Caldwell Busties @ Plum Creek Pioneers
Week 5
‘Caldwell Misses Opportunities but still has Options for a Win’
The Caldwell Busties got the win they desperately needed in week five. After an impressive opening day win over the powerful Shays the Busties dropped three games in a row. Another loss would leave them far behind division leading Plum Creek. As fate would have it though, their week 5 opponent was none other than the Pioneers of Plum Creek.
Plum Creek’s defense came out hitting and forced Caldwell to punt on the game’s opening possession. Caldwell had their chance to strike first but miss fired when a half back pass fell incomplete to a wide open receiver (pic 1). Norris Porter set the Pioneer offense up nicely with a 25 yard return of Caldwell’s punt. A couple of short runs and two passes from O.R. Smith to Linn Garrison later and the Pioneers were down close. A big defensive stop by the Busties brought the first quarter to a close with no score. Just as the second quarter got underway a Pioneer field goal opened the scoring.
After the teams exchanged second quarter punts the Busties took possession again. Unhappy with their offensive production and running out of time in the first half, they made wholesale changes in the offensive backfield. They subbed not only the quarterback but both running backs as well. The new Busty fullback (Al says that’s funny), number 81, ripped off back to back runs of 51 yards and 5 yards, the second taking the ball over the goal for the go ahead score. The Pioneers weren’t ready for the locker room quite yet though. As the last seconds of the half ticked off the clock, Smith hit Garrison again, this time on a quick hitch. Garrison split the defenders and raced up the sideline. He was forced out of bounds, as the first half expired, just five yards from the end zone. Now the Pioneers were ready for the half time locker room, trailing 7-3.
The Busties had the lead but would have to kick off to open the second half. The kick was squibbed downfield and the Pioneers were not ready to cover it. By the time the dust settled a Busty player (did that just for you Al) had scooped up the live ball and scampered 36 yards to the one before being knocked out of bounds.
On first and goal the left side of the Pioneer defensive line came charging through and nailed the ball carrier for ten yard loss. On second down, an option pass that appeared to be wide open in the end zone, was batted down by Charles Smith. Another missed opportunity (pics 2 & 3). On third down the Pioneer left side came charging through again. Carlson had another tackle for loss; 14 yards this time. The Busties came away with a field goal but the dominate play and goal line stand by the Pioneer defense had seemed to turn the tide.
Norris Porter immediately put the Pioneers in scoring position again with a 79 yard return of the ensuing kickoff. Porter continued to be the work horse with a catch and run to the 10 (pics 4) followed by a five yard run down to the five. After Porter got stuffed for a loss on second down the Pioneers changed things up and handed off to fullback D.C. Dunham who sealed the drive with a nice six yard burst on a dive play (pics 5 & 6); tie game, 10-10.
With 6:30 remaining in the game and the missed opportunities from earlier hanging in the backs of their minds the Busties took over. A short kickoff gave them good field position and soon the missed opportunities would be forgotten as options started to open up. On first down, another option pass was open down field but not willing to take a chance of another errant pass, qb number 17, tucked the ball and kept. And he kept it for 47 yards (pic 7). Facing another first down play from their 21 the Pioneer defense again looked strong with their backs to the wall taking down the ball carrier for a four yard loss. It looked as though a Busty pass would finely connect on second down but Gust Carlson broke it up. This time the refs weighed in though and called Carlson for interference giving the Busties a first down but still on the 21 yard line. Back to the ground game they went but the new Busty fullback (that’s the last one Al) was again thrown for a loss on first down. Another defensive penalty was called though putting the ball in a first and five situation from the sixteen yard line. The Busties took a page from the Pioneer’s game tying drive and changed things up. Another option was called but not a pass this time. The dive fake was superb and the pitch out flawless. The tailback got nine yards and another first down to the seven (pics 8). On second down the tailback got the call again. This time it was a designed cut back and he followed a wall of blockers into the end zone (pic 9).
The final Pioneer drive simply ran out of time. Despite the missed opportunities the Busties had options and came away with a hard fought 17-10 win. With the win the Busties (2-3) are back in the Eastern Division race just one game behind the Pioneers (3-2).
The co-players of the game were the new Busty fullback (couldn’t resist), number 81, who had just three carries but they went for 42 yards and a touchdown. He also had one kick return for 28 yards and had 5.5 tackles, 2.5 for losses. Not to be out done in a losing effort, Pioneer’s sophomore running back, Norris Porter, carried six times for 37 yards, caught two passes for 55 yards, returned two kicks for 96 yards, one punt for 27 yards, and had 2.5 tackles two of which were for a loss. At the mid point of the season Norris is second in the league in all purpose yards.
*editor’s note: The Caldwell Busties have not been assigned roster names yet.
Check back soon for a full MPANMMEFSL midseason update.
