Nc Turns Back G-Prep

North Central isn’t blaming anybody.

The Indians know the reason they were playing for pride on Thursday night was because they didn’t do all year what they did against Gonzaga Prep.

NC’s defense dominated the Bullpups except for one big play and the offense was solid. It added up to a 17-6 win before 1,279 frozen fans at Albi Stadium.

“We came out and played the first half,” NC linebacker Ezra Bocook said. “ Normally we don’t play in the first half. We wouldn’t hit, we wouldn’t tackle, we wouldn’t wrap up and we had too many yards in penalties. We played the whole game instead of just a half.”

A year ago, NC won its last four games but missed the playoffs. This year the Indians expected to keep rolling. Instead, inconsistency and mistakes cost them a shot at the playoffs.

But they didn’t quit and beat Gonzaga Prep in consecutive years for the first time in 41 years. “We played for pride,” running back Steve Mack said. “We were supposed to be good and we didn’t live up to it, but we still worked hard.”

With Mack rushing for 149 yards, the Indians rolled up 304 yards of offense to 141 for Prep.

“We had a lot to play for,” NC coach Wes Hobbs said. “We wanted back-to-back wins against these guys, we want to take two wins into 2000 and we want to prove the expectations at the beginning of the year wasn’t hype.”

An old-fashioned clock-killing drive secured the win. Leading 14-6 after Prep’s lone score, the Indians went 72 yards in 18 plays, eating up 10 minutes, 41 seconds. They converted two fourth-down plays and, on a third, had a touchdown wiped out by a penalty. Chris Geurts clinched it with a 22-yard field goal.

Prep’s first completion went for a touchdown. John Stifter hit tight end Bill Anderson over the middle near midfield and he split two defenders to turn the play into a 66-yard touchdown. A high snap spoiled the PAT and the Pups trailed 14-6 with 3:54 left in the third quarter.

The Indians dominated the first half, holding Prep to two first downs - including one by penalty - and 29 yards rushing. The Bullpups didn’t complete a pass in the half.

Box score on Stat Sheet/C6