Comets dominate air and ground in 44-14 victory on the gridiron
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The Eastern Comets arrived at Northwestern High School last Friday, bolstered by a season-opening win at home and hoping to find more success.
It didn't take long for the football team to hit paydirt, as the Comets' air and ground games worked to great effect against their rival Tigers. An explosive second quarter gave Eastern an insurmountable lead, eventually resulting in a runaway 44-14 win.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter. Senior Isaiah Pickett scored the first of his three touchdowns on a three-yard run midway through the quarter. But Northwestern managed to put together a successful drive of its own, capped by senior Michael Arrick's nine-yard scamper for a score with about two minutes remaining.
The second quarter, and really the remainder of the game, was all Eastern. An interception by sophomore Cody Tarrh nearly resulted in a touchdown late in the second. The Tigers managed to stop the run just short of the endzone. But Pickett rolled into the paint on the first play from scrimmage, putting the Comets up by 10, following a field goal earlier in the period.
Northwestern had a chance to put points on the board as halftime approached, but a field goal attempt was blocked by Eastern, which took over on its own 20-yard line. The long field meant nothing to junior Comets QB Gibson Eagle, who unleashed a 76-yard pass reception to fellow junior Bentley Hullinger for a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining.
The second half was punishing in every aspect for Northwestern, and Eastern seemingly dominated on both sides of the ball. Building on its 24-7 lead at the half, the Comets registered another Pickett touchdown on the ground, a four-yard dive following a grinding drive down the field that ate much of the third-quarter clock.
In the fourth, Hullinger found the endzone again with a nine-yard reception of a pass from Eagle.
But the final Eastern score lit up the visiting crowd as senior Kaleb Hurt nabbed his second interception of the evening, returning it 95 yards for a touchdown with seven minutes remaining.
The theft and score triggered a running clock through the mercy rule for the remainder of the contest. Under those conditions, Northwestern found the endzone once more as senior Sam Jones made a one-yard charge for a score.
Statistically, Eagle commanded the successful campaign under center, engineering an effective passing attack. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Hullinger was the beneficiary of the bulk of the air attack. He hauled in four passes for 148 yards and both aerial touchdowns. Tarrh made eight receptions for 49 yards, and senior Owen Tolle caught three passes for 31 yards.
The Eastern ground game was just as devastating to the hosting Northwestern defense. Pickett put together a punishing rushing performance, blasting past defending Tigers for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.
The Northwestern offense failed to establish itself. Sophomore quarterback connected on 27 of his 47 passing attempts for 274 yards but threw three interceptions in the process and no touchdowns.
Jones and senior Michael Arrick each had nine carries for 23 yards on the ground, and each scored.
Juniors DeWayne Perrigen and Jayden West put together remarkable stats for the receiving crew. Perrigen secured 11 catches for 118 yards, and West snatched nine passes for 115 yards.
On defense, Eastern junior Abe Edwards made 12 tackles, including two tackles for a loss. Sophomore Tristan Elmore registered 11 tackles. Hurt had a pair of interceptions, including one for a score. Tarrh also had an interception, while junior Richard Bickel forced a fumble which was recovered by junior Izaiah Simpson.
Jones led the Tigers' defense with nine tackles, along with junior Sedrik Garcia's nine tackles. Garcia also had an interception, which he returned 12 yards. Junior Ozzy Pipenger collected the game's only sack.
The undefeated Comets (2-0) travel to Delphi Community (1-1) tonight, while the winless Tigers (0-2) visit Southwood, which is also seeking its first victory of the season.
See additional photos from this contest, including galleries featuring each team, as well as the Northwestern Marching Tigers and the crowd, courtesy of Goad Sports Media, on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.