Tigers Still Can't Break First Game Jinx, Fall to Rock Port in Last Minutes

Worth County still couldn’t shake the first-game jinx, falling to Rock Port 32-28 Friday in a rematch of last year’s state championship game. The game took many twists and turns. First, the game started off well for the Tigers. Then, it threatened to spiral out of control by the half. But by the end of the third quarter, they were down 24-20 instead of 30-12, and they looked like they would repeat the script from last year’s state title game, when they came back and won. But then, they lost two key players down the stretch in the sweltering heat in Caleb New and Cole Ruby, and Rock Port scored in the final minute to secure the 32-28 win. The Tigers, who have struggled in hot, sweltering conditions in recent years, will have to learn how to play in them in a hurry as the weather is forecast to be even hotter Friday. The forecast is for 100-degree heat as a flash drought is starting to hit the area.

After Brock Holmes ripped off a 20-yard gain to start the game for Rock Port, Caleb New pounced on a fumble at the Tiger 15 to kill the first drive. Worth County didn’t take long to respond as Cole Ruby got a block from Jace Burns to take it to the house from 57 yards to put the Tigers in front 6-0.

The Tigers came in knowing who the ball was going to, either to Brock Holmes on a running play or Jack Meyerkorth on a dive play most of the time but were powerless to stop them at key moments. They knew who the ball was going to on second and 15 after Ryder Smyser and Caleb New combined on a sack, but it didn’t matter as Meyerkorth’s pass set up third and one at the Tiger 33, and a short pass to Blaise Krogan converted it at the 31. But then things continued to go roses for the Tigers as Cole Ruby led a swarm of defenders to stop Holmes for a loss. Ruby blew up a scramble as Rock Port was taking too long in the huddle, getting the play clock under five seconds on three different occasions. Finally, Bentin Roberts broke up a long pass on fourth down and the Tigers took over on downs.

Jude Archer and Cole Ruby took turns carrying the ball into Rock Port territory, getting it to the 18. A sack drove them back to the 22, but a screen pass to Caleb New netted 15 to the seven, and the Tigers were threatening to take control. But a blitz led to a sack, a false start drove them back again, and then a Tiger receiver was seemingly open on fourth and goal at the nine, only for Jadyn Geib to break it up.

That swung the momentum back in Rock Port’s favor, and they began driving down the field to tie or take the lead. Worth County knew who the play was going to, either Meyerkorth or Holmes, but it didn’t matter as Jack Meyerkorth converted a third and three for seven yards to the 23 for a first down. And just as it looked like Worth County had stopped Rock Port at the Tiger 35 on fourth and three, disaster struck as Rock Port unveiled a third option, a long pass play to Reid Ellis, a tall receiver that nobody on the Worth County side was tall enough to guard, and Ellis took it to the house with 9:14 left in the second quarter to tie it at 6.

Worth County, who had been looking sharp when the momentum was on their side, suddenly started taking too long to get lined up and got a false start and a delay of game penalty, and they were forced to punt. The Tigers shanked the kick, giving Rock Port a short field to work with at the Tiger 37. Worth County knew who the play was going to, and it didn’t matter as Meyerkorth caught a pass for the first down at the Tiger 26, then made a diving grab against two players at the 14 for another first down. Worth County finally got a stop as Holmes was stopped for no gain twice and a long pass to Ellis was incomplete. Finally, Bo Collins stopped quarterback Westyn Amthor on a scramble at the 10 to seemingly kill the drive. But the offensive woes continued as a botched pitch play turned into disaster. Amthor scooped up the errant ball and took it to the house to make it 12-6, and things were threatening to snowball.

The Tigers drove down the field to try to answer and got as far as Rock Port’s 28 with 52 seconds left. Two incomplete passes set up third and ten. Disaster then struck as Hayden Sanders tried for the home run ball, only to throw it into double coverage. Jack Meyerkorth picked it off and returned it to Rock Port’s 37. Disaster then struck again as communication broke down, nobody picked up Ellis sprinting down the field, and he was all alone for a score with 18 seconds left to put Rock Port in front 18-6 at the half.

