Panthers Rip Plymouth, Finish Tied For First In NLC
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Friday night's Northern Lakes Conference regular season football finale between Plymouth and NorthWood was definitely a playoff atmosphere at Andrews Field.
There was a lot on the line when these two teams hit the field. Northwood was hoping for at least a share of the conference title, while the Plymouth Rockies were hoping for an upset and a share of the title themselves.
When it was all said and done, turnovers and too much Charlie Roeder ended any Plymouth hopes of a share of the title as NorthWood rolled to a 37-6 win over Plymouth.
NorthWood won a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title, its first since 1996 and 11th overall. The Panthers shared the title with Warsaw, who defeated Concord 20-3.
The Panthers also shared the title with Warsaw in 1992.
"We are very fortunate to earn a share of the title,' NorthWood coach Rich Dodson. "Our conference is so competitive, and when we lost early to Concord, we knew we couldn't lose anymore in the conference if we wanted a chance at winning it.'
The Rockies were hoping to contain NorthWood quarterback sensation Roeder, and they also wanted to control the clock without any turnovers.
As it turned out, they couldn't do either.
Roeder, arguably the best quarterback in the conference, and one of the best in the state, was all over the field. Big players step up in big games, and that is what Roeder did against the Rockies.
Not only did he pass for 131 yards, but he also scored three touchdowns on 92 yards rushing, returned punts and played a stellar defensive game for the Panthers.
"Charlie is just a tremendous all-around player for us,' Dodson said. "We are very fortunate to have such a great leader.'
Even with the Rockies banged up, they came out ready to fight until the end. The first half was very competitive.
Turnovers killed Plymouth. In the first quarter, Plymouth quarterback Jon Slein threw an interception, picked off by Willy Will as they were starting an effective drive. Three plays later, Roeder scored his first of three touchdowns, scoring on a 2-yard run. The Panthers had trouble all night long with their extra point tries, missing on five of six opportunities.
With the lead 6-0 after one quarter, the Panthers started the second quarter with an 11-play, 67-yard drive which ended on a Chaz Scherer 17-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers up 12-0. NorthWood went for two, but the pass failed, and the Panthers were up 12-0.
"We had trouble converting our extra points all night long,' Dodson admitted. "We have done a great job all year until tonight.'
Plymouth struck right back, scoring with 1:10 left in the half on a 44-yard pass play from Slein to Matt Arvesen to cut the lead to 12-6. The Rockies' extra point was blocked, and the Panthers held a slim 12-6 lead at the half.
"Plymouth really played hard,' Dodson said. "They really controlled the first half.'
Turnovers finally caught up with the Rockies. Plymouth committed six turnovers in the games.
"We really came up with some great defensive plays,' Dodson said. "Our defense is kind of underrated at times, but they played well tonight.'
In the third quarter, after Plymouth started a nice drive, Slein was intercepted again, this time by Josh Cook. Roeder again made the Rockies pay, this time plunging in from two yards out to up the margin to 18-6. The extra point again failed.
The fourth quarter was all NorthWood, as the Panthers scored three touchdowns and scored the last 25 points of the game.
"Our receivers all had great games,' Dodson said. "We really had a nice offensive game tonight. Our running game is improving, and it is complementing our passing game.'
Roeder opened the quarter with his last touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run with 10:59 left in the game. Again the extra point missed wide right, and the lead for the Panthers was 24-6.
After a quick four and out for the Rockies, the Panthers scored on a two-play drive capped by a 54-yard touchdown run by Scherer, his second of the game. The extra point was wide right again, but the lead grew to 30-6 and the celebration was on.
The final score came with 2:01 to play on a nice 30-yard run by Jesse Fink. After five unsuccessful extra-point tries, reserve Anthony Sanders finally got one to go, giving the Panthers the 37-6 conference clinching win.
"It was a struggle at times,' Dodson said. "I am very, very proud of my team. We have really played competitive football all year long, and we really stepped it up in every important game we played.'
The home fans didn't know they had to share the conference championship with Warsaw until the end of the game, that is, when the Warsaw final came across on the sound system.
