|
Tidehaven takes out Danbury
Published October 31, 2009
DANBURY — The Danbury Panthers saw their postseason hopes officially come to an end Friday with a tough 14-7 loss to the Tidehaven Tigers.
The game, played on a muddy Humber Field, was decided late in the third quarter when Tidehaven running back Marcus Rocha raced into the end zone from 26 yards out to account for the only score of the second half. The touchdown broke open a game that was knotted 7-7 at the half.
Danbury (1-3, 1-8 overall) had scoring opportunities in the final quarter, including twice moving into Tidehaven territory, but was unable to get the needed touchdown to tie the game. The Panthers’ offense was able to move the ball on occasion, but was never able to put up any significant drives in the final two quarters.
The closest Danbury came to a second-half score occurred when Dakota Sebesta broke through the line for a 35-yard run.
He would have sprinted 40 more yards for the touchdown except for a diving stop by a Tidehaven tackler, who was the last man between him and the end zone.
Although a mud-soaked field often makes it difficult for running teams such as Danbury, Panther head coach Jimmy Thomas didn’t see that as a reason his team was unable to move the ball consistently.
“We just didn’t execute,” Thomas said. “It was the same field for both teams, so I don’t think you can blame it on the field. We just didn’t execute. I can’t say much more than that. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to get a win, and we didn’t get it.”
Tidehaven’s lone second-half touchdown came on an eight-play drive that found success through the air. Tiger quarterback Sean Daniels completed a number of short passes that eventually set up Rocha’s scoring dash.
The touchdown was Rocha’s second of the game. He also scored on a three-yard run late in the second quarter to erase a 7-0 Danbury lead. The senior running back ended with 98 yards on 24 carries.
Daniels finished with a solid night throwing the ball, completing 14 of 26 passes for 122 yards.
Danbury’s only score of the contest came on a long 18-play drive that took more than nine minutes off the clock in the second quarter.
The Panthers (1-3, 3-6) twice converted fourth-down plays on the drive, one of those resulting in a two-yard scoring run by Sean Bruemmer.
The Tigers helped the Panthers out on the drive, though.
After coming up with a fourth-down stop on the 3 yard line, an offsides penalty was called to give Danbury new life, with Bruemmer punching the ball in on the next play. Ismael Ayala booted the extra point for an early 7-0 Danbury advantage.
Bruemmer finished with 70 rushing yards on 17 carries, followed by Kendal Evers and Dakota Sebesta with 61 and 45 yards, respectively.
Making the loss even more difficult for the Panthers was the fact that it’s been a tough, emotional week for the Danbury community. The city is mourning the loss of two recent Danbury graduates — Mattie Marie Bishop-Briggs, 18, and Austin Nichols Bailey, 19 — who were killed in a car accident early Sunday.
“It was a tough week, and this makes it a little tougher,” Thomas said. “All of the emotions we went through this week, plus this being the seniors’ last home game, makes this loss pretty difficult.”
The Panthers will close their season with a road game next week at Industrial.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: (D) Sean Bruemmer 17-70; (T) Marcus Rocha 24-98.
Passing: (D) 2-9-19, 1 INT, Garrett Zimmerle 2-5-30; (T) Sean Daniels 14-26-122.
Receiving: (D) Dakota Sebesta 3-39; (T) Colt Clontz 6-77.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print
|
|
|
 |
|
Click for all
Top Ads listing
|
