By Tom Reck
Brazil — Defense WAS the name of the game Friday night in a key Western Indiana Conference football contest as Northview put the caps on homecoming night in defeating Owen Valley 9-0.
The defense scored all of the Knights’ points in the battle between the conference leaders. Northview is now in a position to win a fourth straight WIC title, improving to 3-0 in the league with Brown County and West Vigo left on the WIC card.
The 3-2 Knights have won their last 21 WIC games.
Both teams spent most of their night in their own territory with Owen Valley getting to the Northview 42-yard-line before punting on its first possession. The Knights got into OV territory on their second possession and moved to the OV 23 before losing yardage as the half ended.
Kade Baker scored the only touchdown of the night with 4 minutes, 35 seconds left in the third period when he picked off Justin Mosier’s pass and returned it 18 yards for the score. Cody Crooks kicked the extra point.
The Knights added a safety in the fourth frame when Drake Stevenson tackled Mosier in the end zone. The Patriots were called for two penalties prior to the play that pushed them back to the Northview 13-yard-line.
“We put pressure on . . . it was just a nice effort by the whole unit,” said coach George Gettle of the play.
The Knights attempted one pass in the game as freshman Trent Lancaster assumed quarterbacking duties in the second quarter and remained in the slot the rest of the game.
“It was his first appearance in a varsity game. He stepped up to the challege,” said Gettle.
“We’ll take the points however we get them. We’re young on offense,” he said of the all-defensive offense.
Owen Valley had a net 21 yards rushing and passed for 36 yards in the first half. The Patriots finished with 37 yards on the ground and 90 in the air. Jonathan Hershberger and Mosier were the mainstays on offense with Hershberger gaining 20 yards.
“He was the focus of our defense. We knew that he was a good running back . . . and we pretty well shut him down from the second quarter on,” said Gettle.
The Knights had 186 net yards rushing. Jered Timm led the Knights with 53 yards. Nathan Williams had 41 and NIck Lancaster 37.
The Knights will step outside the conference next week to face Vincennes Lincoln. “That’s our next challenge,” said Gettle.
Owen Valley 0 0 0 0 — 0
Northview 0 0 7 2 — 9
N — Baker 17 interception return (Crooks kick) 4:35 3rd
N — Mosier tackled by Stevenson in end zone 4:52 4th
Next games — Northview (3-2, 3-0 WIC) plays host to Vincennes Lincoln next Friday. Owen Valley (3-2, 2-1 WIC) plays Sullivan at Owen Valley next Friday.