"Our kids are just really excited right now,' Dodson added. "You can't take a conference title away from us.'
With the win, NorthWood finished the regular season at 8-1 (5-1 NLC) and host Ft. Wayne Elmhurst in the first round of the sectional next week.
NorthWood 37, Plymouth 6
NorthWood 6 6 6 19 - 37
Plymouth 0 6 0 0 -Ê6
NW P
First downs 13 11
Rushing yards 32-268 40-133
Passing yards 131 104
Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-21-0 7-15-3
Total offense 399 237
Fumbles lost 0-0 4-3
Punts/avg. 3-45 5-36.2
Penalties/yards 8-85 10-85
First Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 2 run (kick failed), 3:13, 6-0 NW
Second Quarter
NW - Chaz Scherer, 17 run (pass failed), 8:23, 12-0 NW
P -ÊMatt Arverson, 44 pass from Jon Slein (kick failed), 1:10, 12-6 NW
Third Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 2 run (kick failed), 6:21, 18-6 NW
Fourth Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 1 run (kick failed), 10:59, 24-6
NW -ÊChaz Scherer, 54 run (kick failed), 8:24, 30-6 NW
NW -ÊJesse Fink, 30 run (Sanders kick), 2:01, 37-6
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - NorthWood: Charlie Roeder 12-94, Chaz Scherer 10-92, Jason Brennaman 3-15, Ben Lehman 3-29, Mike Blosser 1-1, Jesse Fink 3-39. Plymouth: Jon Slein 6-4, Andy Barker 14-46, Matt Arvesen 6-25, Art Lawrence 11-62, Charlie Craig 1-4, Craig Turner 1-0, Dave Garza 1-3
Passing -ÊNorthWood: Roeder 9-21-0-131. NorthWood: Slein 7-15-3-104
Receiving -ÊNorthWood: Brock Doty 3-58, Ian Reed 3-58, Andy Mitschelen 1-0, Willy Will 1-11, Jason Brennaman 1-4. Plymouth: Jeff Stetler 3-61, Andy Barker 1-2, Matt Arvesen 3-36. [[In-content Ad]]
Friday night's Northern Lakes Conference regular season football finale between Plymouth and NorthWood was definitely a playoff atmosphere at Andrews Field.
There was a lot on the line when these two teams hit the field. Northwood was hoping for at least a share of the conference title, while the Plymouth Rockies were hoping for an upset and a share of the title themselves.
When it was all said and done, turnovers and too much Charlie Roeder ended any Plymouth hopes of a share of the title as NorthWood rolled to a 37-6 win over Plymouth.
NorthWood won a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title, its first since 1996 and 11th overall. The Panthers shared the title with Warsaw, who defeated Concord 20-3.
The Panthers also shared the title with Warsaw in 1992.
"We are very fortunate to earn a share of the title,' NorthWood coach Rich Dodson. "Our conference is so competitive, and when we lost early to Concord, we knew we couldn't lose anymore in the conference if we wanted a chance at winning it.'
The Rockies were hoping to contain NorthWood quarterback sensation Roeder, and they also wanted to control the clock without any turnovers.
As it turned out, they couldn't do either.
Roeder, arguably the best quarterback in the conference, and one of the best in the state, was all over the field. Big players step up in big games, and that is what Roeder did against the Rockies.
Not only did he pass for 131 yards, but he also scored three touchdowns on 92 yards rushing, returned punts and played a stellar defensive game for the Panthers.
"Charlie is just a tremendous all-around player for us,' Dodson said. "We are very fortunate to have such a great leader.'
Even with the Rockies banged up, they came out ready to fight until the end. The first half was very competitive.
Turnovers killed Plymouth. In the first quarter, Plymouth quarterback Jon Slein threw an interception, picked off by Willy Will as they were starting an effective drive. Three plays later, Roeder scored his first of three touchdowns, scoring on a 2-yard run. The Panthers had trouble all night long with their extra point tries, missing on five of six opportunities.
With the lead 6-0 after one quarter, the Panthers started the second quarter with an 11-play, 67-yard drive which ended on a Chaz Scherer 17-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers up 12-0. NorthWood went for two, but the pass failed, and the Panthers were up 12-0.
