North Falls to Hononegah

Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.

SOPHOMORE GAME

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Sophomore Thunder Lose to Hononegah 33 – 7

The Blue Thunder fell to the Hononegah Indians on Friday night 33 – 7. The loss stems from the Thunder’s inability to stop the Indian running game. Throughout the game there were significant large yardage runs that really hurt the Thunder.

The first Indian score came at 5:37 in the first quarter from 30 yards out. The PAT was good and the score was 7-0 Indians. The Thunder received the kick-off and on the effort of #6 he returned the ball to the Indian 13 yard line. Unfortunately the Thunder was unable to penetrate the Indian defense and was forced to turn the ball over on downs on the Indian 4 yard line.

The 2nd quarter was a tough quarter on the Thunder with the Indians continuing to pound out the right side of the defensive line. The Indian QB was able to sprint past the Thunder defenses and score a 60 yard run followed by a 1 yard keeper about 6 minutes later. The Indians split on the PAT but enter the halftime locker room with a 20-0 point lead. The Thunder fumbled the ball with just :11 seconds left in the first half. The Thunder coaches encouraged their team during the halftime break and I noticed a new spark when the team returned to the field.

The Indians would start the 2nd half of play and the Thunder defense would shut them right down with some hard hitting. There would be no scores until late in the 3rd when the Indian QB would pop in 3 yards for 6 points. The Thunder would block the PAT but the score would be 26-0 Indians.

The Thunder would score a TD late in the 4th quarter following one more score from the Indians. The Indians would take the ball 69 yards and capitalize on the PAT making the score 33-0 with 5:31 left in the game. The lone Thunder score would come at :52.7 left with #8, Blake Harkness pounding his way through the left side of the Indian defense. #25, nailed the PAT and the Thunder was on the board.  A little to late but they would not leave the field scoreless. The sophs vow to regroup and hit the field hard this coming week. Look for some hard hitting football.

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The 3rd quarter begins and at 7:46 the Thunder fumble the ball and the Indians recover and give themselves field position in Thunder territory on the 52 yard line. At 4:54, #29, Ryker Rodakowski intercepts an Indian pass and returns the ball to the Thunder 40 yard line. The Thunder cannot move the ball and turn the ball over.
At 2:32 the Indians score off of a 63 yard run up the right sideline. The PAT was blocked but the score was still 34-3 Indians. The quarter would end with a score of 34 – 3 Indians.
One the very first play of the 4th quarter, #13, Kurt Siemsen, rips the ball out of the hands of an Indian running back. This gives the Thunder possession on their own 22 yard line. It was 3:39 before the Thunder scored again. This came off of a 33 yard pass play from #11, Ryan Gamble to #10, Justin Ellingson. The 2-pt conversion attempt was no good and the score was now Thunder 9, Indians 34.
The final Indian score of the game came with 1:21 left on the clock and the Indians were able to convert the PAT giving the score Indians 40, Thunder 9. The Thunder were not giving up and Gamble connects with Ellingson again for another score. The PAT was blocked but the final score remained Indians 40, Thunder 15.
This sophomore team showed that they came to play football. I am convinced that they will attack their next opponent hardily to prove they are the real deal.

VARSITY GAME

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The Blue Thunder had #21, Austin Smaha and #11, Ryan Gamble back to receive the opening kick-off from the Hononegah Indians. The Thunder is tasked to protect the East end zone which unfortunately gave them the sun in your face throughout the 1st quarter. That did not keep the Thunder from keeping the Indians scoreless in the 1st. Both teams fought diligently back and forth but neither team could break the goal line. It appeared at the outset the teams were pretty evenly matched for the contest.

The 1st quarter would end with the Indians threatening a score from within the 5 yard line. The teams would switch directions and the Indians would score on the 1st play of the 2nd quarter. Taking advantage of the new direction they would take the ball the 5 yards for the score. The PAT would be good and the score with almost a full quarter before half would be 7-0, Indians.

There would be no additional score in the first half of the game. This was still to be anybody’s game with no clear dominant team. Each team would threaten then be shut down by the defenses of the other. The Thunder would get as close as the 24 yard line and suffer a turnover on downs to the Indians. The clock would run out in the 1st half with both teams leaving the field with a score of 7-0 Indians.

The Thunder would come out and mix things up a bit with an onside kick that was recovered by the Thunder’s front line. The Thunder would get first possession on the Indian 44 yard line. They would pound down to the 22 yard line where the Indian defensive wall would not falter. The Thunder would turn over on downs and the Indians would start their drive 1st and 10 on their 22 yard line.

The Indians would take that turnover and drive down the field to the 4 yard line. At 8:15 on the clock the Indians would take the 4 yards and score another 6 points. They were good on the PAT and the score was now 14-0 Indians. Four minutes later the Indians would score again this time from 7 yards out. The PAT was good again and the score was 21-0 Indians.

Smaha was not giving up when the Thunder got possession of the ball. Smaha would break tackles and sprint 52 yards for a Thunder TD. #10 Ethan Hauser would be good off of a perfect snap from #66, Alex Larrabee to put 7 Thunder points on the board. Making the score 21-7 the Thunder still had a ways to go but time on the clock.

Unfortunately, they just could not penetrate the Indian defense. The Indians would seal the Thunder’s fate with a final score at the 7:41 mark from 9 yards out. The PAT would be good and the score was now 28-7 Indians. This would end up being the final score of the contest.

It appears the Thunder have made the transition to the new coaching staff and will have a good season. I believe some final tweaks and this team will be successful this season. I was very impressed with Coach Zs style and look forward to some Ws this season. Good Luck Thunder for the remainder.

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Thanks Paul

STATS

Provided By Coach Ryan Zarembski

HON-Rothmaler 5 run (Lovgren kick)
HON-Silva 4 run (Lovgren kick)
HON-Hendrix 4 run (Lovgren kick)
BN-Smaha 52 run (Hover kick)
HON-Rothmaler 9 run (Lovgren kick)