Photo by Keith Stewart
ALAH quarterback Teddy Poe tries to evade Arcola’s Cole Hutton Friday night. This was a common sight as the Purple Riders’ defense constantly chased Poe out of the pocket en route to their 72-0 win over the Knights.

State-ranked Arcola lives up to status

•September 30, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
For the News•Progress

Last Friday’s LOVC northwest contest between Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond and Arcola was a mismatch from the beginning.

The Purple Riders came into the game having outscored its opponents 212-12 and attained a third place ranking in the Associated Press’ class 1A listing for the week.

The Knights, by contrast, had allowed just over 40 points a game through week four and is certainly in the throes of a rebuilding year.

But with all that said, head coach Dale Schuring still wanted to see a victory–the small ones that is.

“We knew we weren’t going to win the game so you come in and try to do something positive and try to build off of it and try not to give them extra opportunities with interceptions and fumbles,” he said. “They’re good; they’re going to score– we knew that. But the goal was to only let them score when they were actually on offense.”

Which wasn’t quite the case.

The Purple Riders’ defense swallowed up the Knights throughout the first half–not allowing them into Rider territory. And with 8:33 left in the first quarter, the Knights’, backed up to their two-yard line, Tyler Smith was met by a wall of purple who would take the senior running back down in the end zone for the safety.

Arcola would put together a two-play series on their ensuing possession to go up 18-0–not 30 seconds later.

On the following kickoff return, a Knights’ fumble was recovered by Arcola, who then ran it into the end zone for yet another Purple Rider score.

The Knights also had several untimely penalties and three fumbles, all of which were recovered by Arcola.

“We didn’t come to play football, plain and simple,” said Schuring, “and we haven’t for a couple weeks now. That’s where we’re at.”

Arcola would score on every drive but one in the first half and go into the locker room up 64-0.

But those small victories for which Schuring was looking, he saw.
Read More

Photo by RR Best
SOV Redskin Jake Eaton celebrates following this touchdown against Warrensburg-Latham last Friday in Sullivan.

•September 23, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Sullivan-Okaw Valley football bounced back with a 49-21 win over conference rival Warrensburg Latham on Friday night.

It was Okaw Valley homecoming and Real Men Wear Pink Night in Sullivan to make the win sweeter.

Ty Molzen racked up 300 yards passing, and Alec Ballinger scored three touchdowns in a pair of all-conference performances. SOV head coach Gerald Temples thought Molzen’s play keyed the offensive explosion.  “We challenged Ty this week. He played better; we played better.  I thought the first half our kids played really well.”

The Redskins Jake Eaton drew first blood rushing for a 21 yard touchdown up the gut at the 10:49 mark in the first quarter.  Warrensburg responded on the second play of their first possession with a 70 yard flat pass that tied the game at 7-7 with 10 minutes remaining in the first period.

Both teams traded punts before Ty Nichols broke loose on an 80 yard touchdown run. Nichols who appeared to be shot out of a cannon won a footrace giving the Redskins a 14-7 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter.

After a Cardinal turnover on downs to start the second quarter Ty Molzen and  Ballinger connected on a 40 yard touchdown pass into the wind pushing the Redskin advantage to 20-7 with eight minutes left in first half.

On the Cardinals’ next possession Max Todd came up with a big fumble recovery at the six minute mark setting up another long connection from Molzen to Ballinger resulting in first and goal from the one.  Nichols found pay dirt on the next play for the second time in the contest, and Ballinger converted the two point attempt on a jet sweep.

Leading 28-7 with six minutes remaining in the first half, the Redskins would score two more touchdowns.  Blake Stewart got in on the fun with a short run at the three minute mark, and another Ballinger’s score followed, set up by a Brandon Fleshner fumble recovery, giving the Redskins a commanding 42-7 at halftime advantage. Read More

Photo by Mike Brothers
ALAH Quarterback Teddy Poe worked on the ground Friday against an aggressive Oblong defense. Poe scrambled for 38 yards during the evening.

•September 16, 2015•

by Mike Brothers

The Oblong Panthers started strong, and the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights never quite recovered in Friday’s 40-8 loss in Oblong.

“We made too many mental mistakes and committed too many turnovers to give ourselves a chance at winning,” ALAH coach Dale Schuring said.

The Knights ignited periodically during the night. At the 5:04 mark in the second quarter Jordan Rettig intercepted a Panther pass at the 42 yard line.

Marcus Vanausdoll broke loose for a 25 yard touchdown run on the next play.

Knights wide receiver Will Cohan caught a Teddy Poe pass for the bonus, placing the ALAH team as close as they would get to the Panthers at 19-8.

The Oblong team scored again before the half, sending the Panthers to the locker room with a 26-8 lead.

The Knights emerged from the second half with a new defensive focus. Within the first minute of the second half Knight Kyle Thomas hammered Avery Imboden of Oblong turning the tide of the game for awhile. Read More

•September 9, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP sports writer

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond scored three touchdowns in the first four minutes jumping all over Martinsville on Friday night.  Due to lightning strikes the game was postponed in the third quarter with the score at 36-22.

When play resumed Saturday, the Knights were able to shut out the Blue Streaks notching their first victory of the 2015 season.  Head coach Dale Schuring thought his team took the adversity in stride.  “We responded better today than Martinsville did. That is the reason we ended up holding onto the lead and finished out the game on a pretty strong effort.”

ALAH won the coin toss deciding to receive the opening kick. With the first offensive play from scrimmage senior quarterback Teddy Poe connected for a 75 yard touchdown pass on a go route to Marcus Vanausdoll.  The long touchdown  quieted the Martinsville sideline and would be the first of three first half touchdowns, for Poe.  The ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Knights before the Blue Streaks could get on the ball, stealing back possession for the offense.  Again Poe and Vanausdoll went to work.  On first and 10 from the Martinsville 40 yard line, Poe ripped off a 20 yard run on a quarterback option.  Four plays later Poe connected with Vanausdoll again for a 25 yard pass and catch on the same go route.  Facing first and goal from the five yard line Poe finished the drive off with a quarterback keeper over the right side for the second touchdown of the contest with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.   Read More

Photo by RR Best

•September 2, 2015•

By Matt Kracht
NP sports reporter

In their season opener Sullivan Okaw-Valley rushed out to a 42-0 halftime lead thanks in part to a strong defensive effort.

Ty Molzen was sharp in limited action hitting on four of seven passing for three touchdowns and 110 yards in the first half. Head coach Gerald Temples thought overall it was a good start to the season. “We got some details we need to work on, but our defense played hard. We did not tackle exceptionally well so we got to get that corrected, but for the first ball game they did a nice job.”

After forcing a quick three and out on Hoopeston’s opening possession, the Redskins offense took over on the Cornjerker 34 yard line. On the first play Molzen plowed around the right end for an 18 yard gain. The Redskins then flipped it outside to Alec Ballinger who found space taking it 18 yards for the score with 10:16 remaining in the first quarter. Ballinger, who has game changing speed, received a pancake block from Blake Stewart to open his alley. The score was the first of three touchdown catches by Ballinger who finished with 105 yards receiving on the night. Coach Temples was pleased with the quick strike aspect of the offense. “Alex Ballinger is a pretty talented young man. When he gets in some space, he can make things happen. He did a nice job; our kids did a nice job getting it there.” Read More