PLYMOUTH – There were a few opening night glitches, but other than that it was rave reviews for Plymouth’s win 22-18 over #8 ranked East Noble.
“It felt like a playoff win,” said Plymouth head coach John Barron. “They had a real high powered offense coming in and you don’t really know until you are playing under the lights.”
The Rockies were able to keep Andrew McCormick, East Noble’s division one recruit out of the end zone – for the most part. He was able to throw one 55 yard touchdown pass to Zach Ellert and a first-quarter pass on a slick double move led to a four-yard TD run from Griffen Daffron-Koebler.
“The first touchdown I’ll take the blame for,” said Barron. “I gave our corner too many reads. The other one was a blown coverage but you’re talking about a sophomore (Seth Rundle) who also made a lot of great plays out on that sideline on the RPO (run, pass, option). Overall our defense was outstanding. We had two interceptions; we caused a fumble and the stand at the end of the game to get the ball back for our offense, when they had all the momentum, the field position, and they looked like that team we played last year.”
The Rockies defense was up to the challenge in spite of new faces, injuries and a plethora of other hurdles that could have been in the way.
“Our three guys up front (Kendall Himes, Graham Chapman and Cam Frick) were in their first start in a game. (Ezra) Winkle just came back from his (appendix) surgery – we just got him back a week, week and a half ago – Peyton Skirvin is coming back from an injury last year. Elijah Allmon is a senior transferring in. We had a lot of new faces over there and they played very well. They played with a lot of confidence. That’s really what we were looking for.”
The Rockies’ offense seemed to exude confidence. Enough so that their coach made a gutsy call late in the game on a huge fourth down play.
“Our offense was tremendous,” said Barron. “That was the Plymouth offense right there. We executed what we needed to when we needed to. I know it was fourth-and-one and I know the ball was deep (in Plymouth territory), but I kept telling myself they can’t stop us and our defense is playing well. I know there were people saying ‘Are you serious?’ but at that time I had gotten a feel for our kids and I was going to let our offense run it out and they did.”
Another crew suffering from injury and new faces was the offensive line, which also came through with rave reviews from the coach.
“Our offensive line played unbelievable,” said Barron. “Sean Masson was playing guard for the first time, and he’s a starter at defensive end for two years. Nate LaFree is a two-way guy and I think that they played so well especially since they don’t have Jarred Hurford (out with injury) up there.”
While praise was being issued, the skill guys got their share as well.
“I thought Cole was tremendous,” said Barron. “His composure was unbelievable and his toughness, the way he finished runs. What can you say about Benji (Nixon) and (Braxton) Bennitt? Bennitt is a guy if we can get him in the right place, if he’s in space he can make people miss. And Benji is the complete player. Obviously he can run in between the tackles, he can make you miss on the outside — and both those guys can block.”
The Rockies are at home again next week against Hammond Morton with an 8 p.m. start.
• PLYMOUTH 22, EAST NOBLE 18
At Plymouth
Plymouth 7 3 12 0 – 22
E. Noble 6 6 0 6 – 18
Scoring Summary
First quarter
P – Braxton Bennitt 26 Yd Run (Jeremy Drudge Kick)
EN – Koebel (Kick No Good) 7 6
Second quarter
P – FG Jeremy Drudge 41 Yd
EN – Jordan VanWagner 79 Yd Fumble Return (Failed Two-Point Conversion)
Third quarter
P – Braxton Bennitt 17 Yd Run (Failed Two-Point Conversion)
P – TD Benji Nixon 2 Yd Run (Jeremy Drudge Kick No Good)
Fourth quarter
TD Zach Ellert 55 Yd Pass From Andrew McCormick (Kick No Good)
Rushing – Plymouth (55 carries for 291 yards) Bennitt 9-84 2 TD, Nixon 15-84 TD, Filson 16-68, Reed 14-55. East Noble (21 carries for 171 yards) Kaiden Harshberger 5-127, Griffen Dafforn-Koebler 6-26 TD, McCormick 6-21, Spaw 2-6.
Passing – Filson 1-3 62 yards. McCormick 10-17, 141 yards, TD, 2INT.
Tackles – Jeremy Drudge 6.
