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UPDATED: Thunderbirds lose at Tecumseh, 28-14
LYNNVILLE - For the second week in a row, the Eastern Greene Thunderbirds struggled offensively as they fell to the Tecumseh Braves in the regular season finale 28-14.
After both teams failed to convert first downs on their first two possessions, Tecumseh took possession at their own 35 at the six-minute mark in the first quarter and drove 65 yards in 6:06.
An apparent 42-yard screen pass from Tecumseh's Kyle Tuley to Spencer Oxley that went for a score was called back due to a holding penalty and four plays later a 30-yard touchdown run by Oxley was also called back. Still, the Braves maintained their drive with Oxley punching it in from the EG 5 with just five seconds into the second quarter.
With eight minutes remaining in the half, Eastern Greene was forced to punt from its own 10, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Thunderbirds gave Tecumseh a first and ten at the T-Birds' 21.
Keenan Lautner caught an 8-yard scoring toss from Tuley with 4:43 remaining in the half.
It took the Thunderbirds just 24 seconds to answer. On first and ten from their 34 following a pass interference call against the Braves, Eastern Greene quarterback Briar Martindale took it straight up the middle and sprinted 66 yards for a score. Martindale passed to Gaven Hill for the conversion as the Thunderbirds trailed 14-8 at intermission.
The T-Birds Jeffery Graham returned the opening kickoff 37 yards to start the second half, but Eastern Greene failed to generate much offense in the third quarter. Tecumseh racked up three first downs during a six-minute drive in the third, but the drive stalled.
The Braves had possession to start the fourth at the Eastern Greene 45 where Oxley took a screen pass from Tuley for 18 yards. He added 5- and 7-yard runs before his 2-yard scoring burst with 9:09 remaining put the Braves ahead 21-8.
After the T-Birds turned it over on downs on their next possession, Oxley rambled for 23 yards and Tuley connected with Colton White from 22 yards out to give the Braves their fourth touchdown of the night at the 3:27 mark.
With time running out, Martindale ripped off a 50-yard run and hit Eli Jackson with a 5-yard scoring pass with 52 seconds left to account for the final six points.
Eastern Greene head coach Joey Paridaen said, "For the second week in a row we didn't make plays when we needed to. We struggled offensively again..
"We need to get back to the way we had it earlier in the season. I knew we'd struggle with the run. They (Tecumseh) are big up front and we weren't able to establish a block at the point of attack and get a run game going."
Martindale rushed 12 times for 140 yards.
The Thunderbirds (5-4) will host the Tell City Marksmen in the first round of sectional play at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
BRAVES 28 , THUNDERBIRDS 14
| Eastern Greene | 0 8 0 6 - 14 |
| Tecumseh | 0 14 0 14 -28 |
Scoring summary
Second quarter
T - Spencer Oxley 5 run (Jeremy McKinley kick), 11:55.
T- Keenan Lautner 8 pass from Kyle Tuley (McKinley kick), 4:43
E - Briar Martindale 66 run (Martindale pass to Gaven Hill), 4:19
Fourth quarter
T- Oxley 2 run (McKinley kick), 9:09
T- Colton White 22 pass from Tuley (McKinley kick), 3:27.
E- Eli Jackson 5 pass from Martindale (pass failed), :52
| E | T | |
| First downs | 7 | 15 |
| Rushes-yards | 25-179 | 35-185 |
| Passing yards | 53 | 144 |
| Total yards | 232 | 329 |
| Return yards | 69 | 34 |
| C-A-I | 7-19-1 | 12-21-0 |
| Punts-avg. | 3-28 | 3-31 |
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
| Penalties-yards | 1-15 | 7-75 |
| Time of possession | 17:32 | 30:28 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Eastern Greene, Brent Price 6-(minus 3), Jeffrey Graham 5-21 , Martindale 12-140 , Dakota Sims 1-21, Hill 1-0 . Tecumseh, Spencer Oxley 29-170 , Keenan Lautner 2-7, Kyle Tuley 2-9, Colton White 1-3, Tristan McDaniel 1-(minus 4).
PASSING -- Eastern Greene, Martindale 7-19-1 53. Tecumseh, Kyle Tuley 12-21-0 144
RECEIVING -- Eastern Greene, Graham 4-39, Hill 1-6, Jackson 2-8. Tecumseh, Tristan McDaniel 3-32, White 3-50, Oxley, 4-43, Lautner 2-19.