Published: October 11, 2008 12:00 am            

Warriors fall to Tigers

LEBANON — For just the third time since Danville joined the Sagamore Conference in 1999, and the first time in four seasons, the Lebanon Tigers (4-4) thrashed the Warriors (2-6) 36-19.

In what started out as a see-saw battle, the Tigers continued to take advantage of Danville miscues, turning six Warrior turnovers and multiple penalties into 17 points.

“I thought our kids played hard and showed a lot of character tonight,” said Lebanon head coach Kent Wright. “After giving up that big play right off the bat, we responded with a big play of our own.”

Each of the teams’ stars were on display right from the start as Trent Shaffer struck first for Danville hitting Matt Saddler on a 79-yard pass for the game’s first score.

Three plays later, Andy Stevens would answer right back for the Tigers going 77 yards for the touchdown to cut Danville’s lead to 7-6.

Danville’s next two possessions resulted in fumbles leading to a Lebanon field goal that gave them a 9-7 lead they never relinquished.

Danville would score again before the half, but their next two possessions continued to give Lebanon opportunities; first a three-and-out and then a Caleb King interception. The Tigers to finished off the opening period with a six play, 59-yard drive in which Kameryn Wright did the honors by starting up the middle, then breaking to the left for an 18-yard touchdown run.

Then Matt Beard engineered an impressive 10-play, 57-yard drive capped by a 1-yard TD sneak. Beard’s touchdown gave Lebanon a 23-7 lead with 4:49 left in the half.

Shaffer then answered with a 10-play drive of his own, covering 66 yards prior to handing off to Justin Gillespie on the reverse for the 3-yard score making it 23-13 at the half.

Despite the late touchdown to close out the half by Danville, Lebanon took the second half opening kickoff and set the tone early. Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty on fourth-and-long, Beard took the next snap 33 yards for the score. Though the touchdown came just three minutes into the half, it all but put the game out of reach for the struggling Danville offense.

Both teams added late touchdowns as Merrick Heitkamp pounded it in from a yard out for the Warriors and Stevens finished off an extraordinary performance with a 46-yard score as time expired.

Danville hosts Tri-West Friday.

Michael Walker is a Flyer Correspondent

        

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