North vs Hononegah

Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.

NOTE: Sorry for the delay with the stories this week. My computer crashed badly and has had to be rebuilt from the bottom-up. Thanks for your patience.

SOPHOMORE GAME

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North Sophomores end season falling to Hononegah

The tide of the game was set at the outset with an 86 yard touchdown run off of the opening kickoff. The Indian place kicker hit the mark making the score Indians 7, Thunder 0. The Indian running back was impressive as an all around player. He ran the ball was the kicker and played some defense as well. I am sure we will see him again next year. The next Indian score came with 2:53 remaining in the 1st quarter. A 3 yard run off of the right side and a good PAT made the score 14-0 Indians.

The Indians scored again early in the 2nd quarter at 7:58 off of a 26 yard run. The momentum appeared to be picking up. The Indians were a bit cocky and decided to go for a 2-point conversion. The Thunder defense broke through the line and stuffed the back in the back field. The score was now Indians 20, Thunder 0.

The Thunder had fresh faces back to receive the kick-off #30, Stan Park and #47, Joe Korotasz go the call. Park got the ball and returned the kick out to the 22 yard line to start the 2nd half. One play transpired and the Thunder lost possession of the ball to the Indians following an interception. This gave the Indians 1st and 10 on the Thunder 29 yard line only :15 seconds had come off of the clock.

The Indians struck again at 7:40 with a 9 yard run. Another solid kick for the PAT and the Indians are leading the Thunder 27-0. The Thunder was beginning to move the ball with 2:02 on the clock. The Indians shifted their defense and intercepted the Thunder pass. A penalty saved the Thunder from a sizable gain and the Indians are backed up to their own 17 yard line, 1st and 10. The third quarter would end with the score Indians 27, Thunder 0.

Again very early in the 4th quarter the Indians strike again. A pounding 3 yard run in the middle puts the Indians in the end zone. The PAT was good and the score went to Indians 34, Thunder 0.

The Thunder did not give up the fight. At 5:21 remaining in the game the Thunder scores their first touchdown. It came off of a 5 yard pass from #22, Dylan Roberts, to #43, Johnny Lemke. The Thunder went for the 2-point conversion and made it. The score which would be the final was Indians 34, Thunder 8.

BooneCountySports.com would like to congratulate the Sophomore Thunder on their inaugural season. A well played season and we all look forward to seeing each of you next year.

Congratulations.

VARSITY GAME

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Indians Pound Thunder in Final Game.

The Thunder took on the Hononegah Indians for their final game of their inaugural season at Funderburg stadium Friday night. The Indians deferred the decision on the opening kick-off to the Thunder. The Thunder chose to receive the kick and defend the North goal. The kick would be returned to the 19 yard line for the Thunder 1st possession of the game. The 1st play of the game #13, Alex Tripp, would proceed to run 79 yards for a Thunder touchdown. Tripp bounced off of a couple of Indian defenders and sprinted down the left side of the line to the end zone. Unfortunately, for the Thunder in the process Tripp got a helmet in the thigh which would end up taking him out of the game. Tripp is and has been all year a solid player for the Thunder. We look forward to great things from Tripp in the years to come. #64, Lauren Waddell, would just miss the PAT and the referees threw the flag as Waddell was hit following the kick. This would force a re-kick but the result was the same. The score was Thunder 6, Indians 0.

Shortly thereafter the Indians would make their first score of the game. At 9:52 the Indians would make a 32 yard run for a score. The 2-point conversion attempt was squashed by the Thunder and the score would be 6-6.

At 5:54 in the first the tide would begin to shift and the Indians would score again. On a 2nd down play the Indian running back would sprint for 21 yards to the end zone. The PAT would be good and the score would be Indians 13, Thunder 6. A little over 2 minutes later the Indians would strike again. This time from 30 yards out. The PAT was good and the score was now Indians 20, Thunder 6.

At the end of the 1st quarter the Indians would score again. At 58.3 seconds remaining the Indians score a 44 yard touchdown run and were successful with the PAT. The score was Indians 27, Thunder 6.

At 11:10 off of a Hononegah kick #11, Tyler Nelson recovered a fumbled ball. This gave the Thunder 1st and 10 on their own 49 yard line. The Thunder would be unable to move the ball being forced to punt.

At 8:53 the Indians would score from 19 yards out. Again they would try and force a 2-point conversion. This time successful the score would be Indians 35, Thunder 6. A couple of minutes later with the Indians moving again #30, Andrew Hildebrand put an abrupt halt to their advance by recovering an Indian fumble. This gave the Thunder 1st and 10 on their own 15 yard line. The Thunder would begin to move the ball but lost the possession to an Indian interception at the 50 yard line. There was 4:18 remaining in the 1st half. The 1st half would end with a 30 yard run from the Indians. The PAT was good and the score going into half time was Indians 42, Thunder 6.

1:08 into the 3rd quarter the Indians scored a 50 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and the score was Indians 49, Thunder 6.

The Thunder offense did not roll over and play dead. #12, Keith Larson leads the Thunder attack Friday night and did a great job. #10, Corey Wennmacher started at running back and proved he was very capable of playing that position as well as quarterback. The new combination struck the end zone at 4:15 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Larson hit a diving Wennmacher in the end zone for the score. The Thunder went for 2 points but was up short. The score was now Indians 49, Thunder 12. The 3rd quarter of the game was struck numerous officiating miscues that adversely affected the Belvidere Thunder.  The most blatant was the face mask penalty that occurred right in front of me. Larson was brought down via the helmet and no flag was thrown. In fact, when he got up from the field he was almost looking right out of the ear hole on his helmet. There were a myriad of bad spots and missed calls that affected some Thunder scoring drives and are worth mentioning.

 The Indians would score again early in the 4th quarter with a 1 yard touchdown run. They would hit the PAT and the score was now Indians 56, Thunder 12. Following the kickoff the Thunder would be moving the ball and was hit with an interception giving the Indians good field position on the Thunder 25 yard line.

The clock was running continuously and at 7:24 the Indians would score again with an 11 yard run to the left side of the end zone. The PAT was good but a penalty on the Indians, illegal procedure, would call for a re-kick. The PAT would end up good and the score would be Indians 63, Thunder 12.

The clock ticked down to 4:03 when Larson hit Wennmacher again for a touchdown pass. Wennmacher took the pass and juked his way 68 yards for the score. Waddell came in for the PAT and was knocked down by the Indians. This forced a roughing the kicker call and she was given another chance. This time the PAT would be good and the score which would be the final was Indians 63, Thunder 19.

The Thunder went into this game with a significant amount of wounded warriors that were missed during the game. All though the final scored showed a loss the Thunder played a well hard fought game and should be proud.

BooneCountySports.com would like to congratulate all the Thunder players for a well played season. This team was so impressive because when faced with adversity during games that were going against them they never ever gave up. That kind of tenacity will put wins on the board next year. We look forward to seeing the returning seniors and to a great season next year.

Congratulations.

STATS

BOX SCORE

SCORING SUMMARY

2Q / 6:38 / Corey Wennmacher (#10) to Jake Billon (#31) / 10-yard pass / PAT no good / 6 points
2Q / 56.7 / Ken Anderson (#22) / 5-yard run / PAT good / 7 points
3Q / 6:35 / Jake Billon (#31) / 5-yard run / 2-point good / 8 points
3Q / 4:43 / Ken Anderson (#22) / 9-yard run / PAT good / 7 points

OFFENSIVE STATS

DEFENSE STATS

SPECIAL TEAMS STATS