Rogers Mountaineers grind up Van Buren
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Van Buren might need to get a bigger scoreboard at Blakemore Field if this keeps up.
For the second week in a row, the Pointers found themselves in a quick-scoring shootout. But Van Buren couldn't keep up with visiting Rogers on Sept 19.
The teams combined for 1, 077 yards of total offense but the Mounties found the end zone early and often on the way to a 62-21 nonconference win.
"My hat's off to Rogers," first-year Van Buren coach Mike Lee said. "Offensively - wow. They've got some playmakers. They're going to give people problems."
The Mounties rushed for 426 yards - including a 172-yard performance from senior running back Michael Tibbs - and seven touchdowns. Senior quarterback Andy Couture added 161 yards passing and 117 yards rushing.
The Mounties (2-1 ) scored after Van Buren's two fourthquarter fumbles to start the mercy-rule running clock with 3: 26 left in the game.
Rogers jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead, scoring on three of their four first-quarter possessions.
But that was just beginning of the scoring spree.
The Mounties quickly added a touchdown after the Pointers'fourth punt of the game to start a 42-point second quarter.
Freed by a block by junior Casey Caton, Rogers sophomore Graham Parker took a reverse 35 yards on the third play of that drive.
But the Pointers (0-3 ) got back into the game with three straight 80-yard scoring drives.
The Pointers'offensive surge was kick started by back-to-back 30-yard pass plays, the second to senior Brooks White from quarterback David Ostrander for a 33-yard score.
Tibbs escaped pressure on the next drive for a 64-yard score to push the lead back to 35-7 but Van Buren answered with halfback Jake Thompson's 75-yard counter for another quick touchdown.
Thompson had 112 rushing yards and Damon Lawson had 113 yards to lead the Pointers'running attack, which tallied 323 yards.
The Mounties added back-toback field goals from Alderson, the second coming with 1: 29 left in the half after junior Tyler Hawkins recovered a kickoff-return fumble at the Pointer 15.
But the Pointers put together another quick, 80-yard drive. Ostrander completed all of his three passes on the drive, including a 30-yarder to Brooks White before hitting Drew White for an 8-yard touchdown with two seconds left to cut the lead to 41-21.
"I was real frustrated when they scored two touchdowns right before half - two quick touchdowns," Rogers coach Ronnie Peacock said. "It was like we couldn't stop them. They ran right through us."
Rogers (368 ) and Van Buren (297 ) combined for 665 yards by halftime after more than 400 yards in the second quarter.
The Mounties sured up their defense, holding the Pointers out of the end zone in the second half despite giving up 188 yards.
Seniors Chuck Smart and Caleb Hill recovered Van Buren fumbles deep in Rogers territory to end scoring threats in the fourth quarter.
The Mounties had just taken a 48-21 lead on Ethan Melton's 14-yard touchdown reception when linebacker Taylor Reamer's hit dislodged the ball from Ostrander.
Rogers scored five plays later on Couture's 3-yard option keeper.
The next Van Buren drive ended with Hill returning a fumble 44 yards. Casey Hilton scored on the next play to set the final score.
The Mounties started the game quick again.
"Offensively all three games we've had good offensive spurts," Peacock said. "We're doing some things right there. We have to continue to do that."
Couture (5 yards ), Justin Reed (39 ) and Tibbs (44 ) all scored rushing touchdowns in the first quarter as the Mounties piled up 181 yards on the ground in the first quarter.
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