Caldwell Busties 17, Plum Creek Pioneers 10 | Score by quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Caldwell Busties | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Plum Creek Pioneers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Scoring summary | Qtr | Time | Scoring play | CB | PCP |
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| Plum Creek | 2 | 8:00 | #2 Smith, O.R. 32 yd FG | 0 | 3 |
| Caldwell | 2 | 0:30 | #81 5 yd run (#3 kick) | 7 | 3 |
| Caldwell | 3 | 5:00 | #3 42 yd FG | 10 | 3 |
| Plum Creek | 4 | 7:30 | #41 Dunham, D.C. 6 yd run (#2 Smith, O.R. kick) | 10 | 10 |
| Caldwell | 4 | 3:20 | #33 7 yd run (#3 kick) | 17 | 10 |
| Team stats | Caldwell | Plum Creek |
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| First downs | 4 | 4 |
| Rushing yardage | 91 | 19 |
| Pass completions - attempts | 0-3 | 5-5 |
| Passing yardage | 0 | 137 |
| Pass touchdowns - interceptions | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Total plays | 17 | 19 |
| Total offense | 91 | 156 |
| Fumbles - lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Penalties - yards | 2-10 | 2-9 |
| Defensive sacks - yards lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Time of possession | 15:00 | 17:00 |
| 3rd down efficiency | 0 for 3 | 3 for 5 |
| 4th down efficiency | 0 for 0 | 0 for 0 |
| Punts - average | 2-47.5 | 1-43.0 |
Caldwell
Rushing | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #17 | 1 | 47 | 47.0 | 47 | 0 | | #81 | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 51 | 1 | | #33 | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 9 | 1 | | #25 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 8 | 0 | | #49 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 0 | | Total: | 14 | 91 | 6.5 | 51 | 2 |
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| | Plum Creek
Rushing | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #25 Porter, Norris | 6 | 37 | 6.2 | 36 | 0 | | #41 Dunham, D.C. | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 14 | 1 | | #9 Garrison, Linn | 1 | -20 | -20.0 | 0 | 0 | | #2 Smith, O.R. | 2 | -20 | -10.0 | 0 | 0 | | Total: | 14 | 19 | 1.4 | 36 | 1 |
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Passing | Name | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
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| #3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | #25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | #17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Total: | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| | Passing | Name | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
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| #2 Smith, O.R. | 5 | 5 | 137 | 0 | 0 |
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| Receiving | | Receiving | Name | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #9 Garrison, Linn | 3 | 82 | 27.3 | 76 | 0 | | #25 Porter, Norris | 2 | 55 | 27.5 | 30 | 0 | | Total: | 5 | 137 | 27.4 | 76 | 0 |
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Kicking | Name | FG | FGA | Lng | XP | Pts |
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| #3 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 2 | 5 |
| | Kicking | Name | FG | FGA | Lng | XP | Pts |
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| #2 Smith, O.R. | 1 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 4 |
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Punting | Name | Num | Yds | Avg | Lng | I20 |
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| #3 | 2 | 95 | 47.5 | 50 | 0 |
| | Punting | Name | Num | Yds | Avg | Lng | I20 |
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| #2 Smith, O.R. | 1 | 43 | 43.0 | 43 | 0 |
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Kickoffs | Name | Num | Yds | Avg | Lng |
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| #3 | 4 | 183 | 45.8 | 60 |
| | Kickoffs | Name | Num | Yds | Avg | Lng |
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| #2 Smith, O.R. | 3 | 136 | 45.3 | 60 |
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Kickoff returns | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #81 | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 28 | 0 |
| | Kickoff returns | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #25 Porter, Norris | 2 | 96 | 48.0 | 79 | 0 | | #89 Smith, Charles | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | | Total: | 4 | 106 | 26.5 | 79 | 0 |
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Punt returns | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #33 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 |
| | Punt returns | Name | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
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| #25 Porter, Norris | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 27 | 0 |
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Defense | Name | Tkl | Ast | Sac | TFL | Int |
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| #81 | 5.5 | 3 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0 | | #25 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0 | | #65 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0 | | #33 | 2.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #80 | 2.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0 | | #17 | 1.5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0 | | #49 | 1.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #88 | 1.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #57 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | Total: | 23.0 | 16 | 0.0 | 7.0 | 0 |
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| | Defense | Name | Tkl | Ast | Sac | TFL | Int |
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| #65 Carlson, Axel | 4.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 0 | | #25 Porter, Norris | 2.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0 | | #41 Dunham, D.C. | 2.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #88 Carlson, Gust | 1.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #89 Smith, Charles | 1.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #33 Porter, Albert | 0.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | #9 Garrison, Linn | 0.5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | | Total: | 15.0 | 8 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0 |
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