Lewis defeates Lyons for first victory of the season
By JASON KROMPINGER
Sports Writer
Lewis vs. Lyons
In a back-and-forth affair Tuesday night at Stepan Field, the Lewis Chicks tallied their first win of the season in a 12-6 victory over the Lions of Lyons.
The first half was filled with turnovers. Lyons had the first possession of the game. On their third play, a pass was picked off and the ball returned all the way to the their 25-yard line. Lewis quarterback Rachel Mahoney led her team to a first down at the 15-yard line, but then she was then picked off in the end zone, and the ball was returned to the Lyon's 10-yard line.
All that followed was more turnovers and more failed drives until Lyons took control of the ball late in the half and promptly had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Lisa Thomas. The conversion failed, and Lyons went into the locker room with a 6-0 lead at the half.
After Lyons sputtered on their opening drive of the second half, Mahoney led the Chicks to a first down after she ran one keeper after another. After a pass-interference call on Lyons brought Lewis down to the 5-yard line, the Chicks tied the game with an option run by running back Betsy Fordyce.
On their next possession, Lyons took the ball deep into Lewis territory and it looked certain that they would score to take the game, as time was running low. On a first-down pass with one minute remaining in the game, Lewis defensive back Anne LaBelle intercepted and returned the ball untouched for a Chicks score to take the lead permanently.
"I was really pleased with my team's performance especially considering the slick conditions we were playing in," team captain Beth Wild said. "Our morale will be really up for our next game."
Walsh vs. Welsh Family
Welsh Family used a variety of talented, quick receivers and old-fashioned tenacity on defense to pull away with a 12-6 win over Walsh on Tuesday night at Stepan Field.
Welsh had Walsh reeling after the third play, as quarterback Stephanie Eden struck on an 80-yard touchdown pass to take an early 6-0 lead. Walsh seemed as if it would rebound from the quick score as they picked up a first down on their first play from the line of scrimmage on an option run.
But two incompletions and a botched snap later, Walsh found themselves punting. After a subsequent sloppy Welsh drive, halftime arrived with Welsh still leading 6-0.
The second half started with more of the same inconsistent play for both teams. That wouldn't last long, however, as Walsh went three and out on their subsequent possession.
Walsh was intercepted on fourth down of their next drive, but the big blow for the Wild Women came when they intercepted a Welsh pass on second down of their next drive and brought it all the way back for the score. This tied tie the game at 6 with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The tie would last all of five seconds. With another brilliant pass play and speed from their receiver, Welsh struck with an 80-yard touchdown play on their first play from scrimmage after the Walsh TD. The conversion failed, but Walsh's fate was sealed.
Pasquerilla East vs. Pasquerilla West
Pasquerilla West came into the game against the powerful offense of Pasquerilla East led by athletic quarterback Liz Plummer full of energy. But their spirit was soon deflated after Plummer and the Pyros ran circles around the Purple Weasels and emerged with a 15-0 victory Tuesday night.
PE's offense was actually well defended in the early-goings by PW's pesky defense led by middle linebacker Kathleen Warin. Plummer picked up a first down on PE's first possession after a nimble QB sneak, but was then held tough by P-Dub's defense on the next three plays.
However, on fourth down, the Purple Weasels were hurt with a costly interference penalty. Plummer immediately capitalized and scored on a keeper. The Pyros converted on their PAT to give them a 7-0 lead.
Refusing to back down after the score, the Purple Weasels offense, led by Andy Will, responded with a quick first-down completion to captain Kori Yelle on their first play. On third down, Will showed off some athletic scrambling capabilities and bagged another first. But after three consecutive incompletions, PW was forced to punt.
After PE went three-and-out on their next possession and PW went four-and-out, the Pyros had another scoring drive. Plummer completed a bomb to get her team deep into PW territory, then was helped out by a PW interference penalty near the end of the half.
On the half's last play, Plummer completed a touchdown pass to give her team a 13-0 lead. The Pyros' final score came as a safety on the last play of this rain-soaked washout.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, September 30, 1999
