Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 116, No. 46	November 12, 2008

Greenwave defense shuts out Yellow Jackets

By Bill Rosacker
Messenger Staff

The Greenwave football team ended their regular season Nov. 7, celebrating senior night with a win over the Woodford County Fighting Yellow Jackets. There’s a reason Hamilton Field is called “Death Valley.” It’s an awful place to play if you’re a visitor. There was no sting in the Fighting Yellow Jackets as the Greenwave defense shut them out and sent them home. Meade’s win puts them at .500 for the season, entering into the post season against Pleasure Ridge Park.

Photo by Bill Rosacker
Kasey Dame takes down a Woodford County runner in the last game of the regular season.

The evening opened on a sour note for the Greenwaves. Michael Addesa took the opening kickoff to the Yellow Jacket six-yard line, only to turn around and see a yellow flag: holding against the Greenwave. Meade County had the ball on the Woodford County 31. Six plays later, Ricky Funk took the ball straight up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown run. Jonah Cundiff’s point after was good and with 9:27 to go in the first quarter, Meade took a 7-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets took the kickoff and got three first downs. That’s when the Greenwave defense stiffened and the Yellow Jackets were faced with a 4th and 8 on Meade’s 37. They completed a short pass, but Addesa stopped the receiver two yards shy of the first down markers and after a holding penalty was refused on Woodford County, the Greenwave took over on offense.

The remainder of the quarter was a defensive struggle. Neither offense could move the ball effectively, and the quarter ended with Meade ahead 7-0.

Woodford County had the ball to start the second quarter, and was shut down by Meade’s stingy defense. Behind Tyler Crow’s running, the Meade offense began to move the ball. Crow took the ball up the middle for a four-yard gain and on the very next play, burst up the middle for an additional 22 yards and a Meade County first down. After two short runs, the ball was handed to Alex Furnival. During the ensuing tackle, Furnival lost the handle on the football and the fumble was recovered by Woodford County.

Meade’s defense was again on the field and rose to the occasion. Woodford’s offense could not put a dent in the Meade defense. On the very first play of the drive the Yellow Jackets attempted to run only to be thrown for a seven-yard loss. They could not overcome the 17-yard deficit and were forced to punt.

Meade’s offense moved the ball well during the next series. Behind Ricky Funk’s running, Furnival and Crow achieved two first downs and what appeared to be a third. This was not to be. On the play, an illegal block in the back penalty nullified a scrambling first down by quarterback Tyler Mattingly and the Greenwaves were forced to punt. The offense would get the ball back as the half drew to a close on another outstanding three and out defensive stand. Time would run out in the half before they could move the football within scoring distance.

Woodford County received the opening second half kickoff and on the very first play, Addesa stepped in front of the intended receiver on the 30-yard line and waltzed into the end zone untouched. Cundiff tacked on the extra point and with only 46 ticks off the clock, the Greenwaves took a 14-0 lead.

Woodford County received the kickoff and promptly ran off two successive first downs. The story of the game was the way Meade’s defense would bend, but not break. They stopped the Yellow Jacket offense in the third series and after an unsuccessful attempt to convert a fourth down by the visitors, handed the ball back to their offense with good field position.

Meade’s quarterback, Mattingly, seems to get better at game management with every game. His running many times saved a negative yardage situation, and his passing has improved measurably. But his foot is a weapon that is overlooked. When the Yellow Jacket defense held, the offensive formation looked as if they were going to attempt a first down. The ball was snapped to Mattingly, who pooch kicked a punt that went out of bounds at the eight-yard line, pinning the Yellow Jackets deep within their territory and giving the defense a short field to contain the visitors’ offense. As great as that punt was, we’ll never be able to gauge its effectiveness because Woodford County was penalized for roughing the kicker (Mattingly) and this gave the offense a first down and new life. Unfortunately, on the very next play, the offense coughed up a second fumble, and Woodford County took over deep in their own territory.

Meade’s defense did not allow Woodford to gain a first down, and the Yellow Jackets were forced to punt. Aided by a personal foul, the Greenwaves began their drive on the Yellow Jacket 35-yard line. During the ensuing seven plays, Crow carried the ball six times for a total of 32 of his game-high 110 yards, culminating with a six-yard touchdown drive on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Most of Crow’s runs were up the middle, and all evening he was breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage and carrying would-be tacklers for extra yardage. It seemed that no one could tackle him single-handedly; it took two or more defenders to finally bring him down.

Now the visitors had their back to the wall. They were down by 21 points and came out throwing. This is just what the Meade defense thrives on. Kevin Carter ended their first offensive series of the fourth quarter with an interception.

The offense took over and moved the ball on the ground, milking the clock on every possession to ensure a victory. They moved within field goal range and Cundiff attempted a 34-yard field goal that fell short.

Meade’s defense again took the field with another goal in mind. The victory was all but assured. Only 4:54 remained on the game clock, but a shutout is special, and the defense wanted to end the regular season with a no hitter for the seniors. Woodford did not want to end their season scoreless, so the final four minutes were a test of will. After two successful first downs, Kasey Dame and Ricky Funk teamed up to break up a third and eight pass, and on fourth and eight, Josh Jarboe intercepted the pass and gave the ball back to the offense.

Coach Larry Mofield then emptied his bench, and the subs ran the clock out. The game was over, and the seniors ended their careers with a senior night shutout 14-0.

Photo by Bill Rosacker
The senior football players and cheerleaders were honored Nov. 7 before Meade County’s final game of the season. Pictured above, front row, left to right: Alex Furnival, Kasey Dame, Jessica Padgett, Emily Benham, Roni Robinson, Audrianna Armstrong, Michelle Lyons and Jonah Cundiff. Back row: Michael Addesa, Jimmy Crase, Anthony Ruelas, Kevin Carter, Marcus Feester, Josh Jarboe and Steve McCubbins.

Senior center Anthony Ruelas summed it up. “This is great. (I’ll miss) playing in front of the lights, playing together. I’ll miss the game itself.” And the fans will miss this great group of young warriors. Next up for the Greenwaves is post season play against Pleasure Ridge Park at Hamilton Field.

Individual Statistics
Rushing Total Att Ave TD Tyler Crow 110 17 6.5 1
Alex Furnival 81 17 4 0
Ricky Funk 26 6 4.3 1
Tyler Mattingly 14 4 3.3 0
Receiving: Michael Addesa, 2 receptions for 62 yards; Alex Furnival, 2 receptions for 9 yards; Bo Wilson, 1 reception for 10 yards.
Punts: Tyler Mattingly averaged 30.3 yards on 3 punts.
Interceptions: Michael Addesa, Kevin Carter and Josh Jarboe, 1 interception each.

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