Weasel punter pins Pyros' hopes
By AARON RONSHEIM and DANIEL TARSHA
Sports Writers
Not too often the hero of a game is punter.
For Pasquerilla West its punter turned in the biggest play of the day. Late in the second half freshman punter Abby Nerlinger pinned Lyons inside their own 2-yard line.
On the next play, a low snap was dropped by Lyons quarterback Sara Jenkins in her own end zone. The result was a safety for the PW defense.
The safety was difference in the game as PW held on for the 2-0 win.
"Abby definitely gets the game ball," said Coach Mike Canfield. "She is the greatest coffin-corner kicker since Reggie Roby."
"It the first time I have ever played flag-football," Nerlinger said. "I used to play soccer, so I thought I would give kicking a try. This is actually the first game I have gotten my kicks down."
The punt was sent up by a goal line stand by the Weasels defense.
On the Lions' first drive of the second half they moved the ball down to the two-yard line of the Weasels on Jenkins pass. On a third and goal the Lions tried a halfback pass, but the play was sniffed out by the defense, as the pass fell incomplete.
The PW defense came up big on fourth down, and the Lyons offense left the field frustrated.
"That differently help change the momentum of the game." said defensive end Gina Lopresto. "It was a huge stop."
PW, on the ensuing drive, moved the ball to midfield with a series of reverses and a hook and ladder play to set the stage for Nerlinger's perfect punt.
The safety by the PW defense overshadowed a great performance by the Lions' defense.
PW quarterback Leslie Schmit was 0-8, including one interception in the first half. The Weasels were also held to only 10 yards of total offense in the first half.
"I am really proud of our defense," said middle linebacker Irene Onyeagbako. "We played well. It was just a heartbreaking loss."
For PW, this game was a must-win.
Coming off a disappointing 6-0 loss to Pasquerilla East, it was win or go home for the Weasels.
PW is 3-3 and has almost assured themselves a spot in the postseason.
"Our goal like any team is to go to the Stadium," said PW coach Tim Haggerty. "It is a new season. All we need is the offense to play a little better and we will have a great shot."
As for Lyons, it has a one game left against BP this Thursday.
"We definitely need to win if we want to keep on playing," said Onyeagbako.
Badin 21, Pangborn 0
The match up between the Bullfrogs of Badin and the Phoxes of Pangborn had all the makings of a Wild West shootout and didn't disappoint for intensity.
When the dust had settled, Badin went home with a hard fought victory.
Badin captain Beth Rimkus said, "We knew we couldn't let our guard down. They have good receivers and can make plays."
The Badin offense didn't fail to rise to the occasion, with an 18-yard touchdown pass over the middle from sophomore quarterback Erin Zachry to the sure-handed Nicole Jelovic to put the Bullfrogs in the lead, 7-0.
On Pangborn's first possession, the offense mixed in a quarterback draw to dissuade the Badin pass rush. Badin's Katie Bears was all over the field making key plays at linebacker. The drive stalled and on the punt that followed, the Pangborn special teams came up big by downing the ball at the Badin 3-yard line.
Badin mixed in a few options on their next drive, only to find themselves at a critical fourth-and-long after a pass interference call got them into Pangborn territory. Zachry hit Stephanie Heath on a 17-yard strike to put them ahead 14-0.
With the clock working against them, Pangborn worked into scoring territory. Tia Vonil had a 30-yard sprint before time ran out to end the drive.
In the second half, Badin's offense came out in a swinging gate formation, only to be stopped by a staunch Pangborn defense. Pangborn quarterback Charlotte Troupis faced a heavy pass rush all day. Badin mixed a few stunts and twists to go with its linebacker blitzes.
On Badin's next possession, Zachry hit playmaker Amy Marshall for a 67-yard touchdown catch and run. Marshall put more jukes on than a LaFortune Ballroom DJ to get into the end zone to put Badin ahead 21-0.
Pangborn's next drive ended in hostile territory, after a 26-yard run was questionably called back.
Earlier, a nasty hit on Zachry from a cornerback blitz put her out for a series. All this mixed together made for a rough one in a "non-contact" sport.
Rimkus said, "It got intense, really rough. Girls were hitting each other hard."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, October 9, 2001
