Tigers Fall Short
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
The talented Tiger junior ran for 160 yards yards against the Memorial defense Friday, but with the game on the line, the Crimson Chargers stopped Conrad when they absolutely had to, leading them to a 21-14 Northern Lakes Conference victory at a rain-soaked Fisher Field.[[In-content Ad]]"It was a typical night in the NLC," said Teegarden, moments after the Hall of Fame coach picked up his 251st career win. "Thank God it wasn't overtime. Warsaw was on a powerful drive. They've got a good team. We haven't been able to tackle Conrad for three years. I guess you could say this was the best we've tackled him in three years."
With the host Tigers trailing 21-14 and facing a fourth-and-1 situation on the Memorial 17-yard line with a minute to play, Warsaw quarterback Justin Clemens handed the ball off to Conrad, who appeared to pick up the first down.
When the chain gang came out and measured, however, Conrad's rushing attempt came up just short, and Memorial quarterback Robert Fitzsimmons took a knee twice to run the clock out and allow the Crimson Chargers to escape with the conference victory.
How much did Conrad miss the first down by?
"About the length of my thumbnail," said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen, whose team fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the NLC. "It was right there. It was close."
The seven-point win improved Memorial to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the NLC.
The Tigers and Crimson Chargers each scored a touchdown in the first and second quarters, heading into the lockeroom at halftime in a 14-all stalemate.
Memorial scored the go-ahead touchdown, and what turned out to be the game-winner, with 4:44 remaining in the game when junior Zack Corpe barrelled his way in from 12 yards out.
The Tigers started their next drive with 4:35 on the clock and 83 yards of real estate in front of them, needing a touchdown and extra-point to force overtime, or a touchdown and two-point conversion for the win.
Conrad carried the ball on nine consecutive plays, moving the ball all the way down to Memorial's 27-yard line.
After a four-yard carry by Clemens, Conrad powered his way forward six yards, setting up the fourth-and-1 play.
The way Conrad, as well as Clemens at times, were able to run the ball on Memorial's interior defense, it appeared as if the Tigers were in great shape.
The Crimson Chargers, however, stepped up and made a game-winning play when they had to.
Though his team fell short, Jensen was pleased with the way his team's offense moved the ball down the field with the game on the line.
"I was very pleased with that drive," said Jensen. "We had been pounding the ball at them pretty good, we just came up a little short."
Conrad carried the ball 10 times during that 12-play drive. On seven of those 10 carries he gained four yards or more.
Last week the Tigers fell 35-7 at Plymouth, failing to get their offense going on a near picture perfect night.
On a rainy night against Memorial, Warsaw made few mistakes considering the conditions, and came up just short.
"I told the kids losing this game hurts more than last week because they fought hard and played hard," said Jensen.
Warsaw fumbled the ball away once and Clemens threw one interception. Memorial didn't lose a fumble or throw an interception.
Considering the field conditions, two turnovers for the two teams was nearly mistake-free football.
"To only have one fumble on a night like this is good for both teams," said Teegarden. "This was a horrible night."
Clemens scored both of Warsaw's touchdowns, a 1-yard run in the first quarter and a 1-yard plunge in the second quarter.
Conrad finished the game with 28 carries for 160 yards, while Clemens carried the ball 13 times for 29 yards.
Clemens also completed 1 of 3 passes for 19 yards. Luke Champion caught the pass from Clemens.
Memorial tied the game at 7 in the first quarter when Jeremy Mack scored on a 73-yard run. Corpe gave the Crimson Chargers the lead in the second quarter when raced in from 43 yards out.
Corpe tallied 105 yards on 13 carries, while Mack rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries.
"Our offense is running the ball," said Teegarden. "I guess that's a good thing on a horrible evening like tonight."
Memorial also got an efficient performance from Fitzsimmons, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards.
Now on a two-game skid, the Tigers travel to Northridge Friday in searce of their first conference win of the season.
Memorial travels to Plymouth Friday.
