SCAB Report

Championship

Galactic Soup Bowl

Spitters douse fireworks, dominate Leathermen

Say hello to the future of Kootsville Tech: running back Justin Krotch. The Spitters have had quite the relay of names having the biggest effect on the league: Earl Wells, Zack Lee Wright, Jack Sorbetta, D.O. Durant, Harlan Daggers, Chester Doggon Minnit, even this year for a while Dub L. Nichols. When they landed the top rusher prospect in this year's recruiting crop, it seemed a foregone conclusion, more ammo for the already loaded Spitters. Krotch certainly played his role in their dominance this year, but suddenly in the two biggest games, the semi-finals to get them there and the championship game, he becomes the man.

Whether it was the game plan going in or something the Spitters figured out during the game, they turned to the rush, and it was Krotch who made it pay off the most. They might have been trying to control possession, keep the ball from DeSade's, but on one drive, Krotch covered 89 of the yards on three runs, and the Leathermen actually had more possession in the game. At any rate, the showdown DeSade S&M posed the mighty Spitters turned into a defensive one for the passing game, as each team threw for less than 200 yards. Only Kootsville Tech All-SCAB and league-leading receiver D.O. Durant had an impressive game, with 8 catches for 91 yards and a TD. Tight end Bud Cheeks had 5 catches for 45 yards to lead the Leathermen.

While league leading rusher and All-SCAB RB Dick Hertz did his damage for DeSade, perhaps most surprising and impressive was the defensive performance of Kootsville Tech. After the Spitters gave up 21 points in last year's championship game, and again this year to conference foe Moonshine St., DeSade S&M seemed an even more likely offensive threat based on their performance in the season, especially their last four games, two of the season and two playoff games. But the Spitters doused the fireworks and dominated the Leathermen.

Kootsville Tech, as they were favored to even going into the season, thus won their second consecutive and sixth overall SCAB championship. The Spitters have also lost eight others in their record 14 appearances. Northwestsoutheastern has the most championships with seven. DeSade S&M is now 1-4 in their championship game attempts.

The Spitters kicked off to the Leathermen and the teams traded possessions with only one first down made. On DeSade's second possession, they tried to convert on a fourth down with four yards to go at their own 42, a risk but also a gutsy challenge to the Spitters. Quarterback Jack Boot was forced to throw it away, pressured by the Spitters, to avoid losing even more yards. Kootsville seized on the opportunity of good field position, covering the distance in seven plays, the big one a 12-yard run by Minnit. Minnit, the veteran, was the league's number two rusher behind DeSade's Hertz. The score was a four-yard run by Krotch. The Spitters then improvised a two-point conversion play when the snap was messed up, and QB Harlan Daggers, tossed to TE Dub L. Nichols to make it 8-0.

Hertz got DeSade 23 yards on their next drive, including a 13-yard reception. Though the Spitters stalled them again, the Leathermen this time got off a good punt and pinned Kootsville at their own four-yard line. But that's when Krotch exploded. On the next play, he found a huge seam off right tackle and got 43 yards before he was caught. After Daggers threw to Durant for seven yards, Krotch again found room around the end and made more, 28 yards in all to the DeSade 18. On the next play he finished it off: 18 yards up the middle then breaking to the corner. The Spitters missed the extra point, but thanks to their previous exploit, were still up 14-0.

On the verge of being blown out, the Leathermen then seized control, at least of possession, with two long drives that consumed most of the second quarter. The Spitters held on, made them fight for it, bent but didn't break. The first drive took 14 plays to cover 80 yards. DeSade got to the Kootsville 12, then on 4th and four, turned the ball over again on downs when RB Ty Dupp was stopped for just a yard.

DeSade stopped the Spitters and got the ball back at their own seven after the punt, then took 12 plays to drive to the Kootsville 18. The big play was a 22-yard run by TE Cheeks on a reverse. On third and six, the Spitters batted away a Boot pass in the end zone, then DeSade kicker Rich Ewell missed a 35-yard field goal. In this way, the Spitter defense had strangled the Leathermen in their own rope: two long possessions killing the first half without points for DeSade.

The Spitters got the ball to start the second half and this time consumed ground and clock themselves, with a 12-play, 70-yard drive. Only four of the plays were passes, including the 8-yard TD pass to Durant. Daggers ran twice for 12 yards, Krotch had four carries for 29 yards, and Minnit two for 11.

It proved to be the last points of the game as Kootsville Tech. shut it down from there. DeSade had one last grueling drive covering the last half of the fourth quarter but only emphasizing their fate. The longer it was taking them the less time they would have for any further score, and the more they were fighting for just some points on the board. They converted on a fourth and five at the Spitter 31 with a 13-yard pass play to Cheeks. Hertz then ran 13 yards to the five. But on the next play, a holding penalty moved them back to the 15. Boot threw an incomplete pass, then on another draw attempt, Dupp was stopped for only a yard gain and time expired. Nothing for the Leathermen.

10 Clan:
Bu 9 0 0 12 1 0
MV 8 1 0 11 2 0
UF 7 2 0 8 5 0
LB 6 3 0 6 6 0
Ca 4 5 0 5 7 0
Fl 4 5 0 5 7 0
IO 3 6 0 4 8 0
Gr 2 7 0 3 9 0
Bf 1 8 0 1 11 0
HP 1 8 0 1 11 0

Little 10:
KT 9 0 0 15 0 0
MS 8 1 0 12 3 0
GJ 7 2 0 10 3 0
Br 6 3 0 7 5 0
SP 5 4 0 6 6 0
Bd 4 5 0 6 6 0
PU 3 6 0 3 9 0
SS 2 7 0 3 9 0
Wh 1 8 0 1 11 0
CU 0 9 0 0 12 0

10 Pack:
DS 8 1 0 13 2 0
Pb 7 2 0 12 3 0
Nw 6 3 0 8 5 0
HG 5 4 0 8 4 0
DG 5 4 0 8 4 0
MO 5 4 0 7 5 0
SB 5 4 0 5 7 0
Fm 2 7 0 4 8 0
Cr 2 7 0 2 10 0
AT 0 9 0 1 11 0

Non-Conference:
Pk 8 1 0 11 2 0
BH 8 1 0 12 2 0
St 7 2 0 10 4 0
UP 6 3 0 7 5 0
OL 5 4 0 6 6 0
LW 4 5 0 6 6 0
OD 4 5 0 6 6 0
So 2 7 0 2 10 0
Ox 1 8 0 3 9 0
Pe 0 9 0 1 11 0