Sports

Rebels easily take first game victory over Princeville

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Last Updated on Saturday, 25 August 2012 04:06

Written by Jason Musselman

And so another year under the lights on Friday nights begins.

For the preseason #5 state ranked Rebels, the first game meant coming out and making sure to get a solid win over Princeville to get the season off on the right foot. And they did just that.

Princeville started the game deep in their own territory at the 27 yard line after Jake Berchtold kicked off for Stark County.

The Princes would run just three plays before punting away to merely the 42 yard line. There, veteran quarterback Justin Kohler and the Rebels went to work, handing the ball off first to Colton Senders and then Kohler kept it for a 22 yard run, down to the 15 yard line.

Danny Berchtold then worked it to the five and finally into the endzone for the first touchdown. Bryce Willis caught the two point conversion and the Rebels led 8-0.

Princeville’s next possession ended like the first, four plays and they were done. Stark County took over at the 50 yard line and then Kohler connected with the younger Berchtold brother, Jake, for 16 yards. Brandon Lee caught a pass as well, putting the Rebels on the two yard line.

From there, Senders ran it in for the touchdown, 14-0, the two point conversion attempt was no good.

The news kept getting worse for the Princes.  Stark County’s Joe Charvat intercepted Princeville in the next possession and ran 18 yards down to the Princeville 13.

Still in the first quarter, Bryce Willis then caught a ESPN highlight-worthy one-handed catch from Kohler and then ran it in for the touchdown, 22-0 after a successful two point conversion.

“I thought we executed extremely well for the first half, and we caught the ball really well,” said head coach Jade Noard. “We thought that would be a strength of ours.”

Princeville punted one more time before the end of the first quarter, giving Stark County the ball at the Princeville 43.

J. Berchtold, a 5’11” junior, took the ball down to the redzone, but the Rebels found themselves in their first fourth down situation at the 12 yard line with one yard to go. After a change in ends of the field following the conclusion of the first quarter, the Rebels came out with a hard count that drew Princeville offsides and gave Stark County the yardage for the first down from the six.

A six yard touchdown pass to Willis made the score 30-0 with a Ryne Daum two point conversion included.

“Offensively that first half, we didn’t do a whole lot wrong and they didn’t get a whole lot on us either,” said Noard after the game.

Princeville’s first first down came with 11:25 left in the second quarter, but they were not able to overcome the first game mistakes yet and turned over on downs at the Princeville 49.

The Rebel’s next possession was all Kohler. Literally. He even threw a pass that he ended up catching (the pass was blocked at the line and came right back to him, but it resulted in a loss of one).

A late hit penalty on Princeville helped move the ball and then Kohler ran to the one yard line and finally kept it and ran in for the touchdown, 36-0 with 4:03 left in the half.

Princeville did make it on the board before the end of the half, thanks to a 25 yard run and then a 21 yard pass for a touchdown, 36-7 with :27 left in the half.

Stark County wasted no time at all in the second half. Starting at the 35 yard line, Kohler went 62 yards to Lee and then Senders finished it with a 3 yard touchdown run, 42-7, all in 45 seconds.

The Rebels and Princes each punted on their next possession.

Princeville then scored on a 10 yard run, making the score 42-13.

Some personnel changes in the second half resulted in a few kinks, but overall the Rebels looked great.

“Princeville kept playing and we gave up a few yards, but we got a lot of guys valuable experience,” said Noard.

Giving an immediate answer, J. Berchtold returned the ensuing kickoff for Stark County back for a touchdown, 80 yards, 48-13 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

Six different rushers carried for Stark County as the Rebels looked balanced and deep with talent.

“I thought we were able to spread the ball out quite a bit,” said Noard. “It didn’t seem to me like we ran a whole lot of offensive that second half. We just didn’t have the ball very long.”

Princeville then started their longest possession of the night from their 27 yard line and after the start of the fourth quarter and then some, the Princes scored on a 12 yard play, 48-19.

Stark County had one more series in them, resulting in a six yard run from Chase Hannam, 56-19, the final score.

“That’s a pretty good start,” said Noard. “Obviously there’s some things we can work on… but you can’t ask for too much more than that in week one.”