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North 28 Jennings County 7 - Central Stadium Oct 20, 2007

Game Stats    Game Recap   

Offense

Offensive line blocking scores:

Allgood   Tomlin   Foster    Douglas  Borman  Kuhlenhoelter

     91%      79%      85%       88%        90%          87%

 Defense

Game Recap

There’s an old saying that goes, “You can run but you cannot hide.”

Saturday afternoon at Central Stadium, the Jennings County Panthers were looking for a place to hide shortly after half time.  In the glaring sunshine that was pouring down on the football field, there were no shadows to hide in nor was there anywhere on the field that was safe for them to run to.

POOR START, STRONG FINISH

The Huskies showed up ready to play for the first game of the Sectional playoffs, but a bit of bad judgment on the opening kickoff and a subsequent procedure penalty on the first play had them starting the game from the four yard line.

The poor start didn’t change the North game plan, however, which appeared to consist of a liberal dose of RB Larry Merriweather.  Dancing along the right sideline, Merriweather had the ball out to the twenty within the first minute of play. 

Barely three minutes had passed before the Huskies were in Panther territory.  WR Stephen Jackson had taken a short pass on 3^rd and 15 and turned it up field for 20 yards to keep the chains moving.  Merriweather then carried the ball on five of the next six plays to set up 3^rd and goal from the three yard line.

Lining up in the Power I formation with fullbacks Travis Carlile and Clinton Brown leading the runner, guard Randall Tomlin and Brown double teamed the defensive tackle.  OT Cory Allgood slid thru and wiped out the linebacker and Carlile kicked out the defensive end.  Merriweather traipsed into the end zone and when K Preston Meador converted the first of four extra point kicks, the Huskies were up 7-0 and off to the races.

SMOTHERING DEFENSE

Jennings County managed a first down off of a pass reception on their first possession, but the next set of downs would prove typical of their day.  On first down, DT Markie Johnson smothered the Panther running back at the line of scrimmage.  On second down, Merriweather smothered the intended receiver in the flat and forced an incomplete pass. On third down, Carlile easily beat the offensive tackle and chased the quarterback out of his intended drop.  The hapless quarterback shook off Carlile and for his efforts was rewarded with a three man sandwich by Johnson, fellow lineman Marcus Garrett, and LB George Quarles.  They smothered the quarterback with a Husky-hug.

For his part, it was just the beginning of a big day for Quarles.  During the course of the game, the senior linebacker (whose complete name is George Quarles III) would go on to intercept three Panther passes and tie a 36 year old Husky record for Most Passes Intercepted in a single game.  Only Brian Lauer in 1971 had matched the feat before this game.  Quarles would also record 3 solo tackles, 5 assists, and a sack before the afternoon was over.

SECOND QUARTER PANTHER BRAVADO

The next Husky possession would see QB Dion Pendleton spread the ball around among five different intended receivers before stalling inside the Jennings County 20 yard line.  Dropped balls in the end zone betrayed a fine passing exhibition by the Husky QB.  When the Panthers broke through to block a 38 yard field goal attempt, it appeared that there might be some life in the red-white-and-blue opposition.

When Quarles and Johnson teamed up to stuff a first down run and then Quarles killed another run at the line of scrimmage, it set up third and long for Jennings County.  On the play, DB Ryan Parkman made a leaping swipe at the ball to defend against a taller opponent and a short punt by the Panthers set the Huskies up with first and ten from the opponent’s 42 yard line.

Two runs had the Huskies inside the 30 and a pass to Parkman produced first down inside the 15.  Two more Merriweather runs set up first and goal from the five. 

At this point a curious remark could be heard loud and clear from the opposing stands.  During a momentary lull in the action, a Jennings County fan shouted “That #67 is going to own you all day Merriweather!”

Of course, on the next play justice was served when Tomlin (now playing tackle) trap blocked the man next to #67 and combined with OG Josh Douglas to effectively shield the big defender from playing any role in the ensuing play.  Merriweather read the trap block and then split the gap between OG Mike Foster and Stephen Jackson’s blocks to step into the end zone for six points in precisely the spot where #67 had lined up at the beginning of the play.

The Jennings County sidelines remained remarkably quiet after that.

QUINTEZ TODD MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN

An element of desperation was apparent when the Panthers next got the ball.  Deep in their own territory and with nothing working for them on offense, they nevertheless made a decision to go for a first down on fourth and one from their own 24 yard line.  While they were successful in that decision, it would prove to be their last good choice of the half.

