Oct. 12, 2018 @ Rockwood

Game Summary By Ed Greif

Octavious Worthy rushed for 202 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 4, 6 and 41 yards to lead the Rockwood Tigers to a 47-14 Region 2-2A victory over the Wartburg Bulldogs and a share of third place in the region; however, the Tigers will get the third seed in the playoffs by virtue of their victory.

Caleb Bowen returned the opening kickoff 18 yards to the Tiger 47-yard line, where Coach John Webb used the running of Bowen, Dylan Williams and Worthy to take a 6-0 lead on Worthy's 4-yard run. Ben Woodall booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 7:29 left in the frame.

Leading tacklers for the Bulldogs were Colby Justes, Bailey Creago and Josh Lamance, who led the 'Dawgs with eight stops.

Saylor Jones returned the ensuing kick 18 yards to the Bulldog 43, where his team musteded on 4-rards rushing on two carries by quarterback Josh Moore who also completed 2-of-4 passes for 14 yards, both to Jones; however, the Tiger defense led by Ryan Nelson, Gavin Evans, Damien Moss, Dylan Williams and Nate Bracket forced a Justes' 40-yard punt to the Tiger 9-yard line.

Rockwood drive the distance in 13 plays to take a 13-0 lead on Worthy's 6-yard run with 10:23 left in the half. Woodall's kick made it 14-0. Worthy carried the ball 6 times for 44 yards. Bowen, Dom Simpson, Bracket and Wiilams also toted the pigskin. Bracket completed a 13-yard pass to Williams for a first down.

Lamance, Jones, Colten James and Robert Williams made key stops for the 'Dawgs. Jones returned the ensuing kick 20 yards to the Wartburg 29, but the Bulldogs went 3 plays and out.

Rockwood took over a their 42, where the Tigers drove the distance in 9 plays to score on Bowen's 17-yard run with 4:09 lef in the half. Bracket completed a 15-yard pass to Dillon Garrett, while Worthy Williams and Bowen picked up 63 yards on 6 carries. Woodall's PAT made it 21-0.

Owen Vespie returned the ensuing kick 14 yards to the Bulldog 37-yard line, where Moore carried the ball 3 times for 18 yards and then completed two passes to Justes for 15 yards to put the ball at the Tiger 13-yard line. Two plays later, Moore scored from the 5-yard line with 29 seconds left in the half. The 2-point conversion pass to Justes made it 21-8. Rockwood ran out the clock to take the 21-8 lead at the half.

The Tigers rushed for 303 yards on 28 carries and completed 2-of-5 passes for 28 yards, while Wartburg rushed for 37 yards on 9 carries and compled 4-of-6 passes for 29 yards.

Another 20-yard kickoff return by Jones gave Wartburg the Ball at their 30 to start the second half. Moore came throwing hitting Chris Flowers for a 15-yard pass, with center Andrew Taylor catching a topped ball for a 6-yard gain.

After two penalties, Moore rached 36-yard to the Rockwood 23 for a big first down., but he would only complete 1 more pass, a 2-yarder to Justes, before the drive stalled on downs at the Tiger 21-yard line.

Worthy opened the drive with a 59-yard run to the Bulldog 20-yard line. After a 6-yard run by Williams, Evans bullied his way into the end zone for a 14-yard run to give the Tigers a 27-6 lead with 7:43 left in the third quarter. Woodall's kick made it 28-8.

Moore returned the ensuing kick 20 yards to the Wartburg 38, but three plays later, Worthy recorded an interception for the Tigers, Jones carried the ball once for 14 yards and caught a 19-yard pass from Moore.

Worthy capped the 25-yard drive with a 41-yard run for a 34-8 lead with 1:32 left in the third quarter. Woodall's PAT made it 35-8. Wartburg took over at their 35-yard line, after Woodall's kickoff sailed out of bounds.

Moore took to the air, completing 3-of-5 passes fro 70-yards, including a 46-yard pass to Justes for a TD on the last play of the quarter. He caught another pass for 17 yards, while Caleb McCarty had a 7-yard reception. The 2-point conversion was no good. Wartburg was penalized twice for 15 yards.

Rockwood recovered the Bulldog's onside kick at the Tiger 49, Bracket capped the 5-point drive with a 7-yard run, after starting the march with a 31-yard scamper. Bowen carried three times for 21 yards. The PAT was no good, leaving Rockwood ahead 31-14 with 9:33 left in the game.

Wartburg's next possession ended when Bracket picked off Moore at the Tiger 17-yard line, Bowen, Evans, Austin Orr, Simpson, Nelson and Jack Alexander carried the football 7 times for 37 yards, but the Bulldog defense led by Jones, Adrean Hall, Lucas Williams and Larry Phillips forced a Tiger punt.

Wartburg took over at the Wartburg 21. Three plays later, Simpson picked off a Samuel McCarty pass for a 40-yard touchdown on the last play of the game for the 47-14 final score.

Rockwood picked up 484 total yards - 448 rushing and 36 passing on 4-of-7 passes, while Wartburg had 274 total yards - 119 rushing and 155 passing on 13-of-25 passes with 3 interceptions.

Following Worthy's 202 yards were Simpson (4 for 24), Williams (6 for 43), Bracket (7 for 56), Bowen (12 for 84) and Evans (3 for 32). Williams had two receptions for 13 yards, while Garret had one for 15 and Worthy one for eight.

Moore rushed for 93 yards on 8 carries and completed 13-of-23 passes with 1 TD and 1 interception. Justes had 5 receptions for 80 yards, while Jones had 4 catches for 31 yards, rushed for 24 yards on 4 carries and returned 3 kicks for 50 yards.

Player of the week for the Wartburg Game is: #8 Octavius Worthy

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