Culver comes up short against North Judson
CULVER — The Culver Cavaliers dominated the North Judson — San Pierre Blue Jays but turnovers and some questionable decision-making down the stretch doomed the Cavs as they fell in their season opener, 26-24.
The Cavaliers took the early possession and it was obvious from the first snap what the game plan was. Feed the beast, and the beast was Zac Ditmire, who snapped off gains of eight, four, and nine on his first three touches.
The drive looked like it might stall around midfield, but on fourth and nine from the 45, Ditmire ripped off ten yards around the left side to pick up the first down. Four straight carries and 35 yards later, he found pay dirt for the first Cavaliers touchdown of the season, on a drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock.
The Blue Jays would respond immediately on their first possession of the season. In almost a polar opposite of their opponent’s full house offense, Judson lined up three wide in the shotgun formation to open the game and seemed determined to establish the passing game early, hitting swing passes on their first three plays.
On the fourth play, the snap seemed to catch quarterback Trey Hampton by surprise as it bounced high off his hands, but he quickly recovered, rolled left and found a wide open Manuel Barnes for a 48 yard touchdown.
Ditmire and Culver went immediately back to work, pounding the Blue Jay defense and carried multiple defenders into the end zone for a 25 yard TD that extended Culver’s lead to 16-7 after a successful twopoint run by Jalen King.
After missing an opportunity, North Judson capitalized on another when a fumble on the Cavs next possession led to an 85 yards return for a touchdown.
Ditmire ended the first two quarters with 137 yards rushing as the Cavaliers did not even attempt a pass but the Blue Jays still trailed by just three 16-13 at half.
Adjustments at half saw North Judson go to the run lining up in the I formation and pounding the football on the ground. Several counter runs took advantage of the Cavalier defense, and senior running back Logan Brown finished the drive with a 16 yard run for a touchdown
The Thunder and Lightning combination of Ditmire and King was not finished however, as they again ripped holes in the Blue Jay defense on the next drive, alternating punishing runs up the middle and quick sweeps to the edge. Ditmire would bang in his third TD of the game.
With time running out disaster struck Culver with another fumbled exchange giving the Blue Jays a turnover in great field position. They wasted little time turning it into points.
Hampton hit his only completion of the second half, a 17 yard strike to the corner of the end zone to make it 26-24 with only 2:42 left.
Culver responded quickly with time running out breaking off runs of 18, 10 and eight yards to get the ball down to the 8 yard line. With 44 seconds left, Ditmire got four yards up the middle, and on fourth and goal from the eight yard line, the Cavs elected to go for it rather than try a 25 yard field goal. Culver quarterback Fisher’s pass fell harmlessly to the ground in the right flat, and the Blue Jays took over and finished the game as 26-24 victors.
Culver outgained North Judson 428-197, but committed three turnovers to none for the Blue Jays. North Judson has now beaten Culver 13 times in the 16 head to head matchups between the schools.