The Press-Dispatch
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B-4 Sports Wednesday, October 18, 2017 The Press-Dispatch att Funkhouser on a 44-yard touchdown pass with 3:09 left in the second period. Funkhouser then ran for the two-point conversion, giving the Braves an 8 -0 lead. The Chargers would an- swer on their next posses- sion, driving from their own 45 -yard line to Tecumseh's 31-yard line before Sorgius connected with Peyton How- ald on a 31-yard touchdown pass with one minutes re- maining in the first half. Peyton Howald subse- quently ran for the two-point conversion, tying the score at 8 -8. A fter neither team scored in the third period, Pike Cen- tral recovered a fumble by the Braves' Trenton Schaefer at Tecumseh's 49 -yard line with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter. Three plays later, on 1st- and-10 at the Braves' 37-yard line, Sorgius connected with Peyton Howald on a 12-yard pass, giving the Chargers a new set of downs as Tecum- seh's 25 -yard line. Following a false start pen- alty that backed Pike Central up to the 30 -yard line, Sorgi- us hooked up with Cole Parks for an 18 -yard pass play, then connected with Jagar Dent on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The subsequent two-point conversion run by Dent failed, but the Chargers had a 14-8 lead with 4:03 remain- ing in the game. Tecumseh, starting at its own 42-yard line following the ensuing kickoff, picked up two yards on a first-down run by Jones but lost nine yards on second down when a fumbled snap from center was recovered by Schaefer as the Braves' 35 -yard line. However, on 3rd-and-17, Jones broke loose for a 40 -yard run, giving Tecum- seh a first down as Pike Cen- tral's 25 -yard line. Things looked like they were beginning to unravel for the Braves' offense, though, as a fumbled pitch was re- covered by Funkhouser for a five-yard loss, and Jones was tackled for a three-yard loss on the next two plays. On 3rd-and-18, however, Jones carried the ball around the left end and angled to- ward the sideline before div- ing – with his arms extend- ed toward the goal line – and knocking the front left pylon over with the tip of the ball to tie the score at 14-14 with 1:10 left. Jones then ran for the two- point conversion, giving Te- cumseh a 16 -14 lead. The Chargers, starting their ensuing possession at midfield, were flagged for an illegal block in the back pen- alty – nullifying a 15 -yard pass by Sorgius to Dent – and setting up 1st-and-26 at Pike Central's 34-yard line. Four plays later, on 4th- and-15 at the Chargers' 45 -yard line, a Tecumseh defender appeared to make contact with Dent – prevent- ing him from catching a pass from Sorgius – but no defen- sive pass interference was called as Pike Central turned the ball over on downs with 31.9 seconds remaining. "These kind of circum- stances are obstacles for coaches," Robinette said. "We hate them, but we can't dwell on them, either. I, as a coach, had to push past that obstacle and focus on how I was going to help these boys pull through." "I have to practice what I preach to these boys," Rob- inette continued. "I couldn't dwell on that 'uncalled' penal- ty. I couldn't complain about it. It was done and over with." Jones paced Tecumseh of- fensively, gaining 179 yards on 15 carries while also com- pleting one of three pass at- tempts for 44 yards and a touchdown. "Defensively, I thought we tackled well for the most part," Robinette said. "We had several good plays defen- sively. However, we did strug- gle to bring ( Jones) down at times, but it was due to his athletic ability, not our tech- nique. He is a big seventh grade that could run fast and run hard." "A fter the first quarter, we addressed to the players that they must tackle him low and wrap up," Robinette added. "They did for the rest of the game. Sometimes, players just have big games. ( Jones) just had a good game. That's all it was." For Pike Central, Peyton Howald had a team-high 25 yards rushing on four carries while also catching six pass- es for 69 yards. Sorgius also had 23 yards on six rushing attempts while Draven Rea- dle gained 14 yards on four carries. Dent, meanwhile, rushed five times for 12 yards while catching four passes for 45 yards. "Our boys came ready to play," Robinette said. "We challenged them prior to the game and asked them to play as hard as possible, for the entire game, no matter the circumstances. We feel they stepped up to that chal- lenge. Our boys never quit and showed determination until the very end." "We were proud of the sev- enth grade group," Robinette added. "It was a hard loss, but the kids played their hearts out. When a team steps up to a challenge and plays their hardest, that's not a loss in my book." Pike Central closed out the regular season with a mixed game comprised of both sev- enth and eighth grade play- ers at Tell City on Tuesday, Oct. 17. PCMS Continued from page 1 FOOTBALL GOOD LUCK AT SECTIONALS 812-354-9670 350 W. MAIN, PETERSBURG DOUBLE J COLLISION CENTER OPEN: MON.-FRI. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. 12th & Main StreetS, PeterSburg 812-354-6000 FICKLIN AUTO SUPPLY Phone: 812-354-9995 Online: www.fourstarfab.com Four Star Fabricators P.O. Box 67, Petersburg, IN 47567 Four Star Fabricators P.O. Box 67, Petersburg, IN 47567 350 W. Main, Petersburg • Next to Double J Collision Call for Carry-Out or Faster Service (812)354-2606 Joe Mama's Pizza HWY. 57 SOUTH, PETERSBURG, IN Phone: (812) 354-8542 WYATT SEED COMPANY, INC. Pictured above is the Pike Central High School football team. The members of the team are, first row (l to r): Aiden Mullins, Luke Vinnedge, Tyler Vickers, Brandon Long, Adam Wilkison and Jake Sisk. Second row: Cody Davis, Ethan Rembe, Al Evans, Josh McHargue, Levi McCarter and Tyce Sorgius. Third row: Jayden Gordon, Hunter Kunz, Nick Charkosky, James Hughes, Lars Brinkman-Utterback, Colton Gideon and Te'Marion Fields. Fourth row: Brandon Goep- pner, Braxton Rice, Randy Powell, Connor O'Neal, Ian Allen, Clint Boger and Mario Fields. Fifth row: Zach Pancake, Silas Goff, Judah Leathco, Lane Doades and Christian Alvey. Sixth row: Athletic Trainer Aubree Block, Manager Keevon Owens, Alonzo Barnes, Head Coach Erik Mattingly, Assistant Coach J.J. How- ald, Assistant Coach Mike Frazier and Assistant Coach Travis Frazier. Andy Heuring photo Petersburg 812-354-2121 www.americannursingcare.com Pike Central Middle School seventh grade foot- ball player Draven Readles (32) is tackled by a Tecumseh player during game action on Thurs- day, Oct. 12. The host Braves scored with 1:18 left in the game to rally for a 16-14 victory. Ed Ca- hill photo Pike Central Middle School seventh grade foot- ball player Peyton Howald (23) tries to avoid be- ing tackled by Tecumseh's Wyatt Funkhouser (left) during game action on Thursday, Oct. 12. Looking on is Chargers seventh grader Noah Mc- Farland (78). The host Braves scored with 1:18 left in the game to rally for a 16-14 victory. Ed Ca- hill photo The Pike Central Middle School girls' soccer team held its awards banquet on Sunday, Oct. 15. Pic- tured above are the award winners. They are, left to right: Ariel Moade (Diabolical Defender Award), Jaylynn Capehart (Most Improved Award), Albany Ashley (Most Valuable Player Award), Kennedy Willis (Outstanding Offense Award) and Lillian Thompson (Team Spirit Award). Not pictured: Wren Kabrick (Diamond in the Rough Award). Submitted Photo UPCOMING SHOOT NOW thru November 3 IRELAND SPORTSMAN CLUB Friday Night Shooting Matches are ready to start again! FRIDAY MATCHES OCTOBER 20