Williamson delivers tying score, game-winning field goal as Tiger Cubs outlast Braves in OT

The Greencastle Tiger Cubs had a night and a week of overcoming obstacles. Following a loss to South Putnam last week, Greencastle had to fight through a long weather delay, a couple of critical turnovers and some costly penalties to pick up a 17-14 overtime win over the Indian Creek Braves on John Fallis Field Friday night.

Ian Williamson hit a clutch overtime field goal as well as the touchdown and PAT kick to tie the game with less than a minute to go in regulation. Greencastle improved to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Western Indiana Conference. Indian Creek dropped to 1-4 and 1-1 in the WIC. The Cubs three losses have been to teams that are ranked in the top-15 of their respective classes.

“A lot of people talk about culture. I wanted to put a good culture in here when I started. We lost to our fiercest rival (South Putnam) last week, had the weather delay, got behind and made some mistakes. We had every excuse to blame a loss on, but our captains and coaches would not let us stay down,” Greencastle head coach Dave Stephens said.

Greencastle started the game impressively. Indian Creek took the opening kickoff and drove inside the Tiger Cub red zone, but Greencastle’s defense rose to the occasion and forced a turnover on downs.

Greencastle’s offense was clicking early as it drove 90 yards in eight plays to score on a Cole Stephens to Anthony Adams 45-yard touchdown pass. Williamson nailed the PAT kick, and the Cubs led 7-0 with 3:29 left in the first quarter.

As they prepared to kickoff, mother nature had other plans, and the game was halted for lightning.

A little over an hour later, the two teams came back on the field and Indian Creek again threatened to score, but Bryceton Nunn blocked a 21-yard field goal attempt to close out the marathon first quarter.

The Cubs offense stalled, and a short punt gave the Braves good field position at the Greencastle 30-yard line. Indian Creek took advantage as two passes from Evan Clark to Bobby Emberton resulted in a three-yard touchdown pass and tie score of 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Defense ruled the remainder of the first half and the teams took a shortened halftime tied at 7-7. The Cub defense used a bend but do not break philosophy all night and it was working along with the offense being balanced. The Cubs ran for 104 yards and passed for 288 as they broke out the wishbone at times and bled the clock by design.

“(Indian Creek) only has two players that go both ways, and we have quite a few. I never thought a Dave Stephens-coached team would win a 17-14 game. We wanted to shorten the game tonight, and our defense did a good job,” Stephens said.

The third quarter was scoreless as neither team was able to threaten. Greencastle had a turnover to end one drive and a penalty that pushed them back on another drive, forcing a 47-yard field goal attempt by Williamson that grazed the right upright and was no good.

Following the missed field goal, Indian Creek had two long passes and travelled 80 yards in those two plays with Emberton catching another touchdown pass, this one from 44 yards out, and Indian Creek had its first lead at 14-7 with 10:16 left to play.

Greencastle threatened but lost a fumble deep in the red zone and things looked bleak down 14-7 with the Braves having possession late in the fourth quarter. The Tiger Cubs were able to force a punt, but faced 81 yards in front of them before they could tie the score.

Stephens found three different receivers during the 81-yard drive. He capped the drive with a 15-yard scoring strike to Williamson, who kicked the PAT to knot the score at 14-14 with just :54 left to play. The Braves picked up a couple of first downs, but the clock expired sending the teams to overtime.

Greencastle chose to play defense first and that worked out well as it stopped the Braves offense and forced a 26-yard field goal attempt that was no good.

Knowing they needed any type of score to win the game, the Cubs ran the ball in the center of the field for three plays and then Williamson lined up and nailed the game-winner from 19 yards out and the victory.

“I love me some Ian Williamson. He made some clutch plays, and he is such a weapon for us kicking,” Stephens said.

Cole Stephens had a good night completing 16-of-26 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Three receivers, Williamson, Adams, and Parker Welker each had over 80 yards receiving, while Brayden Monroe controlled the ground game by powering for 70 yards on 17 carries.

The Cubs will try and even their record next week as they host Class 2A No. 5 Linton to continue their tough schedule.

1st Qtr.

GHS – Anthony Adams 45 pass from Cole Stephens (Ian Williamson kick), 7-0, 3:29.

2nd Qtr.

IC – Bobby Emberton 3 pass from Evan Clark (Greyson Greene kick), 7-7, 8: 02.

4th Qtr.

IC – Bobby Emberton 44 pass from Evan Clark (Greyson Greene), 14-7, 10:16.

GHS – Ian Williamson 15 pass from Cole Stephens (Ian Williamson kick), 14-14, :54.

Overtime

GHS – Ian Williamson 19 field goal, 17-14, 0:00.

Statistics

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Indian Creek: Malachi Mink 21-92, Jaxon Ramey 2-4, Evan Clark 5-13, Drew Pingleton 1-(-1), Greencastle: Brayden Monroe 17-70, Anthony Adams 2-14, Parker Welker 3-6, Trevin Long 3-10, Cole Stephens 3-(-15), Cayden Blodgett 5-19.

Passing: Indian Creek: Evan Clark 12-23-0 226, Greencastle: Cole Stephens 16-26-1 284.

Receiving: Indian Creek: Jaxon Ramey 4-128, Bobby Emberton 7-100, Nathan Dillingham 1-(-2), Greencastle: Parker Welker 4-82, Anthony Adams 6-94, Ian Williamson 4-93, Brayden Monroe 1-7, Trevin Long 1-8.