WL falls to tipton
Slow start too much for Red Devils to overcome.
The hard-nosed defensive has been the main focus the past few times West Lafayette and Tipton met on the gridiron.
This years meeting provided the same results.
West Lafayette’s student section, decked head-to-toe in red, set the tone before the game started that the intensity was going to be way up. The players carried this intensity on to the field. From the opening kickoff, it was smash mouth football.
From the get-go, Tipton controlled the ball and the pace of the game. The Blue Devils marched the ball 90 yards to the end zone on their first drive. That ate up 7 minutes and 18 seconds off the clock.
Once the Red Devils got the ball, they had no where to go. Tipton’s defense was able to contain the run game, allowing running back Maurice Woodard ’14 only 95 yards on 26 carries. As West Lafayette struggled to move the ball early, Tipton was able to find the back of the end zone before half-time.
To start the second half, West Lafayette received the shift in momentum it was looking for. Brody Forbes ’13 was able to find a hole and return the opening kickoff 84 yards before being taken down at the Tipton 6 yard line.
“The big return really struck our offense and struck our defense,” commented quarterback Parker Ronchetto ’14.
Woodard was able to punch in a score the next play. “It made us realize that we were still in the game and that we had a chance to win,” said Ronchetto.
Tipton was able to bounce back and steal the momentum right back. It didn’t take long before the Blue Devils found the end zone for the third time that night, taking a 20-14 lead after the PAT (point after touchdown) was missed.
Toward the end of the 3rd and in to the 4th quarter, RB Woodard was able to find some room to run. Picking up a couple first downs in a row, and even converting two 4th downs, Woodard was able to find the end zone for the second time Friday night. The (Red) Devils drove the ball 49 yards on 6 plays before Woodard plowed his way in from 2 yards out on 4th and goal.
West Lafayette cut the lead to 20-14 after Forbes PAT with 2:08 remaining. Forced to kick in on sides kick, the Red Devils were unable to recover.
Tipton was able to run the rest of the clock out, defeating West Lafayette and handing them their second lose of the season.
“Everybody got a little better,” said Ronchetto. “Our offense is heading in the right direction, and we’re moving forward.”
