By Dennis Clark
WEST TERRE HAUTE — Southmont stymied the West Vigo offense — limiting them to just seven yards rushing in the game and only 17 total yards in the second half — to key their 23-0 opening round Class 3A Sectional 21 high school football victory at Jay Barrett Field on Friday.
Southmont’s offense wasn’t too shabby either, featuring an amazing balance among three running backs in rolling up 281 yards rushing.
Brayden McKinney had the lowest rushing total of the Mounties’ three running backs, gaining 78 yards on nine carries, but he did score two of their three touchdowns. Tanner Hill and Micah Hatch chipped in with 92 and 80 yards rushing respectively.
“Offensively we just couldn’t get things clicking, that’s what it all boiled down too,” West Vigo coach Jeff Cobb lamented. “We’d have two positive plays and one big negative. Which goes back to what we’ve been struggling with off and on all season. Drops, missed blocking assignments … the little things that make you either a championship football team or not.
“Our defense did a great job, but once again our defense was on the field the whole game.”
West Vigo had a promising start to the game following the opening kickoff, rushing twice for a quick first down. But a trio of three-and-outs followed.
The Vikings drove to the Southmont 36 late in the first half, but a false start penalty, an incomplete pass, a five-yard loss and a seven-yard sack of quarterback Lance Garrett forced a punt.
The Vikings got the ball back near midfield in the final minute of the first half, but Garrett was sacked for a second time as time ran out.
Meanwhile, Southmont generated a pair of nine-play, 63-yard drives in the opening half. The first resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Chris Rose, the second in a 17-yard TD run by McKinney to lead 10-0 at intermission.
“We felt pretty good coming into the second half,” Cobb said. “We just didn’t get the job done, bottom line. To be a good football team you have to make play after play after play after play and we just didn’t do that.”
Southmont put the came out of reach in the third quarter, driving 80 yards on — you guessed it — nine plays. McKinney finished the drive with a 11-yard TD run.
“Having a nice long drive to start the second half … go down the field and put the ball in the end zone. That put an exclamation point on the game right there,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum proclaimed.
Later in the period, quarterback Logan Petry hooked up with receiver Lucas Long for a 68-yard across-the-field reception and scamper. That play up a 3-yard TD run by Hatch to complete the game’s scoring.
Hannum was pleased with his team’s overall performance, but not surprised at all with the balanced rushing attack and solid defense.
“All our guys are capable of carrying the ball,” Hannum said. “All of them can have big plays at any point in the game.
“Our defense has played well from the first game on. Our kids made a commitment to getting better on defense. We play the run very well. We limit big plays in the passing game. We make you have to drive the length of the field to score against us.”
The Vikings offense did have its moments, contrary to the final numbers, but were hurt by dropped passes of some well-thrown balls by Garrett. How many dropped passes you ask? “Five of them, I counted,” said Cobb.
Undoubtedly West Vigo’s best performer was punter Ryan Roach. After averaging just over 30 yards a punt during the regular season, the junior averaged 37.6 yards on eight punts, including boots of 51, 44 and 40 yards.
“When you look at him, you don’t think that kid can punt,” Cobb said. “I tell you what, he did a tremendous job tonight. [Roach] really kept them at bay, giving them the long field.”
Roach also had a fumble recovery on defense in the third quarter, the Mounties only turnover in the game.
Southmont improved to 8-2 on the season and will host Indianapolis Chatard next week in a second-round game. West Vigo concluded its season with a 4-6 record.
Southmont 23, West Vigo 0
Southmont 3 7 13 0 — 23
West Vigo 0 0 0 0 — 0
SM — Curtis Rose 24-FG, 4:20 1st
SM — Brayden McKinney 17 run (Rose kick), 7:04 2nd
SM — McKinney 11 run (kick failed), 7:43 3rd
SM — Micah Hatch 3 run (Rose kick), 2:19 3rd
S WV
First downs 19 6
Rushes-yards 44-281 26-7
Passing yards 107 59
Com-Att-Int 5-11-0 7-14-1
Return yards 0 0
Punts-avg. 4-31.8 8-37.6
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 4-35 5-31
Individual statistics
Rushing — Southmont, Logan Petry 12-31, Tanner Hill 12-92, Hatch 11-80, McKinney 9-78. West Vigo, Lance Garrett 9-minus 7, Dylan Aff 4-8, Cole Lydick 2-minus 2, John Burt 6-7, Nick Cramer 1-3, Ryan Roach 1-1, Cody Thornton 1-minus 6, Chase Silcock 1-3.
Passing — Southmont, Petry 5-11-0 107. West Vigo, Garrett 7-14-1 59.
Receiving — Southmont, McKinney 1-10, Lucas Long 3-83, Austin Burton 1-14. West Vigo, Lydick 2-7, Burt 1-10, Jesse Murphy 2-16, Aff 2-31.
Next — Southmont (8-2) will host Indianapolis Chatard in a second-round sectional game on Friday. West Vigo (4-6) concluded its season.