When they lined up to pass on 2^nd and ten, it marked the beginning of a series of bad choices.  This one was bad because the play called for the fullback to block defensive tackle Quintez Todd.

That was a very bad choice indeed.

The 5’11” 225 lb. senior roared past the Panther fullback as he attempted a ‘matador-style’ block—the kind where you wave at your man as he goes by—and rammed the quarterback to the ground with a resounding crunch.  Todd would end up with three sacks in the game and dominate the line of scrimmage throughout the contest.

The third down play fared even worse when the Panthers rolled the quarterback out on a naked bootleg away from Todd.  Unfortunately, their choice would prove disastrous as the Huskies blitzed linebacker Larry Merriweather and he tossed the unfortunate quarterback unceremoniously to the ground for another huge loss.

PENDLETON ESCAPES

Following a ten yard punt by Jennings County, the smell of blood was in the air and the Huskies went up top on first down to try and provide the ‘knock out’ punch.

WR Ryan Parkman broke free on a fly pattern and had his man beat at the five yard line.  QB Dion Pendleton arced the ball towards the senior receiver but an apparent touchdown pass fell apart as the ball fell into the end zone uncaught.

Undaunted, Pendleton called his own number on second down and the effort yielded yet another of his patented field-reversing touchdown runs.  Taking the snap at the 32 yard line, the senior quarterback ran to his right without a pitch man.  Turning up field at the hash mark, it appeared he was trapped by the sideline and three defenders for a modest gain.

Of course, this was Dion Pendleton we were watching.

The play’s not over until Dion says it’s over.

Dion determined that this down still had some more ‘play’ in it.

Shaking the grasp of one tackler, juke-stepping another, and picking up a brush block from Tomlin, Pendleton broke free to his left and circled back behind the original line of scrimmage.  Utilizing Allgood as a screen, he turned up field again as he neared the left hash and ran a tightrope along the out of bounds line.

With one more blocker adding a pivotal downfield blow, Pendleton dove from the three yard line to the goal line and laid the ball in the end zone as he landed on the marker.   The official record recalls it as a 33 yard touchdown run but the distance covered was close to seventy yards.  It was another highlight reel play in a season full of incredible runs by Pendleton.

SECOND CHANCES UNNECESSARY

Quarles effectively ended the first half of play with the first of his three interceptions on the ensuing Panther possession and the Huskies led 21-0 at the break.

When Jennings County was forced to go three and out on their first possession following halftime, the Huskies drove a stake through Jennings County’s heart moments later.

After yet another short punt, North took over in great field position.  A Merriweather run set up second down and two at the 22 yard line.  Second and short is a great passing down since it affords a team a relatively easy third down opportunity if the pass should be incomplete.

North didn’t need third down.

Pendleton took the snap in the shot gun formation, moved two steps to his left, and then rocketed the ball past the outstretched arms of Jennings County’s #67 to WR Mitch Parker.  Parker had beaten his man at the five yard line and took the spiral and rambled into the end zone.

Down 28-0, the only thing left to be decided was where the Panthers would be stopping for dinner on their way back to North Vernon. 

CAREER MARKS STACKING UP

For their part, the Huskies executed like a championship team.  They owned the line of scrimmage.  They controlled the clock when they needed to.  They forced turnovers while the game was still up for grabs.

During the course of the game, DB Stephen Jackson tallied nine solo tackles and one thrown for loss tackle.  He moved past Deke Cooper (’95) on the all-time Tackles list and now trails the leaders in the category by just seven.

As mentioned earlier, Quarles III had three picks and his total of six for the season ranks tied for second all-time.

Merriweather recorded the 41^st touchdown of his career and his total of 248 points scored is third all-time.  His 116 points scored in 2007 is the fourth highest total ever scored in a single season.  With over 100 career tackles, he now ranks in the top 10 all time.

Pendleton is now tied with Bryce Lowery (’04) for first in Career Touchdown Passes with 28.  His 1,486 yards passing this season is good for second all-time and he extended his own career Total Offensive Yardage record to more than 5,000 yards.

Quintez Todd now stands in the top 10 all time in the career QB Sacks category with 8.

ON TO ROUND TWO

This was a game that North was supposed to win handily.  That is exactly what they accomplished.  They defeated an inferior team with clockwork like efficiency and no one got hurt.  The Huskies advanced to round two without drama or anxiety—just the way a contender should.

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