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Indians season ends in the rain

By Ray DiMonda Correspondent
Posted 11/13/19

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - The Keystone Indians, hosting their first playoff game since 2013, couldn’t find the keys needed to slow down the powerhouse runs of the Astronaut (Titusville) War Eagle’s …

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Indians season ends in the rain


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - The Keystone Indians, hosting their first playoff game since 2013, couldn’t find the keys needed to slow down the powerhouse runs of the Astronaut (Titusville) War Eagle’s Jaiden Dollard and Abreon Torres as the one-two punch landed on the Indian’s chin all game en route to a season-ending 34-14 loss Friday night in their region 2-4A playoff game.

“I’m very proud of their effort, but we just fell short” said Keystone Heights Head Coach Chuck Dickinson, who finished at 7-3. “We had a bunch of missed tackles and they had some big plays.”

The Indians self-inflicted mistakes were taken full advantage of as the Indians went down 34-14 during four quarters of rain-soaked, down in the trenches action.

The Indians opened with the offensive drive that would span the length of the field until coming up short in the RedZone and give the ball up, over on downs.

The War Eagle drive would only last a single play as Indian defensive tackle Layton Murphy recovered a fumble on the War Eagle 15 yard line, setting up a Colby Townsend touchdown. The missed point after had the Indians on the board, 6-0.

Starting on their own 40, the War Eagles took the second play 57 yards as quarterback Connor Ferguson followed a high snap, rolled out and found a gap in the Indians line, broke left and took it to the house, 7-6.

Keystone would go three and out; punt, after pounding the rock inside with running backs Dalton Hollingsworth and Kade Sanders. Astronaut only needed four plays to go 63 yards and move the score to 14-6.

The return Indian drive was killed off when quarterback Gage Stevens (4 of 10 for 41 yards and 1 interception) was sacked for a five yard loss, then an incomplete pass.

Off the punt and return drive, the War Eagles needed three plays to go 57 yards in part to another 47 yard single play, 21-6.

"We were not making tackles on their guys," said Dickinson. "We got to them, but they got away too many times."

Keystone went back to work in the trenches and methodically moved the ball through the mud to get into the RedZone, then surprised Astronaut with an air attack to Colton Tibbetts, getting the ball to the one yard line. Townsend answered the call on the next play getting the score to 21-12, backed up with a Tibbetts 2-point conversion reception for the 21-14 score.

"Colby was starting to wear their defense down," said Dickinson. "They were going after his legs in that third quarter because he was punishing them up top."

Just as Keystone Heights was shaking off the water and getting the smoldering fire to start building, Astronaut said nothing doing and used one minute off the clock to pour ice all over the Indian rally, 27-14.

The high point before the half was a Keystone blocked point after kick that gave the team a much-needed boost.

“Until we brought up our JV kids, we had 23 ball players," said Dickinson. "We’ve been able to battle through all year, but we had some kids banged up and they all showed up tonight.”

The Astronaut bench was easily twice the size of Keystone Heights and the Indians playing both offense and defense took its toll. Add in the pouring rain that never let up all game, and the Indians were working uphill all night.

In the second half, Keystone Heights stopped the opening Astronaut drive, then were stopped short on their drive, setting up a punt. On the snap to the punter, the ball sailed several feet over the kicker and was recovered deep inside Indian territory.

“We could have adjusted more to the run game because they were not passing it in the rain,” said Stevens who also plays defense. “We needed to keep pounding at the line and it could have been different.”

Just when the Indians were looking for any help they could get, the answer came from the War Eagles with a fumble around the 20 yard line. On third and seven, the Indians made a fatal mistake with an interception by Astronaut, who needed a single play to go 21 yards for the final score of the game, 34-14. The fourth quarter highlight was an Astronaut fumble and touchback that Keystone Heights recovered. The Indian drive took the clock down to 3:50 left in the game where Stevens was sacked, turning the ball over on downs. Astronaut rode the clock out on the ground.

Looking at returning next year, Stevens knows the keys that can make the difference.

“The season starts in the weight room. We have to be the strongest, most physical team. That is our way to winning. We’ll be looking for more people to come out and be part of this team. We made our community very proud, we hosted a playoff game, and if we have everyone give everything they can give, then we can bring a championship home.”