Hamilton county brings its defense to lead them to victory

September 06, 2008 01:57 am

— By PAUL T. WILCOXEN
paul.wilcoxen@register-news.com
SESSER — Missed opportunities and a shut down defense by Hamilton County were two entities that proved too much for Sesser-Valier/Waltonville/Woodlawn to overcome as the Foxes picked up a 14-0 victory in Black Diamond Conference action Friday night in Sesser.
"Defense played huge all night," said Hamilton County coach Jeff Rush. "We're a young team and we've got a lot of inexperience. They learned a lot last week. They played together and to me that's the number one thing. We played great team defense. We got a big turnover last that probably won the game late. It took a lot of wind out of their sails."
Hamilton County scored a first quarter touchdown, but missed the extra point to take a 6-0 lead, but both coaches agreed that it was a lengthy drive in the third quarter where the Foxes used nearly six minutes off the clock and ran 14 plays en route to quarterback Adam Irvin finding a wide open Brandon Webb in the back of the end zone for the score and put the Foxes up 12-0 with 4:05 remaining in the quarter.
It was the second time on the night that the two connected in the end zone.
"That was a good drive for them," said Sesser coach John Shadowens. "We let them run the ball down our throats. That was the definitive drive of the game. That was an attitude drive. Those kids grew up a lot. I know Jeff was concerned with the experience his kids had when he got here, but those kids grew up a lot on that drive. They'll take that on to the next game and get better. That's going to be a good football team."
The drive included seven ground plays and seven passing plays. Hamilton County also converted three third-and-short plays to keep the drive moving.
"The main thing we talked about last week is don't turn the ball over and play great defense," said Rush. "We felt like we could do well enough with everything else. We had a huge drive and hung on to the ball forever. For a no huddle and spread offense, I think we ran almost eight minutes off the clock and then put it in on top of that was a huge lift for us in the third quarter.
"I felt like if we could get to the fourth quarter with a two touchdown lead the way we were playing defense I felt like we could win the game. That's what we were really going for."
Hamilton County's first score came off of a turnover on the Red Devil's opening drive.
After a completed pass from quarterback Kendall Gibson to Gavin Basset, the ball was stripped and recovered by the Foxes.
Seven plays later, Irvin dropped a nice fade pass right over the shoulders of Brandon Webb and into his arms for the score.
The extra point attempt was blocked to give the Foxes a 6-0 lead with 7:02 to play in the opening stanza.
"I think he gets the most out of their ability," said Shadowens. "My hat's off to them. They did an outstanding job with the game plan. Their kids were focused. They played harder than we did. Right now, they're a better football team then we are. It doesn't matter who has the best talent. It's who has the best football team and right now, they have the best football team."
The Red Devil offense found themselves in a no-win situation after a punt was fielded on their own one yard line.
Hamilton County's Brandon Biggerstaff and Cole Webb each were credited with a tackle in the end zone to put the Foxes ahead, 14-0.
Sesser had its share of opportunities, but simply shot themselves in the foot in the worst of times.
Case in point, the Red Devils were driving after the safety and on the verge of putting the ball in the end zone for the first time this season, but a fumble on the two yard line with just over six minutes to play negated the drive and deflated any hopes of a comeback.
"It's kind of like a radio station that's not quite in tune," said Shadowens. "It's not as bad as it looks and I'm sure the results will show things different, but we're so close. It's one mistake here. When 10 guys have done a great job and one guy misses an assignment and forgets, when those things are happening at the most inopportune time, I've never seen anything like it. It's so strange. We've got athletes to make plays, but we're not making plays. We're just a day late and a dollar short."
Sesser (0-2) will be at Trenton Wesclin next Friday, while the Foxes improved to 1-1 and will be at home against Carmi-White County.



Hamilton County 6 0 6 2 - 14
Sesser-Valier 0 0 0 0 - 0
First Quarter
HC — Brandon Webb, 7-yard pass from Adam Irvin (kick failed), 7:02. HC 6, SV 0.
Third Quarter
HC — Brandon Webb, 14-yard pass from Adam Irvin (pass failed), 4:05. HC 12, SV 0.
Fourth Quarter
HC — Safety, Brock Wheatley tacked in the end zone by Brandon Biggerstaff and Cole Webb, 9:54. HC 14, SV 0.
Team Statistics
HC — First Downs 12 (6 run, 6 pass); Rushing 30-90; Passing 9-17-0-73. Total Yards 163; Fumbles 1 (0 lost); Penalties 5-56.
SV — First Downs 17 (6 pass, 9 run, 2 penalty); Rushing 30-67; Passing 10-29-0-103; Total Yards 170; Fumbles 4 (lost 2); Penalties 1-15.
Individual Statistics
Rushing — (HC) Brandon Biggerstaff 13-45, Logan Karcher 3-0, Orry Rogers 11-45, Adam Irvin 3-3. (SV) Kendall Gibson 7-(-1), Tyler Rock 12-45, Brock Wheatley 10-32, Team 1-(-9).
Passing — (HC) Irvin 9-17-0-73; (SV) Gibson 10-29-0-103.
Receiving — (HC) Kane Smith 5-48, Brandon Webb 2-21, Justin Webb 2-4; (SV)Rock 1-30, T.J. Eubanks 4-36, Gavin Basset 5-42.

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