Pioneer Football falls to RR

The Pioneer Caravan headed for union and a class match-up with the Ryle Raiders. SK beat Ryle in the regular season but lost to them in the state tournament. This game started off on a good note for Ryle as they took the opening kick-of to the house before everyone had even settled in with theier Kettle Korn. SK would get three of the points back as Chris Repka put a 30+ yard field goal through. Chad Lawrence had to relieve quarterback Pat Bustle after Bustle wripped open his chin. Team Doctor, Troy Schumann put Pat back together with a several stitches in his chin by flashlight. I am not sure how many exactly it was but I heard reports of 15-17. Bustle returned to the game and looked sharp in the secons half. The Pioneers were flat the first half and let Ryle control much of the possession time as the Pioneers struggled to move the ball without Bustle in the game.

Ryle would get three more TD's and break the game open to 26-3. SK scored a touchdown with 3:18 left in the third after Miles Simpson ran wide right and broke a few tackles before he ran 67 yards for a touchdown. On the extra point, SK appeared to not have enough men on the field and had to call a timeout. The TD got some mo on the Eers side. The defense started making stops and avoided the long gainers and big plays that gave SK a chance to get back in the game.

Simpson would break another long gainer for a score after breaking several tackles and a couple of missed face masks. SK was able to make the two point conversion but they burned another cruicial timout in the process.

SK had the ball and was driving with about 3 minutes to go and took the ball deep into the Ryle Redzone after they had recovered the ball on a pass behind the line of scrimmage. SK got few yards and then turned the ball over on downs and Ryle was able to run out the clock for the 26-18 final.

SK started slow and didn't look real sharp in the first half. However, they came out in the second half and played strong on both sides of the ball. Burning the timeouts and play execution stuck out for me as the difference in the game. The players will likely look at the films this weekend and say coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Some great pics thanks to fantastic lighting are available at www.figsphotos.com


Coach H rallying the D.


Chad Lawrence in relief of Bustle.


Gettin em going.


2 more TD's tonight.