Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

Sports

Related Photos

  • North Decatur senior Jason Kirchhoff breaks free for a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter Friday. Pictured blocking on the play were seniors John Hammersmith (81), Nick Stewart (56) and Daniel Combs (60). Nick Gonnella

    ND football Jason 09.28.12
September 29, 2012

Chargers fall short against Braves

Nick Gonnella Greensburg Daily News

Greensburg — The North Decatur football team jumped out to a two-score lead over visiting Indian Creek Friday night, but the Chargers were unable to put the Braves away in a 39-35 loss. The hosts had a chance to go ahead by three touchdowns as early as the second quarter.

North, now 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-Indiana Football Conference, went ahead on junior Brock Ricke's first-quarter touchdown pass to senior Brandon Hocker. Following a Braves score, Ricke found senior John Hammersmith for a second-quarter score to make it 14-6. Senior Michael Ostendorf connected on the PAT.

Despite giving up a 60-yard run that set up a Braves touchdown, the Chargers still led after the 2-point conversion failed.

Senior Jason Kirchhoff made it 21-12 with a 27-yard touchdown run as the first-half clock read 4:49. Making key plays during the drive, Kirchhoff gained four on 3rd-and-3 and Hammersmith caught an 8-yarder to the 35.

However, North could not take advantage of Kirchhoff's interception that had given the Chargers the ball past midfield. North also had the chance to go up 24-12 with less than a minute left, but a field goal attempt felt short of the crossbar.

The conference rivals exchanged leads in the second half. Creek went ahead 25-21 to begin the second-half scoring, but Ricke broke through from the 2 for a 28-25 edge. The drive featured more clutch plays to move the chains. Senior Kevin Geis caught a 19-yard pass on 3rd-and-11 from North's 44. Moments later, Ricke scrambled to the left side and gained six yards on 4th-and-6. A pass interference penalty on Creek set up Ricke's touchdown run.

Following a Brave score near the end of the third quarter, senior Geis put his team back up front 35-32 with a touchdown catch from Ricke.

Contact Nick Gonnella at (812) 663-3111, x7003.

Text Only
Sports