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Tigers unable to slow QB Hoambrecker in 34-0 conference defeat
Junior quarterback Tommy Hoambrecker's monster performance Friday night at Logan Field lifted the St. Pius X Warriors to a 34-0 West Central Conference victory over the Nevada Tigers.
Hoambrecker dazzled as he completed 15 of 18 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a score.
With the loss, Nevada falls to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the WCC.
"We knew coming in that we had to stop Hoambrecker," NHS head coach Erik Yoakam said during his postgame radio interview. "He's a very talented and smart quarterback. But we simply didn't execute as a unit."
Despite the loss, Yoakam said he saw some positive things from his squad.
"We had some defensive stops when they were needed, and the offense has improved," he said.
The Tigers were able to move the ball between the 20-yard lines, but unable to find the end zone.
"This is where you smell the end zone and you really have to pin your ears back," he said. "We're losing some of that execution. One guy not doing the right thing can cause a disaster, especially in the option-game."
Early in the first quarter, after recovering a fumble at the St. Pius 43-yard line, the Tigers went three-and-out. On the punt, Zach Gardner was unable to handle the snap as he reached high to catch it. After the ball sailed through his hands, Gardner recovered but was tackled at the Nevada 37-yard line for a big loss.
On the Warriors first play from scrimmage after the turnover on downs, Hoambrecker connected on a play-action pass for a 37-yard touchdown strike with senior wide receiver Nick Martino. The extra point put St. Pius on top 7-0.
Later in the first quarter, Hoambrecker went over the top of the Tiger secondary on another play-action pass, lofting a tight spiral to junior wide-out Joey Lynch in stride for a 50-yard touchdown completion. Hoambrecker, who is also the place-kicker, put the Warriors up 14-0 with the successful extra point.
"It's a discipline thing," Yoakam said of the play-action pass. "It's just simply a kid biting (on the fake hand-off) and then you just stay over the top.
On his radio interview, Yoakam said the Tigers were running a Cover 2 defense. A Cover 2 is where two defensive players, typically safeties, are responsible for covering an area deep down field.
"Our safeties got lost on an island," Yoakam said. "They weren't getting back over the top. That's why we put those two kids there, to help us out over the top. And they got a little too run-heavy a couple of times, bit on some play-actions that they shouldn't have. And it's definitely something we can clean up."
Hoambrecker, who completed his first nine passes, led the Warriors on a 62-yard scoring drive late in the first half, as his four-yard touchdown scamper, and ensuing extra point handed St. Pius a 21-0 advantage.
Early in the third quarter, Ben Wade broke off a 47-yard run up the middle, taking the ball to the Tiger 3-yard line. Three plays later, Wade rushed up the middle, finding the end zone as the Warriors led 27-0. Hoambrecker's extra point sailed wide-right.
Late in the third quarter, on third-and-10, Hoambrecker, rolled out of the pocket and found Bobby McCoy wide-open in the flat for an 11-yard touchdown catch-and-run, as St. Pius increased its lead to 34-0.
Nevada junior quarterback Braeden Hinton threw for 82 yards, nearly connecting with junior wide receiver Shelby Trotter on a play that likely would have resulted in a long touchdown.
On another occasion, Hinton threaded the needle, with a diving Branden Hardner almost coming up with the grab in the end zone. Junior wide receiver Hunter Mason looked sharp, accounting for most of Nevada's receiving yards.