Dayhoff Soundtrack: 20070912 Westminster Eagle: Eagles top Owls to gain early edge in county

Thursday, September 13, 2007

20070912 Westminster Eagle: Eagles top Owls to gain early edge in county

Eagles top Owls to gain early edge in county

09/12/07 By Steve Jones

Westminster Eagle

For the latest in Carroll County Sports coverage, read Steve Jones in the Westminster Eagle

Also see: 20070907 Francis Scott Key vs Westminster High Game Video Clips

And: 20070919 Part 1 of Herb Ruby and Ruby Field - Resetting a local gem to mark Ruby Field

Westminster Eagle sports writer wrote:

Thomas' run clinches season-opening victory

They gained only five yards of total offense in the first half and made only seven first downs the entire game.

Their best player was limited to less than two yards per carry, and they didn't complete a single pass during the warm, muggy night.

Yet somehow, Francis Scott Key found a way to win.

The Eagles utilized a standout defense that limited Westminster to just 53 yards on the ground and big plays from two unlikely heroes to record a 14-9 win over the host Westminster Owls in the season opener for both teams Friday night.

While the Westminster defense bottled up last year's county rushing leader Brad Martz for most of the contest, the Eagles got game-changing plays from two less heralded running backs.

Dustin Ebaugh raced 22 yards for a third-quarter touchdown and David Thomas added the clinching score on a 55-yard run with just over two minutes remaining.

"Everybody knows about Brad, but we also have other playmakers," said Key's second-year head coach Bill Hyson. "Dustin came close to popping some long runs and David had a nice one for the touchdown. Along with Tyler Bridges, they're going to give Brad some opportunities down the road, because defenses will have to start respecting them, too."

The win enabled defending county champion Key to take an early lead in the county race.

The Eagles host a formidable North Carroll team this Friday, while Westminster travels to South Carroll to continue the county's oldest rivalry.

Key gained just five total yards in the first half, as Westminster clearly won the battle at the line of scrimmage. Martz, who led the county with 1,443 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, had seven carries for minus-8 yards in the opening half.

The Owls picked up nine first downs to just one for the Eagles, but Westminster could not convert opportunities into points. On their opening drive, the Owls kept the ball for 13 plays but did not score. On Westminster's next possession, a 10-play march resulted in the only points of the first half, as Tom Magrogan booted a 31-yard field goal that gave the Owls a 3-0 lead at the break.

"How many opportunities did we have that we didn't take advantage of in the first half?," said Westminster head coach Brad Wilson, who watched the Owls lose their first season opener in his four years at the helm. "We made young mistakes and just didn't finish."

Francis Scott Key scored on its first possession of the second half. After Thomas returned a Bobby Krauk punt to the Westminster 36-yard line, the Eagles needed just five plays to reach the end zone. Ebaugh followed the blocking of Martz and dashed for a 22-yard touchdown to put Francis Scott Key ahead for good with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

The teams picked up a combined three first downs on the next nine series, as the defenses dominated into the latter stages of the fourth quarter.

Krauk sailed a 55-yard punt past Thomas that was downed at the Eagle 37, and Martz moved Key to midfield with a 13-yard burst up the middle. After a delay of game penalty, Thomas put the game away for the Eagles.

The senior running back moved through a sizable hole then cut to the left sideline and outraced two Westminster defenders for a 55-yard touchdown that gave Key a 14-3 advantage with 2:05 remaining in the game.

"I can't say enough about the blocking of our line," said Thomas, who led all rushers with 74 yards on seven carries. "We didn't change our blocking schemes (in the second half). We just came out and played hard."

Westminster found new life on its next offensive play.

Senior running back Hunter Smith took a short screen pass from sophomore quarterback Andy Gilford and raced 73 yards down the right sideline for the Owls' only touchdown of the night with 1:45 remaining.

Smith was stopped short on the two-point conversion try, but a well-placed onside kick by junior John Hajnos was recovered by Westminster at the Key 49.

The Eagles' defense smothered Westminster on its final offensive series to preserve the win, as Key linebackers David Groomes and Dean Seal sacked Gilford on consecutive plays to end the game.

"I was proud of their effort," Hyson said of his defense, which yielded just 189 total yards. "We were fortunate to be down only 3-0 (at half-time) with the short field that we were playing on."

Smith, who was the only Owl back to run with the ball, accounted for most of Westminster's offensive output.

A former wide receiver who was moved to running back after senior Jesse Astlin suffered a season-ending injury in a late August scrimmage, Smith gained 68 yards on 20 carries and also caught five passes for 75 yards.

In his first start, Gilford completed 16 of 33 passes for 136 yards and one score. Junior linebacker Brett Baer led the Owl defensive effort, recording a game-high nine tackles while also playing a strong game on the offensive line.

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20070907 Francis Scott Key vs Westminster High Video Clip 1