Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PLYMOUTH - After failing to hold off the Warsaw Tigers at home a week ago for the Northern Lakes Conference lead, eventually losing 29-28 in overtime, the NorthWood Panthers football team was in a must-win game facing NLC rival Plymouth.
Not only did the Panthers have to win in a tough Rockies environment, they also had to hope that Concord could help them out by upsetting Warsaw so they could claim a share of the title. After playing horribly the first half, the Panthers played a flawless second half in claiming a 32-21 win over Plymouth in the regular-season finale. Warsaw won the conference championship with a 41-13 thrashing of Concord.
"We came out really flat tonight. This was definitely not NorthWood football in the first half, " NorthWood coach Rich Dodson said. "This was a big game, and we didn't act like it was too big in the first half.'
Coming into this game, the Panthers have been putting up impressive offensive numbers behind the dynamic duo of quarterback Mike Blosser and receiver Willy Will. The Plymouth defense rose to the occasion in the first half, limiting the Panthers to just 43 yards. Blosser was 2 of 7 for 26 yards, while Will was held to one catch for 22 yards.
In the second quarter, Panther running back Jesse Fink fumbled a pitch, giving the ball back to the Rockies at their 16-yard line.
"We weren't focused out there at all,' Dodson said. "We had a lot of mental breakdowns.
This time the Rockies capitalized. On the fourth play of the drive, quarterback Jon Slein took it into the end zone on a 3-yard run to give the Rockies a 6-0 lead.
On NorthWood's next possession, the Panthers had their second consecutive turnover, this time courtesy of a Blosser interception that Nick Sommers picked off.
With great field position again for the Rockies at the Panther 20, Slein scored on a 1-yard run to up the lead to 12-0. Charley Craig added the two-point conversion to jump the lead to 14-0.
"It was just a very embarrassing first half of football,' Dodson said. "I didn't know that team that was out there.'
NorthWood took its opening drive of the third quarter and went on a 14-play, 68-yard drive that finished with a Blosser to Will 11-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-6. Casey Lehman's extra point left the Panthers down seven at 14-7 with 5:29 in the third.
After a Rockies' fumble, the Panthers couldn't take advantage as they went four plays and out. The Panther punter, Blosser, had a horrible punt, going -4 yards and giving the Rockies the ball at the Panther 13-yard line.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, the Rockies scored again on a Craig 3-yard run. The extra point was good, giving the Rockies some breathing room at 21-7 with 11:27 left.
It took the Panthers just 30 seconds to make this a ballgame again. Blosser hooked up for a 50-yard touchdown pass to Fink that cut the lead to 21-13. The extra point was successful, leaving the Rockies with a 21-14 lead and 10:57 to play.
On the Rockies' next possession, they fumbled it away again to the Panthers, giving the Panthers more life.
Blosser has been doing it all year for the Panthers, and he cut the lead to one on a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:39 left. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Rockies with a slim 21-20 lead.
After another good defensive stand by the Panthers, it was time for more magic. On fourth and one and Blosser about to be sacked, Blosser hit Fink for a 20-yard pick-up, leaving the Panthers knocking at the door at the 3-yard line.
On second and goal from the three, Fink put the Panthers ahead for the first time with a 3-yard run. The Panthers went for two but were denied. With 3:09 left, the Panthers now enjoyed a 26-21 lead.
On Plymouth's first play after NorthWood's score, Slein didn't see Will in the corner, and Will made him pay with an interception that was returned 25 yards for a touchdown. The pick gave the visitors the 32-21 win on the road and successfully completed the big second half turnaround.
"It was a huge interception by Willy,' Dodson said.
For the Rockies, it was another game that got away.
"This is tough. I can't remember a tougher loss than tonight,' said an emotional Condon.
The Rockies take a 5-4 record into Friday's Sectional game at Kankakee Valley, while NorthWood takes its 7-2 record to New Haven.
NORTHWOOD 32
PLYMOUTH 21
NORTHWOOD 0 0 7 25 -Ê32
PLYMOUTH 0 14 0 7 -Ê21
NW P
First downs 12 13
Rushes/yards 28-103 46-160
Passing yards 185 65
Comp.-Att.-Int. 10-21-1 5-17-3
Total offense 288 225
Fumbles/lost 2-1 2-1
Punts/avg. 4-27.5 4-39.5
Penalties/yards 3-25 3-35
Second Quarter
P - John Slein, 3 run (kick failed) 6-0 P, 7:16
P -ÊSlein 1 run (Charley Craig run) 14-0 P, 4:31
Third Quarter
N - Willy Will 11 pass from Mike Blosser (Casey Lehman kick) 14-7 P, 5:29
Fourth Quarter
P -ÊCraig 3 run (Ryan Clinton kick) 21-7 P, 11:27
N - Jess Fink 50 pass from Blosser (Lehman kick) 21-14 P, 10:57
N - Blosser 2 run (kick failed) 21-20 P, 6:39
N - Fink 3 run (run failed) 26-21 N, 3:09
N -ÊWill 25 Interception return (run failed) 32-21 N, 3:00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - NorthWood: Ben Lehman 8-35, Blosser 14-33, Fink 5-23, Will 1-12. Plymouth: Craig 25-16, Johnson Black 12-29, Slein 8-12, Art Lawrence 1-3.
Passing - NorthWood: Blosser 10-21-185-1 INT, 2 TD. Plymouth: Slein 5-17-65-3 INT, 0 TD.
Receiving - NorthWood: Will 3-50, Fink 4-82, Scott Hill 2-39, Eric Flickinger 1-14. Plymouth: Kyle Davis 2-32, Lawrence 1-2, Jeff Stetler 1-17, Steve Nemeth 1-14.
