By Todd Golden
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute North’s football survival was frought with field position peril all night against Indianapolis Pike.
In the first half, defensive derring do by North and mistakes by the Red Devils helped the Patriots dodge one bullet after another.
But when the field position problems for the Patriots became self-inflicted in the third quarter, it was too much for North to overcome.
Class 5A No. 6 Pike scored 31 unanswered points in the second half, none on drives that began deeper than the North 47-yard line. The Red Devils moved on to the second round of the sectional with a 31-15 victory, eliminating North in the first round of the sectional for the first time since 2006.
The outcome was unjust to North’s defense, which had to endure an average starting field position for Pike at the North 42 — with four series starting inside the North 30. Despite that, the Red Devils’ vaunted offense managed just two first downs in the first half.
“Our defense played extremely well, especially in the first half. We just gave them terrible field position,” North coach Chris Barrett said.
Pike’s defense, on the other hand, probably made the difference. The Red Devils’ stout defensive line, led by standout tackle Malcolm Exford, put pressure on North quarterback Chris O’Leary all night. But they made their presence felt the most when North tried to run. The Patriots managed just 37 yards on 28 carries, averaging a paltry 1.3 yards.
“Their defense is very good, probably as good a one as we’ve seen all season. It was the key to the game. Other than Carmel, we moved the ball on people, but we struggled tonight. Our inability to run the ball really showed,” Barrett said.
Pike fumbled at its own 7 and missed a field goal in the early part of the first half as the Patriots’ defense held firm. North’s offense struggled until a Homeric 19-play, 80-yard drive finished off all but the last seven minutes of the second half. North’s Daniel Gabbard scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from O’Leary with 14.9 seconds left in the half to put North up 7-0 at the break.
The momentum was short-lived. North was stopped three-and-out on its first second half series at its own 21. On the ensuing punt, the snap to punter Logan Valentine was low, but Pike wasn’t pressuring the kick. Valentine scooped the ball up and tried to run it. He gained six yards, but North needed nine, and Pike had been gifted envious field position at the North 27.
One play later, Anthony McClung caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
North dodged a bullet when Pike intercepted an O’Leary pass at the North 19, but came up empty. The Patriots weren’t as fortunate on their next drive.
Pinned on the North 10, O’Leary dropped back into the end zone to pass, but was under immediate pressure. As O’Leary escaped the pressure, he stumbled and he pointed the ball towards the ground to try and maintain balance. However, O’Leary’s momentum carried him over the ball and he lost the grip on it. Exford recovered the loose ball at the North 2 and Steffon Martin scored Pike’s go-ahead touchdown two plays later to make it 14-7.
North (4-6) didn’t threaten again as Pike’s offense fed off the momentum of the two easy scoring drives. Quarterback Kitcoff amassed 176 of his 190 passing yards in the second half. The Patriots’ only response was a late 14-yard O’Leary-to-Chad Holler touchdown pass. Pike (9-1) will go on to host Avon next Friday.
“When our kids decided to play on offense, we’re pretty good. But when we had mental lapses like we did [in the first half], we’re not very good, no matter who we play. Our kids made plays and we took advantage of some things,” Pike coach Derek Moyers said.
Twenty-one seniors called it a career for the Patriots.
“These guys re-established a certain level of commitment we haven’t had here in a while. The coachability with this senior class was phenomenal. There’s no pretenders in this group,” Barrett said.
Pike 31, TH North 15
Indianapolis Pike 0 0 17 14 -- 31
TH North 0 7 0 8 — 15
THN — Daniel Gabbard 1 pass from Chris O’Leary (Logan Valentine kick), :14.9 2Q
IP — Anthony McClung 27 pass from Grant Kitcoff (Taylor Kerr kick), 10:56 3Q.
IP — Steffon Martin 1 run (Kerr kick), 6:48 3Q.
IP — Kerr 32 FG, 3:44 3Q.
IP — Cameron Crabtree 19 run (Kerr kick), 11:52 4Q.
IP — Crabtree 1 run (Kerr kick), 7:04 4Q.
THN — Chad Holler 14 pass from O’Leary (Calvin Blank pass from O’Leary), 4:32 4Q.
IP THN
First downs 16 10
Rushes-yards 30-140 28-37
Passing yards 190 237
Com-Att-Int 15-25-1 21-37-2
Punts-avg. 3-34.3 7-26.4
Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 5-46 6-50
Individual statistics
Rushing — Pike — Crabtree 15-71, Andre Moore 7-41, Martin 8-28. TH North — O’Leary 15-26, Ben King 3-4, Logan Valentine 1-6, Gabbard 9-1.
Passing — Pike — Kitcoff 15-21-1, 190. TH North — O’Leary 21-37-2, 237.
Receiving — Pike — McClung 5-82, Dyjuan Lewis 4-29, David Simmons 3-35, Crabtree 2-19, Jeffrey Harmon 1-25. TH North — Gabbard 8-64, King 6-101, Blank 3-26, Holler 2-24, Aaron Allen 2-22.
Next — Pike (9-1) plays host to Avon. TH North finishes its season 4-6.
