Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Linton victory caps undefeated season


Published: October 13, 2007 12:01 am

Linton victory caps undefeated season

By Tom Reck
Tribune-Star Correspondent

Farmersburg — Linton put some new wrinkles in its offense Friday night in high school football, beating North Central 50-20 to finish the regular season 9-0 for the second time in three seasons.

The Miners claimed an undisputed Southwest Seven Conference championship by winning while North Central finished a 7-2 regular season and took third in the conference with a 4-2 mark.

Keith Cunningham scored twice for the Miners and passed for three other scores, two of them in the final frame. The junior rushed for 15 yards and completed nine passes for 181 yards.

Mickey Tosti keyed the offense in the first half and scored twice. He rushed for 93 yards in the first half and finished with 126.

Jaron Powell, Evan Magni and Levi Baysinger scored the touchdowns on Cunningham passes.

“We knew both teams were well scouted. We wanted to shake things up and the kids really responded,” Linton coach Steve Weber said of the spread offense that had not been used for two years.

He said Tosti gave the Miners an inside threat to spring Ethan Brewer, the leading rusher most of the season, on the outside. Brewer ended up carrying the football five times and netting 29 yards.

“Linton was under center for the first time all year. We adjusted on the fly,” said North Central coach Brian Crabtree.

Both teams scored on their first two possessions and the Miners scored on their third and made it a 29-13 game at the half by taking advantage of a Thunderbirds’ turnover.

Both teams punted for the first time in the third canto and neither scored but the Miners took advantage of botched North Central punt to score early in the fourth frame to go up 36-13.

North Central responded with its final score with Brett Lewis hooking up with Jared Ross on two of the scores. Michael Woodsmall got the other TD and rushed for 181.

He left the game late after being tackled after a 35-yard gain. “He'll be all right next week,” said Crabtree.

Lewis completed nine passes for 102 yards and the two touchdowns.

The Thunderbirds will be at home to North Vermillion for their first Class A sectional game. They beat the Falcons earlier.

“North Vermillion will be a physical opponent. We're glad to be playing at home,” said Crabtree.

The Miners also will be at home to begin the tournament and will meet Springs Valley, a team they beat 28-21 in Orange County.

“It went down to the last play,” said Weber.

The Miners faced top-ranked Perry Central two years ago after their unbeaten run.



Linton 16 13 0 21 — 50

North Central 7 6 0 7 — 20

L — Cunningham 5 run (Gentry, pass from Cunningham)

NC — Ross 30 pass from Lewis (Enstrom kick)

L — Tosti 5 run (Cunningham run)

NC — Woodsmall 3 run (Kick failed)

L — Cunningham 2 run (Pass failed)

L — Powell 17 pass from Cunningham (Gentry kick)

L — Tosti 3 run (Gentry kick)

L — Magni 81 pass from Cunningham (Gentry kick)

NC — Ross 5 pass from Lewis (Enstrom kick)

L — Baysinger 30 passs from Cunningham (Gentry kick)

Next — Both teams have home games in Class A sectional contests next Friday. Linton (9-0, 6-0 Southwest Seven) plays Springs Valley. North Central (7-2, 4-2 Southwest Seven) meets North Vermillion



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Terre Haute Tribune Star, IN
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