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Smith-Cotton scrapes by Nevada in taut defensive struggle, 10-0
A stout defensive performance proved too much for the Nevada Tigers to overcome as they fell to visiting Smith-Cotton High School 10-0 Friday night at Logan Field. The West Central Conference loss moves the Tigers 2-3 overall and 2-2 in WCC-play, while Smith-Cotton improves to 5-0 overall (2-0 WCC).
Late in the first quarter Nevada’s defense stiffened inside its own 10-yard line, holding Smith-Cotton to a chip shot field goal attempt, with Brett Robertson’s kick sailing wide left.
With yardage at a premium, Nevada moved the ball across midfield twice in the second quarter, but came up empty. Midway through the second Nevada senior quarterback Braeden Hinton was intercepted at the Tiger’s 29-yard line by standout inside linebacker Brice Pannier. Smith-Cotton parlayed the interception into a 40-yard Robertson field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead with 4:27 remaining in the first half.
Still clinging to the three-point lead late in the third quarter, Smith-Cotton senior quarterback Jaden Kendrick connected with tailback Zach Powell on a play-action pass. After getting behind the Nevada secondary, Powell bolted down the right sideline and into Logan Field’s west end zone untouched. Robertson’s extra point handed Smith-Cotton a 10-0 advantage with 3:53 remaining in the third.
“We got caught staring in their backfield, and (Powell) ran right by us,” said Nevada head coach, Wes Beachler.
On its ensuing possession Nevada fullback Zach Gardner took an inside handoff, shed two tackles, and cut back inside, gashing the Smith-Cotton defense for a 43-yard gain. The Tigers, however, were unable to capitalize, with penalties hampering the drive
“When you play a team of that caliber, you have to take what’s there,” said Beachler during his postgame radio interview. “And we had a couple opportunities in the second quarter, and another in the third when it was still a 3-0 ballgame. And I’m not going to sugar-coat it, you have to make plays, that’s just the bottom line.”
The Tigers were heavily penalized throughout the contest, hindering their ability to put together lengthy drives.
“I thought we had them reeling a little bit,” said Beachler. “Zach broke off the big run there, and then we get a penalty that moves us back five or 10 yards. You can’t do that stuff against a good team. You can do that when you’re up 20 points, but when we’re in a 3-0 ballgame you have to make plays and can’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Beachler told his squad that the game should serve as a learning experience.
“If you can get to 12 and 13, this is what you’ll see,” he said, referring to Smith-Cotton, an undefeated 5A program. “You don’t see bad teams in week 12 and 13 (deep in the playoffs). You see good football teams.”
Beachler added he was impressed with the gritty effort displayed by his squad.
“I’m proud of our kids, we played tough; some things didn’t go our way but we didn’t quit and we played hard,” said the veteran coach. “In the past, I’ve coached some teams, and this would have ended up being 35-0 instead of 10-0.”
Beachler said he was thoroughly impressed with the defensive effort Smith-Cotton brought to the table. The Smith-Cotton defensive line held Nevada tailbacks Braxton Shadden and Shelby Trotter to well under their per-game season averages.
“I don’t know if we’ll see a defense as good as that (again this season),” said Beachler. “If we see a defense as good as that, I think somebody stuck a college team in there.”
Added Beachler: “I don’t think our offensive line played as well as they have been.”
Aside from Gardner’s long run, the Tigers top rushing performance came from Hinton, who had multiple runs of 10 yards or more.
“Braeden’s a good quarterback and a good leader,” noted Beachler. “It’s just sometimes hard to stick him up in there, because if something doesn’t go right with him injury-wise, we’re a lot different team offensively.
“We had been kind of holding him back because we didn’t want him to get early (season) bumps and bruises, but it’s getting to that stretch where he needs to have the ball in his hands.”
Up next
The Tigers return to the gridiron Friday, for a non-conference road matchup with Springfield Central. Last season at home, Nevada throttled Springfield Central, 54-6.