 Rusty Tillemans barrels into the end zone for one of Big Pine?s six touchdowns on Saturday. Photo by Keith Rainville By Keith Rainville
Sports Editor 10-9-2007
After spotting Trona a 24-0 lead on Saturday, the Big Pine football team made some adjustments, hunkered down and played a great second half. Although Trona, the No. 3 ranked team in 8-Man Small, held on for the 54-40 win, the young Warriors proved something to themselves.
“We put up 40 points on the No. 3 team in CIFSS,” said head coach Mark Tillemans. “I’m real proud of the kids.”
Big Pine struggled in the opening 6 minutes of the game, with two safeties, a fumble in the end zone and two quick Trona scoring drives going against them.
Holden Rangel stepped up for the Warriors, however, playing center and stabilizing the offense. The Warriors started at their own 15-yard line and ground out a time-consuming scoring drive to right the ship.
Rusty Tillemans rushed for 7 yards to open the drive. Quarterback David Seymour hit Skyler Amisone with a 5-yard screen pass to set up a fourth-and-15. Chance Colvin came through with a huge play, leaping for a pass and wrestling it away from a Trona defender for a 30-yard reception. On the play Colvin ripped the ball out of the defensive backs hands, turning an interception into a big gain.
With a little momentum, Seymour ran a keeper for 9 yards and then hit Colvin with another pass for an 18-yard gain. Tillemans barreled into the end zone from 5 yards out for the TD, making the score 6-24.
After a Trona score to end the first quarter, the two teams traded four turnovers to start the second quarter. Seymour threw a pair of interceptions, but Amisone got one pick back and Seymour recovered a fumble to even the turnover battle. With 5:16 left in the half, Trona scored to take a 40-6 lead and appeared to be on its way to an easy win.
Big Pine kept battling, however, and began to control the run of play. The comeback started late in the half after Thomas Stone had a nice kick-off return. Starting from the 40-yard line, Big Pine ran twice for a first down. Seymour then hit Tillemans for a 10-yard gain. A keeper and then a run by Tillemans set up third-and-three, and then Colvin ran an end-around for a 9-yard touchdown. Tillemans ran in the 2-point conversion for a 14-40 score at the half.
The Warriors defense caused a fumble to start the second half. A pass interference call started the drive, and then Seymour hit a wide-open Jose Lemus in stride with a 21-yard touchdown pass, making the score 20-40. Unfortunately, Trona was able to return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and a 48-20 lead.
Trona scored for a 54-20 lead, but the Warriors kept fighting. Late in the third quarter, Seymour threw a pair of short passes to Colvin and Tillemans for a first down on Trona’s 37-yard line. The BP quarterback then scrambled for 18 yards. Tillemans ran down the right sideline for a 19-yard TD scamper.
Throughout the second half, Big Pine had more jump in its step and looked to be much more fit. Big Pine outscored Trona 26-14 in the second half.
The Trona coaching staff began mouthing off late in the third quarter, and Big Pine responded to the challenge by stuffing the Tornadoes twice on defense and scoring again.
In the opening moments of the fourth quarter, Seymour ran for 8 yards and a late-hit penalty moved the ball to the Trona 29-yard line. Colvin ran another sweep for 16 yards, breaking tackles along the way. Seymour found his go-to receiver in the far corner of the end zone for a 10-yard TD pass. The big catch by Colvin made the score 34-54 with 11:21 left in the game.
The Tornadoes couldn’t move the ball, but its defense was able to come up with an interception with about 3 minutes left in the game. Instead of taking a knee with two minutes left, Trona threw for a big gain. On the next play, however, the classy strategy bit them in the butt, when Colvin stepped up and made a nice interception.
The Warriors executed a great 2-minute drill to end the game on a high note. Tillemans carried for 18 yards up the middle, Seymour hit Colvin for a 15-yard gain into Trona territory. With a minute left Tillemans gained about 14 yards and then was speared, moving the ball to the 4-yard line. Seymour tossed the ball wide to Colvin whose second effort gained the end zone with seven seconds left, making the final score 40-54.
“It’s another loss that feels like a win,” said coach Tillemans. “We’re starting to believe and the younger guys are really coming around.”
Coach Tillemans said that the good vibe at practice is being seen on the field, and despite the 0-4 start the boys are looking to run the table to even their record. He said he was impressed by the play of Rangel and Casey Calloway on the offensive line, opening holes for the rushing game and protecting Seymour.
“We’ve avoided the injury bug so far,” said coach Tillemans. “Casey was taken off on Saturday but he’s fine. We’re growing as a team and battling it out. We expect to win now.”
Big Pine travels to Baker this Saturday, and then hosts Lee Vining on Oct. 20 for Homecoming.
Stats:
Rusty Tillemans – 20 carries for 103 yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions for 36 yards, 18 tackles
David Seymour – 15 carries for 92 yards, 17-33 passing for 170 yards with 3 TDs
Chance Colvin – 2 carries for 23 yards, 1 TD, 8 receptions for 99 yards, 2 TDs, 15 tackles, 1 INT
Jose Lemus – 3 receptions for 34 yards, 1 TD, 14 tackles
Skyler Amisone – 3 receptions for 36 yards, 12 tackles, 1 INT
Thomas Stone – 3 returns for 70 yards, 18 tackles
Casey Calloway – 5 tackles |
