Nunn collects five turnovers, Tiger Cubs collect first WIC win over Vikings

WEST TERRE HAUTE — Bryceton Nunn had a first half to remember at West Vigo Friday night.

He picked off four Viking passes and picked up a fumble recovery while Cole Stephens threw for four scores and the Tiger Cubs ran for 234 yards as they routed West Vigo 42-13.

In the game’s opening drive, Greencastle tried to establish its power running game.

The visitors marched on a 12-play drive featuring Brayden Monroe, who ran three times and caught a pass. Anthony Adams finished off the scoring drive on a six-yard jet sweep. They took off almost eight minutes of the game clock.

The teams exchanged punts and Nunn got the first of his picks to set the Cubs up at the Viking 45-yard line.

The Cubs didn’t take as long this time. With the help of a roughing the passer call, they would find paydirt on the last play of the quarter as Parker Welker powered it in from two yards out to give Greencastle a 14-0 lead.

West Vigo seemed to have gotten some momentum switching up its run game, driving to the Tiger Cub 16-yard line, when it tried to go into the air again and Nunn again was able to step in front of the throw for pick number two to end the rally.

Stephens wasted little time. On the third play of the following drive, he found Ian Williamson on a short pass. Williamson put a move on the defender and raced 86 yards for the third Greencastle score.

A quick stop by Greencastle set it up in good field position again. Monroe muscled his way through several tacklers and broke free for 26 yards. Stephens then dropped back and found Nunn on a post pattern to score from 27 yards out.

Nunn wasn’t done yet. He picked up a fumble as the Vikings tried the hook and ladder with 1:23 left in the half. Twenty seconds later Stephens connected with Welker on the 26-yard score to make it 35-0.

The Vikings tried to look deep again before the end of the half. Nunn once again picked off the pass to make it number three.

Stephens on the next play found Williamson again and rolled 55 yards for another big play and make it 42-0 before the half.

“We talk about what wins ball games. We want to create explosives and taking away explosives. Forcing takeaways and not turning the ball over. Couldn’t be more pleased that things we put into practice are paying off,” Tiger Cub head coach Dave Stephens said.

The second half went to a running clock and Greencastle was able to get some more players into the action.

The Vikings finally got some offense rolling behind the running of Jacob Dewey. He broke loose on a 40-yard scamper and would cap off the drive with a two-yard plunge to get the home team on the board.

With about a minute and a half left in the game, the Vikings would add a late score from reserve quarterback Reese Wilbur to end the scoring as Greencastle would come away with the 42-13 victory.

It was the best rushing night of the year for Greencastle, tallying 234 yards. The Tiger Cubs also threw for 177 yards to account for over 400 yards of offense.

Stephens completed 10-of-14 pass attempts with four scores and no interceptions.

After starting 0-2 on the season, the Tiger Cubs picked up win number one.

“We knew the sky wasn’t falling in. We are still a team that has some growing to do. We saw flashes tonight of what we have seen in practice,” added coach Stephens.

This now sets up a county match up next week as the Tiger Cubs will host South Putnam Friday night. The Eagles are coming off a tough one-point loss to North Putnam.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Rushing - (G) Monroe 7-37, Welker 5-55, Williamson 2-55, Adams 2-16, Pingleton 1-12, Stephens 1-9, King 1-5, Jordan 3-(-1); (WV) Dewey 8-134, Cobb 7-51, Wallace 6-41, Fields 6-11, Dunkin 1-8, Wilbur 1-1

Passing - (G) Stephens 10-14-177-4-0, (WV) Fields 7-13-36-0-4

Receiving - (G) Williamson 5-112, Monroe 3-44, Adams 1-11, Pingleton 1-10; (WV) Cobb 4-24, Hedden 2-16, Dewey 1-(-4)