After a 5-0 start to the 2012 football season, the A-D-M Tigers dropped their second straight game with a 17-13 loss to the Cardinals of Newton Friday night in a non-district game. Penalties, an injury to their star running back and a stubborn Cardinals defense was the difference.
A-D-M got on the board on their second possession when Jordan Grove raced 66 yards for a touchdown at the 9:38 mark of the 1st quarter, the extra point was blocked giving the Tigers a 6-0 lead, the TD capped a 99 yard drive in just two plays. However, the Tigers would not score again until late in the third quarter. Newton employed a seven man defensive line which kept Grove and the A-D-M offense in check.
Newton scored on a 46 yard TD run by halfback Dakota Hills, the extra point gave the Cardinals a 7-6 lead with 1:47 left in the first quarter. They extended that lead to 10-6 when Nick Early connected on a 35 yard field goal at the 7:44 of the second quarter which ended the scoring in the first half.
A-D-M regained the lead when Kyle Herrick snuck over from one yard out with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter to make the score 13-10. It stayed that way until late, that’s when Cardinals quarterback Tyler Wood connected on a 52 yard TD pass to Andrew Clements with just 2:57 left to play giving Newton a 17-13 lead.
The Tigers refused to quit, with Grove out of the game with a hip injury, A-D-M drove to the Newton 10 yard line with just a minute to play. However, on first down Kyle Herrick was intercepted in the end zone to end the threat and deal the Tigers their second straight loss.
“Coming in we knew they were a physical team,” said Head Coach Mike Whisner, “At the line of scrimmage they took care of us, we had a few big plays but they employed a seven man front and we couldn’t match up with them.”
Newton’s seven man front held Grove to 104 yards rushing, his lowest total of the season and sacked Kyle Herrick five times. The Tigers were flagged for 10 penalties including 5 holding or blocks in the back.
“We’re disappointed, this one hurt,” Coach Whisner continued, “It’s not much fun but we need to learn from this one and get ready for Perry.”
The Tigers return to District play as they host the Perry Blue Jays Friday night in their last home game of the regular season. A-D-M is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in District play. You can hear that game on “Real Country” K-107, part of the Raccoon Valley Sports Network. Kickoff is set for 7:30, Curt Lowe and Brett Glenn will be on the call.