"We had trouble converting our extra points all night long,' Dodson admitted. "We have done a great job all year until tonight.'
Plymouth struck right back, scoring with 1:10 left in the half on a 44-yard pass play from Slein to Matt Arvesen to cut the lead to 12-6. The Rockies' extra point was blocked, and the Panthers held a slim 12-6 lead at the half.
"Plymouth really played hard,' Dodson said. "They really controlled the first half.'
Turnovers finally caught up with the Rockies. Plymouth committed six turnovers in the games.
"We really came up with some great defensive plays,' Dodson said. "Our defense is kind of underrated at times, but they played well tonight.'
In the third quarter, after Plymouth started a nice drive, Slein was intercepted again, this time by Josh Cook. Roeder again made the Rockies pay, this time plunging in from two yards out to up the margin to 18-6. The extra point again failed.
The fourth quarter was all NorthWood, as the Panthers scored three touchdowns and scored the last 25 points of the game.
"Our receivers all had great games,' Dodson said. "We really had a nice offensive game tonight. Our running game is improving, and it is complementing our passing game.'
Roeder opened the quarter with his last touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run with 10:59 left in the game. Again the extra point missed wide right, and the lead for the Panthers was 24-6.
After a quick four and out for the Rockies, the Panthers scored on a two-play drive capped by a 54-yard touchdown run by Scherer, his second of the game. The extra point was wide right again, but the lead grew to 30-6 and the celebration was on.
The final score came with 2:01 to play on a nice 30-yard run by Jesse Fink. After five unsuccessful extra-point tries, reserve Anthony Sanders finally got one to go, giving the Panthers the 37-6 conference clinching win.
"It was a struggle at times,' Dodson said. "I am very, very proud of my team. We have really played competitive football all year long, and we really stepped it up in every important game we played.'
The home fans didn't know they had to share the conference championship with Warsaw until the end of the game, that is, when the Warsaw final came across on the sound system.
"Our kids are just really excited right now,' Dodson added. "You can't take a conference title away from us.'
With the win, NorthWood finished the regular season at 8-1 (5-1 NLC) and host Ft. Wayne Elmhurst in the first round of the sectional next week.
NorthWood 37, Plymouth 6
NorthWood 6 6 6 19 - 37
Plymouth 0 6 0 0 -Ê6
NW P
First downs 13 11
Rushing yards 32-268 40-133
Passing yards 131 104
Comp.-Att.-Int. 9-21-0 7-15-3
Total offense 399 237
Fumbles lost 0-0 4-3
Punts/avg. 3-45 5-36.2
Penalties/yards 8-85 10-85
First Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 2 run (kick failed), 3:13, 6-0 NW
Second Quarter
NW - Chaz Scherer, 17 run (pass failed), 8:23, 12-0 NW
P -ÊMatt Arverson, 44 pass from Jon Slein (kick failed), 1:10, 12-6 NW
Third Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 2 run (kick failed), 6:21, 18-6 NW
Fourth Quarter
NW -ÊCharlie Roeder, 1 run (kick failed), 10:59, 24-6
NW -ÊChaz Scherer, 54 run (kick failed), 8:24, 30-6 NW
NW -ÊJesse Fink, 30 run (Sanders kick), 2:01, 37-6
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing - NorthWood: Charlie Roeder 12-94, Chaz Scherer 10-92, Jason Brennaman 3-15, Ben Lehman 3-29, Mike Blosser 1-1, Jesse Fink 3-39. Plymouth: Jon Slein 6-4, Andy Barker 14-46, Matt Arvesen 6-25, Art Lawrence 11-62, Charlie Craig 1-4, Craig Turner 1-0, Dave Garza 1-3
Passing -ÊNorthWood: Roeder 9-21-0-131. NorthWood: Slein 7-15-3-104
Receiving -ÊNorthWood: Brock Doty 3-58, Ian Reed 3-58, Andy Mitschelen 1-0, Willy Will 1-11, Jason Brennaman 1-4. Plymouth: Jeff Stetler 3-61, Andy Barker 1-2, Matt Arvesen 3-36. [[In-content Ad]]