Tigers terrorize Warriors to advance in playoffs
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By Carmen Ensinger
The Greenfield-Northwestern Tigers hosted the Calhoun Warriors in the first round of the IHSA football playoffs Saturday afternoon, but they were less than hospitable hosts defeating the Warriors 38-7.
It wasn’t the first time the two teams had met. Earlier in the season, the two WIVC rivals had met with the Tigers winning that matchup as well, but with the score much closer with GNW winning 14-7.
Calhoun’s first possession was a three and out while GNW first possession resulted in a touchdown and successful two-point conversion.
The play of the game came on a two-point conversion attempt by the Tigers with 45 seconds left before the end of the first half. GNW’s Brett Bilbruck was flipped the ball and was headed for the endzone when the ball was knocked loose by a Calhoun player causing a fumble. The ball hit the ground, bounced into the air and into the waiting arms of GNW’s Connor McEvers who fell into the endzone with it.
Bilbruck was the workhorse on the team scoring four touchdowns, three of them in the first half of the game that saw the Tigers take a 22-0 lead into the locker room. Bilbruck scored his final touchdown late in the fourth quarter with a six-yard run into the end-zone.
Bilbruck ended the day with 138 rushing yards on 19 carries and caught one pass for 35 yards.
Quarterback Dylan Pembrook had a good game completing 7 of 10 passes for a total of 192 yards including a 23-yard pass to Griffin Roberts in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 30-0 lead over the Warriors.
On the receiving end of Pembrook’s passes were Roberts with four for 85 yards, Garrett Costello with 2 for 35 yards and Talon Albrecht with one pass for 37 yards.
Calhoun scored their only touchdown late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Miles Lorton connected with Chase Ralston on a 35-yard pass.
GNW defense held Calhoun to just 105 yards rushing and 44 yards through the air.
With the win, the Tigers improved their record to 9-1 and will play Toledo Cumberland in the second round of the playoffs on their home turf this Saturday. Toledo defeated Rushville-Industry on Saturday 34-6 to advance in the playoffs.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
GNW’s Garrett Costello comes down with a high pass while getting tackled by Calhoun’s Gage Bick in the first half of Saturday’s first round playoff game.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
Just outta reach. This ball is just out of reach of Garrett Costello. Costello had two catches for 35 yards on the day.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
One on one. Calhoun’s No. 1, Drew Wallendorf, goes after GNW’s No. 1, Talon Albrecht, as he carries in the first quarter.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
Griffin Roberts goes up high to catch this pass from Dylan Pembrook. Roberts ended the day with four catches for a total of 85 yards.
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
Into his waiting arms. This ball, which was knocked out of the arms of Brett Bilbruck on a two-point conversion run, falls right into the arms of Connor McEvers who ends up falling into the end zone and completing the two-point conversion with 45-seconds left in the half to give the Tigers a 22-0 halftime lead.