The talented Tiger junior ran for 160 yards yards against the Memorial defense Friday, but with the game on the line, the Crimson Chargers stopped Conrad when they absolutely had to, leading them to a 21-14 Northern Lakes Conference victory at a rain-soaked Fisher Field.[[In-content Ad]]"It was a typical night in the NLC," said Teegarden, moments after the Hall of Fame coach picked up his 251st career win. "Thank God it wasn't overtime. Warsaw was on a powerful drive. They've got a good team. We haven't been able to tackle Conrad for three years. I guess you could say this was the best we've tackled him in three years."
With the host Tigers trailing 21-14 and facing a fourth-and-1 situation on the Memorial 17-yard line with a minute to play, Warsaw quarterback Justin Clemens handed the ball off to Conrad, who appeared to pick up the first down.
When the chain gang came out and measured, however, Conrad's rushing attempt came up just short, and Memorial quarterback Robert Fitzsimmons took a knee twice to run the clock out and allow the Crimson Chargers to escape with the conference victory.
How much did Conrad miss the first down by?
"About the length of my thumbnail," said Warsaw coach Phil Jensen, whose team fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the NLC. "It was right there. It was close."
The seven-point win improved Memorial to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the NLC.
The Tigers and Crimson Chargers each scored a touchdown in the first and second quarters, heading into the lockeroom at halftime in a 14-all stalemate.
Memorial scored the go-ahead touchdown, and what turned out to be the game-winner, with 4:44 remaining in the game when junior Zack Corpe barrelled his way in from 12 yards out.
The Tigers started their next drive with 4:35 on the clock and 83 yards of real estate in front of them, needing a touchdown and extra-point to force overtime, or a touchdown and two-point conversion for the win.
Conrad carried the ball on nine consecutive plays, moving the ball all the way down to Memorial's 27-yard line.
After a four-yard carry by Clemens, Conrad powered his way forward six yards, setting up the fourth-and-1 play.
The way Conrad, as well as Clemens at times, were able to run the ball on Memorial's interior defense, it appeared as if the Tigers were in great shape.
The Crimson Chargers, however, stepped up and made a game-winning play when they had to.
Though his team fell short, Jensen was pleased with the way his team's offense moved the ball down the field with the game on the line.
"I was very pleased with that drive," said Jensen. "We had been pounding the ball at them pretty good, we just came up a little short."
Conrad carried the ball 10 times during that 12-play drive. On seven of those 10 carries he gained four yards or more.
Last week the Tigers fell 35-7 at Plymouth, failing to get their offense going on a near picture perfect night.
On a rainy night against Memorial, Warsaw made few mistakes considering the conditions, and came up just short.
"I told the kids losing this game hurts more than last week because they fought hard and played hard," said Jensen.
Warsaw fumbled the ball away once and Clemens threw one interception. Memorial didn't lose a fumble or throw an interception.
Considering the field conditions, two turnovers for the two teams was nearly mistake-free football.
"To only have one fumble on a night like this is good for both teams," said Teegarden. "This was a horrible night."
Clemens scored both of Warsaw's touchdowns, a 1-yard run in the first quarter and a 1-yard plunge in the second quarter.
Conrad finished the game with 28 carries for 160 yards, while Clemens carried the ball 13 times for 29 yards.
Clemens also completed 1 of 3 passes for 19 yards. Luke Champion caught the pass from Clemens.
Memorial tied the game at 7 in the first quarter when Jeremy Mack scored on a 73-yard run. Corpe gave the Crimson Chargers the lead in the second quarter when raced in from 43 yards out.
Corpe tallied 105 yards on 13 carries, while Mack rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries.
"Our offense is running the ball," said Teegarden. "I guess that's a good thing on a horrible evening like tonight."
Memorial also got an efficient performance from Fitzsimmons, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards.
Now on a two-game skid, the Tigers travel to Northridge Friday in searce of their first conference win of the season.
Memorial travels to Plymouth Friday.
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