GREENSBURG – Big plays will help you win ball games. That’s what the Batesville Bulldogs used in a 30-22 win over the Greensburg Pirates in the opening game of Sectional 23 at Greensburg Friday night.
The biggest play — a third-quarter 69-yard touchdown run by Batesville sophomore Jeremy Cook after Greensburg had pulled to within six points — made the Pirates play catch up in the second half. Cook’s run came on the first play after Greensburg’s James Ogle broke two tackles on the way to a 14-yard TD.
Greensburg coach Eric Schreiber said Cook’s run was a “big shot to the chops.”
“It was a situation where we had a linebacker fall down that created that seam. I thought the kids responded,” he said.
After Greensburg couldn’t move the ball, Batesville drove 80 yards to set up a 24-yard field goal by Matt Krieger to put the Bulldogs up 30-14.
“I thought it was big when we held them to a field goal down here and give us an opportunity to tie it with two touchdowns,” Schreiber said.
Greensburg came right back on a long drive of its own — 13 plays and 66 yards — when Ogle went off tackle for a TD. His 2-point rush conversion brought the Pirates to 30-22.
Greensburg had one last shot when Batesville turned the ball over on downs at the Greensburg 26-yard line with 27.5 seconds left. But a last-ditch hail Mary, hook-and-lateral pass play exploded when Spencer Story’s lateral went to no one and Batesville recovered with 2.8 seconds left.
The game started on a big play — Batesville’s Justin Rowland scooped up a fumble and ran it back about 47 yards with 8:49 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs’ second score came on another big play, a 51-yard run by Kyle Green in the second quarter.
Greensburg wasn’t able to stop the Bulldogs running game, with Cook rushing 17 times for 141 yards.
“He’s a good back,” Schreiber said of Cook. “They got a lot of weapons and we worked on trying to contain them and take away their running lanes. If you give them a seam, they are going to take it.”
Batesville coach Eric Heppner said his team was intense all week leading up to the game.
“We talked to our kids all week and said we have to match their intensity, their enthusiasm and I thought our kids did that,” Heppner said.
“I don’t think our kids worried about the situations in the game. The defense let them go down and score, (the offense said) ‘That’s OK let’s just get the ball and do our job.’”
Bulldog quarterback Korey Padgett was cool all night. Heppner credited his experience and his leadership.
“When you are second and three, running a sneak isn’t all that bad because you have it in your senior’s, your leader’s hands,” he said.
Greensburg’s leader was also its quarterback, junior Derrick Karazsia. He ended the game with 124 yards on 20 rushes and one touchdown and 3-of-8 passing for 25 yards.
Ogle ran 15 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
For Batesville, Green rushed nine times for 86 yards and Padgett ran 10 times for 37 yards. Padgett also was 3-of-6 passing for 53 yards.
Boys
October 25, 2005
Bulldogs open sectional play with win
- Boys
-
-
Bulldogs win rematch with Eagles
The Bulldogs avenged an earlier season loss by knocking off the Eagles 69-51 to win the title in coach Mel Siefert’s final county tournament.
- Flodder second at Connersville The Batesville High School wrestling team competed in the 32 team Connersville Spartan Classic.
- OA boys beat University The Oldenburg Academy varsity basketball team bounced back from a disappointing defeat Friday night to knock off University on Saturday.
-
Bulldogs beat Wildcats 76-51
The Batesville Bulldogs bounced back from a season opening loss to knock off the Franklin County Wildcats 76-51 Friday night.
- Jets no match for Bulldogs The Batesville Bulldogs picked up their 13th win of the tennis season by defeating the Hauser Jets 4-1.
-
Bulldogs return to winning ways
The Batesville Bulldogs snapped a two game losing streak Friday with a win on the road in conference play.
-
Bulldogs lose to Dragons 7-6
The Batesville Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season Friday night in a hard-fought 7-6 home loss to the New Palestine Dragons.
- Trojans lose to Harrison The East Central Trojans and Harrison Wildcats squared off Friday night at Trojan Field in St. Leon.
-
Bulldogs beat Knights 34-7
The Bulldogs traveled to South Dearborn High School and picked up an important road win in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference by a score of 34-7.
-
Bulldogs beat Milan 20-0
The Batesville Bulldogs were far from full strength, but had enough to knock off a much improved Milan Indian football team.
- More Boys Headlines
-
