Game Summary
It was another unhappy ending for the Warrior Football Team, as a 68 yard interception return for a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining in the game, sealed the 20-14 loss to Tunkhannock. The loss was the sixth straight for the Warriors and followed a discouraging pattern of weak second half performances.
It was a chilly, rainy night at Jake Sobeski stadium as the officials huddled under the goal post at 6:30 to decide if the game was going to be played. On Tunkhannock’s first possession of the game, Eric Eramo recovered a Tiger fumble at the Warrior 47. A 15 yard reception by sure handed Nick O’Brien helped move the ball to the Tunkhannock 25. Chris Murphy then took the ball in on a keeper with 7:43 remaining in the first quarter. The PAT was missed making the score 6-0.
In the second quarter, the Warriors drove 64 yards on eight plays to make the score 14-0. Nick O’Brien sliced through the Tiger defense and had runs of 11 and 13 yards, followed by an 18 yard run for a touchdown. The 2 point conversion put the Warriors ahead 14-0 and it looked like the team might be on the road to snapping a 5 game losing streak. But Tunkhannock mounted at 13 play 65 yard drive in the second quarter to make the game 14-7 at half. If there was one key play in this game, it might be the 3rd and goal that the Tigers had at the Warriors 17 yard line. The Warriors allowed QB TJ Jenkins to scramble around the left side and move the ball to inside the 1 yard line. On the next play, the Tigers were able to punch it in.
Anyone who has watched the Warrior football team all season knows that the team has struggled in the second half and this night would be no exception. The Warriors could not get anything going offensively in the third quarter and Tunkhannock was able to tie the game in the waning seconds of the period.
In the final minutes of the game, the Warrior offense showed some signs of life. A Chris Murphy 49-yard pass to Sam Eramo put the Warriors in business at the Tunkhannock 39 yard line with just under 3 minutes remaining. The penalty bug that has plagued the Warriors all year then reared its ugly head. On a 3rd and 11, Murphy hit Eramo again for a 27 yard play inside the Tiger 20 yard line. However, the play was nullified by a penalty that moved the ball back to the Tunkhannock 44 yard line. Murphy scrambled for 12 yards on a 3rd and 15, setting up a 4th and 3 at the Tunkhannock 32. Tiger cornerback Mike Baldwin then jumped a short pass route targeted for Nick O’Brien, picked off the pass and ran 75 yards untouched for the winning touchdown. The Tigers conversion failed, making the final score 20-14.
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