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Tigers unable to weather Smith-Cotton storm
Nevada Daily Mail
The Nevada Tigers put on a defensive clinic for the first 32 minutes of play against undefeated Sedalia Smith-Cotton Friday night at Logan Field.
However, a 13-0 lead and momentum quickly evaporated after the game was delayed by 100 minutes due to severe weather. After emerging from the lengthy stoppage, Smith-Cotton scored touchdowns on consecutive drives as they escaped with a 16-13 victory.
The loss drops Nevada to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in West Central Conference play. Meanwhile, Smith-Cotton improves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in WCC play.
"Some calls didn't go our way that I feel (probably) should have," Nevada head coach Erik Yoakam said during his post game radio interview. "Big plays and penalties really effected our tempo."
Note: The following is a quarter-by-quarter recap
---- First quarter ----
Smith-Cotton opened the game with possession of the ball and excellent starting field position at their own 40-yard line.
After chipping away at the Nevada defense with several run plays, Smith-Cotton quarterback Caleb Reed connected with senior wide receiver Blake Jackson for a 16-yard gain to the Nevada 24-yard line.
On second down, Tigers nose tackle Tate Morgan blew up the Smith-Cotton offensive line, sacking Reed for a loss of six. On third-and-16, sophomore linebacker Zach Gardner sacked Reed for another big loss. Smith-Cotton elected to go for it on fourth-and-22, as a draw play netted only 10 yards.
The turnover on downs gave the ball to Nevada at its own 25-yard line. On the Tigers first possession, quarterback Jacob Hammontree turned the ball over as he attempted to stretch past the first down marker.
Taking over at the Nevada 37-yard line, the Tigers stuffed Smith-Cotton runs plays on both first and second down. On third-and-long, Nevada defensive back Colton McDowell came up with a key pass breakup of Reed who was trying to locate intended target Jackson.
Smith-Cotton again elected to go for the first down on fourth-and-long. This time, it was senior linebacker Chaden Brandt who sacked Reed for a loss of three yards.
Nevada took over at its own 40-yard line with 4:11 to play in the first quarter. However, the Tigers were forced into a three-and-out, punting the ball away.
At the conclusion of the first quarter, the teams combined for only 69 yards of total offense.
---- Second quarter ----
Early in the second quarter, with Nevada in possession of the ball and facing a third-and-long from its own 30-yard line, sophomore quarterback Braeden Hinton zipped a pass down the middle of the field to fellow sophomore Shelby Trotter that fell incomplete. However, Trotter was tackled before the ball arrived to him, without pass interference being called.
On fourth down, a Smith-Cotton player was able to deflect Gardner's punt as it netted just 12 yards, giving Sedalia possession at the Nevada 44-yard line.
After driving to the Nevada 25-yard line, Reed aired out a second down pass to Carlton Homan near the end zone. As the ball hung in the air on its way to the wide-open Homan, McDowell saved the day, deflecting the pass at the last second. Reed's third down pass for receiver Cory Bond was low, forcing a fourth down.
Outside of field goal range and too deep in Nevada territory to punt, Sedalia again elected to go for the first down, this time on fourth-and-8.
Reed's fourth down pass was picked off by Brandt, who took the interception return 50-yards to the Smith-Cotton 34-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-1 from the 25-yard line, Hammontree took a quarterback keeper for a four-yard gain and first down pick up.
After two Brandt runs, the Tigers faced a third-and-11. With 48 seconds to play in the half, Hinton dropped back, was flushed from the pocket, stepped up and lofted a pass down the left sideline that was hauled in by receiver Hunter Mason for a 22-yard touchdown. The Hammontree extra point put Nevada on top 7-0 with 43 seconds remaining in the half.
After a big kick return to near midfield, and still 38 seconds on the clock ---- Sedalia elected to run out the first half clock, trailing by a touchdown at halftime.
---- Third quarter ----
Smith-Cotton coughed the ball up with just over eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Homan fumble was recovered by Brandt at the Smith-Cotton 18-yard line. On Nevada's first play from scrimmage after the fumble, Brandt took a hand-off and exploded through the left side of the line, gashing Sedalia's defense for an 18-yard touchdown run.
Hammontree's extra point was wide left, as Nevada led 13-0 with 7:48 to play in the third quarter.
With Smith-Cotton driving deep into Nevada territory late in the third quarter, the Tigers defense came up with key stops ---- as it turned a Smith-Cotton first-and-goal from the 7-yard line into a third-and-goal from the 27. However, with 3:20 on the clock, officials stopped the game due to severe weather.
After a 100 minute stoppage, play resumed at 10:40 p.m. with Smith-Cotton facing a third-and-long at the Nevada 27-yard line.
Momentum turned quickly, as Reed hit Jackson in the end zone for the 27-yard touchdown strike. Jackson was able to take the jump ball away from Nevada defensive back Braxton Shadden.
After a Nevada off-side on the extra point attempt, Smith-Cotton elected to go for two, which they converted, trimming the Tigers lead to 13-8.
After receiving the ball back, Nevada was forced into a quick three-and-out and punt.
---- Fourth quarter ----
Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, the Homan and Noah Aziere running back combo began to punish the Nevada defense with powerful runs, as Sedalia was setup with a first down at the Nevada 25-yard line.
After a Nevada off-sides and three more run plays, Smith-Cotton faced a fourth-and-inches at the Nevada 3-yard line. However, an illegal procedure pushed Smith-Cotton back to the 8-yard line with 7:52 remaining in regulation.
Looking to convert the crucial fourth-and-five, Reed dropped back for a pass, tucked the ball under his arm and accelerated into the end zone.
Smith-Cotton's two-point attempt was successful on an Aziere run, handing Smith-Cotton a 16-13 lead.
---- Critical penalties ----
Despite the dramatic swing in momentum, Nevada appeared to be back in control midway through the fourth quarter after Hinton connected with Mason for a 35-yard touchdown. However, Mason was flagged for offensive pass interference, and Nevada eventually punted away.
After stopping Smith-Cotton and regaining possession, a Hinton to Brandt 45-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown was wiped out on a penalty. Hinton was intercepted on the next play by Jayce Simoncic, sealing the Tigers fate.
---- Next up ----
Nevada travels to Seneca for a 7 p.m. matchup, Friday.