Worth County dug itself into a hole with poor tackling and three turnovers. They nearly got out of it, but were stopped one yard short of the goal line Friday as they lost 34-26 to Rock Port. Now, they have to lick their wounds and deal with injuries as they have been dropping like flies. First, Reyen Hansen, who figured to help out on the defensive line this year, tore his ACL. Then, Brayden Murphy, who was working his way into a starting line spot, broke his hand. Then, quarterback Hayden Sanders took a helmet to just below the knee from Jack Meyerkorth during the game and came out as Brock Healy was pressed into service. Then, Healy threw some good balls to Bo Collins and the Tigers nearly came back, only to be stopped on the one late in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers got the ball to start the game and Cole Ruby ripped off gains of 7 and 13 yards to the 40, showing some newfound ability to shed tackles. Hayden Sanders got a block from Cole Ruby and picked up ten more and a jet sweep from Jude Archer netted four. But they stalled there and Rock Port took over on downs.
The Blue Jays wasted little time after a pass interference put it on the Tiger 39. They unveiled a freshman, Jacob McMahon, who the Tigers could not tackle to save their lives. He carried Rock Port down to the 18 and then a jet sweep to Logan Ellis picked up six to the 12. McMahon burst 12 yards for a score to make it 6-0.
During Rock Port's initial surge, the only thing stopping them was themselves as they picked up six penalties in the first quarter. A roughing the passer penalty fueled the Tigers' next drive, putting the ball at the 38. An offsides gave the Tigers a free first down at the 32. Cole Ruby converted a third and four, getting 23 yards to the three and then Bo Collins took a reverse pitch to the house with 8:06 left to make it 6-6.
Lucas Frisch batted down a pass on the next play to give the Tigers a chance to get the defense off the field, but they got no pressure on quarterback Westyn Amthor, who threw a strike to Jack Meyerkorth for 19 yards to the Tiger 33. Then, the tackling broke down on McMahon, who took it to the house. Meyerkorth caught the extra point pass to make it 14-6.
Once again, Rock Port shot itself in the foot to keep the Tigers in the game, getting a late hit and an offsides as the Tigers moved the ball to the 35. Hayden Sanders got a block from Lucas Frisch and took it to the house with 2:15 left to make it 14-12.
Worth County finally got a stop on its next series as Rock Port stopped itself with a mixup on a handoff and were forced to punt. But the Tigers could not take advantage, as Rock Port was in disarray on defense and didn't get set in time, leading to a long gain for the Tigers, only for them to get put behind the sticks by a block in the back penalty. Rock Port returned the ensuing kick to the 39 after the tackling broke down again, but the Tigers made a stand as Bo Collins batted down a pass at the line and Brayden Stevens broke up a pass. But a false start put the Tigers behind the sticks again and Hayden Sanders threw into double coverage and got picked off, with Jack Meyerkorth returning it to the Tiger 20. Then, Worth County got caught peeking in the backfield and Amthor threw a strike to Camden McEnaney for a score with 8:12 left to make it 22-12 after McMahon's run.
Things threatened to go from bad to worse after Cole Ruby was stopped twice for three yards and was cramping up. This is the third straight time the Tigers have lost their first game of the season, and each time, key players were cramping up in the sweltering heat at various points in the game. But then Hayden Sanders aired one out to Bo Collins, who took it to the house for 62 yards. Caleb New caught the extra point pass to make it 22-20 after Hayden Sanders took a bootleg down the left side and the Rock Port defender tried to come off New to make the play.
It looked like Worth County might take control after Cole Ruby got a block from Caleb New and ripped off 19 yards to the Rock Port 30 after Worth County finally started tackling McMahon. Lucas Frisch caught a pass down to the 13 and an offsides penalty put it on the 8. But then a mixup on the handoff turned into a fumble and Rock Port recovered.
Once again, the tackling on McMahon was nonexistent as he ripped off gains of 24 and 18 into Tiger territory. Worth County forced third and nine at the 27, only for McMahon to rip off an 11 yard sweep to the 16, A holding penalty put Rock Port behind the sticks, but a pass to Meyerkorth put the ball on the 5. Finally, McMahon ran it in with 21.5 seconds left to make it 28-20. Lucas Frisch broke up a pass to keep it at one possession. Worth County could only make it to the 38 before time expired for the half.
The second half started off well for the Tigers as Rock Port tried to go for it on fourth and four at their own 36, but a botched flea flicker play turned into a sack by Jude Archer and the Tigers had the ball at the Rock Port 34. But they could go nowhere with it and on fourth and five, Hayden Sanders underthrew his man and Meyerkorth picked it off and ran it back to the 35.
Worth County had two chances to get off the field, but could not get any kind of pressure on Westyn Amthor. On third and ten at the 35, Amthor had plenty of time and threw a strike to Meyerkorth for a first down at the Tiger 35. Then, Rock Port was behind the sticks with third and 12 at the 37, only for Amthor to have 10 seconds with which to survey the field. It was only a matter of time before he unleashed a strike to Meyerkorth to make it 34-20 with 5:37 left in the third.
On the ensuing extra point try, McMahon was seemingly stopped at the two, only for him to apparently lunge into the end zone, which would have made it 36-20. One of the officials signaled it good, but the call was waived off, meaning it was still 34-20.
Hayden Sanders pushed forward for a first down at the 33 on the next series, only for the blocking to break down on the next two plays and the Tigers were driven back to the 28. Sanders came off limping after he had taken a helmet to just below the knee and was done. But Brock Healy stepped right in and threw a strike to Bo Collins for 13 yards to the Rock Port 39 to make it a manageable down and distance. An option pitch to Cole Ruby got the first down at the 36. Brock Healy was sacked on the next play, only to throw a 19 yard strike to the 25 and a first down. Ryder Herron seemingly had Cole Ruby in his sights, only for Cole to find his second wind and run right by him and pick up 11 to the 14. Cole Ruby ran right through the defense for a score with 1:18 left in the third to make it 34-26.
Worth County finally got the kind of pressure on Amthor that they needed as Ryder Smyser beat Jaxon Smith and drew a holding penalty after Rock Port had gotten as far as the 23. Then, Sawyer Thurman, Bo Collins, and Ryder Smyser got in on a sack and Worth County had the ball on the Rock Port 39. But Worth County had two tries to score and came close, only to fall short both times.
On the first, Lucas Frisch caught a counter pitch and took it 26 yards down to the 15. But on fourth and five at the Rock Port 10, Brock Healy came under a heavy rush and fumbled it away, giving Rock Port the ball on the 14. Wyatt Hill made back to back tackles on Rock Port's next series and Brayden Stevens broke up a pass to force a punt and Worth County had the ball back at its own 25.
They were faced with fourth and three at their own 32, but Brock Healy aired it out to Caleb New, who hauled it in for 22 yards to the 26. A botched pitch set them back to the 29, but a roughing the passer penalty put it on the 14. Cole Ruby nearly got into the end zone on the next play, but stepped out of bounds at the three to set up first and goal. Two tries by Cole only got to the one, and Lucas Frisch was stopped short as well. On fourth down, Brock Healy tried an option and cut it in, taking on a defender much bigger than him, but was tackled at the two and Rock Port was able to run out the clock.
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