5-2 victory over Northwestern league champion Cossell's Saturday at Northside. Neher improved to 18-3 on the season. "I think our kids are focused a
- Varidene Nash Varidene Nash, 94, Millers Merry Manor, Tipton, died 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Millers Merry Manor. Arrangements are pending at Leatherman-Morris-Boyer Funeral Home, Tipton. A full obituary will run in Wednesday's paper.
-
Heat, Spurs set for pivotal Game 5 of NBA Finals
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tony Parker's hamstring, not Dwyane Wade's knee, is the current chief injury concern. Manu Ginobili, not Chris Bosh, is mired in the slump of the moment. Things change quickly at the NBA Finals, and with everything suddenly seemin
- No Headline Provided Bethany Neeley named Miss Track and Field FORT WAYNE -- Eastern senior Bethany Neeley was named Indiana's Miss Track and Field at the Midwest Meet of Champions over the weekend. The Midwest Meet of Champions brings together the top track and field t
-
Hunter-Reay wins, extends Andretti streak at Milwaukee
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) -- Ryan Hunter-Reay continued Andretti Autosport's domination at the Milwaukee Mile, winning the IndyCar event Saturday for the second year in a row. Hunter-Reay became the first driver to win back-to-back races at the Mile sinc
-
Field of memories
When Ty Calloway coached his final game for Western last weekend in the Class 3A semistate game at CFD Investments Stadium in Kokomo's Highland Park, it finished a four-decade run in which he started as an assistant, then spent 36 seasons as the Pant
- More Sports Headlines
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