But the second half started off well for the Tigers after Wyatt Scadden returned the opening kickoff to the 36. Worth County faked the jet sweep to Jude Archer, and Hayden Sanders muscled his way to Rock Port’s 29. Despite his small stature, he has shown the ability to muscle his way for the tough yards over the last three seasons. Cole Ruby got blocks from Ethan Lininger and Caleb New to the 19. Rock Port was ready for the fake jet sweep play, driving it back to the 20, but Hayden Sanders threw a perfect ball to Bo Collins for a strike to make it 18-12.

With Meyerkorth and the rest of the Rock Port players starting to cramp up in the sweltering heat, this would have been a good time to get a stop and take control of the game, but once again, a defensive breakdown left Ellis open on a mismatch, and he caught it 36 yards to Worth County’s 4. Three plays later, Holmes was in the end zone with 7:11 left in the third to put Rock Port back in front 24-12.

Rock Port continued to have players cramping up, with Jadyn Geib, a versatile defender who is listed as a lineman, but who can drop back in pass coverage, coming out for a few plays. But it didn’t matter as Worth County continued to be in disarray on offense, with a bad snap forcing a three and out. A pass interference call put the ball on Worth County’s 37, and Meyerkorth caught one to the 31. Rock Port was looking at that point to make it 30-12 and put the game nearly out of reach. But Ethan Lininger recovered a fumble at the 32, and Worth County got the ball and the momentum back.

Hayden Sanders continued to get the tough yards, ripping off an eight-yard counter to the 30, and then converting a third and two and getting six yards to Rock Port’s 34. That opened the jet sweep for Jude Archer, who took it 13 yards to the 21 after getting a block from Cole Ruby. A facemask put it on the 16, and then Hayden Sanders converted another tough run, getting four yards to the nine. Cole Ruby cut back and took it to the house, and instead of being down 30-12, Worth County was down by 24-20 after three.

Rock Port had a first down wiped out by a chop block penalty, and Bentin Roberts dropped Amthor trying to scramble for a first down, forcing Rock Port to punt. The kick was shanked, and Worth County had a short field to work with at their own 33. Cole Ruby got a block from Jude Archer and picked up 17 to Rock Port’s 30. Jude Archer was driven back one yard on the next play, but Cole Ruby picked up six, Rock Port stopped Sanders just short at the 20, and Archer converted the fourth and inches six yards to the 14. Cole Ruby picked up 12 yards to the two, and Ruby took it to the house with 6:58 left. Ruby ran in the extra points to make it 28-24.

After Rock Port picked up the squib kick at the 34, Worth County could not buy a stop on defense. Caleb New and Jordan Dannar dropped Amthor for a one-yard loss, New dropped Holmes after two yards to the 35, but Meyerkorth spun his way six yards to Worth County’s 39. On fourth and three, Worth County knew who the play was going to, and it didn’t matter as Holmes picked up the first down to the 34.

The Tigers were flagged for pass interference, but caught a break as Rock Port, who was in disarray, was called for an illegal formation and they had to run the play over. Ryder Smyser and Ethan Lininger combined on a sack to set up second and 14. But Worth County knew who the play was going to, and it didn’t matter as Jack Meyerkorth, who had been cramping up, found his second wind and caught a long pass to the 13. They knew who the play was going to, and it didn’t matter as Holmes burst through a big hole. Instead of taking it in for a score, he went down at the one, allowing Rock Port to take time off the clock and leave Worth County with less time to work with if Rock Port scored. The move could have backfired as Worth County dropped Holmes twice, setting up third and goal at the two. But Worth County knew who the play was going to, and it didn’t matter as Rock Port threw a strike to Meyerkorth, isolated one-on-one in the end zone. Holmes ran in the extra points to make it 32-28 with 1:59 left.

The kickoff could have been a disaster as it rolled to the one-inch line before hitting the pylon, resulting in a touchback. Caleb New caught a screen for 12 yards, getting a block from Ryder Smyser, but he was hurt and came out of the game. Jude Archer caught passes of 12 and 11 yards to Rock Port’s 30 with 1:24 left, where Worth County grounded it to kill the clock. Bo Collins was all alone for a long play, but Hayden Sanders missed him. Another pass that would have gone for a first down short-hopped Collins, and Archer was tackled at the 27 on fourth down to allow Rock Port to kneel out the clock.