Twin Bridges hands Sheridan a 19-6 defeat

By Bill Foley - 10/04/2008

SHERIDAN — Nine miles isn't enough distance between these two rivals when a football is involved.

The always-heated Sheridan-Twin Bridges rivalry did what was thought to be impossible and actually stepped it up a notch in intensity Friday night.

The rematch of last year's Class C semifinal saw countless hard hits, a major injury, a fan ejected and 19 penalties. When the dust settled, the Falcons of Twin Bridges made the short trip home with a 19-6 Western C victory.

The win avenged last year's playoff loss to Sheridan when the Panthers ended Twin Bridges' undefeated season in the 1st round of the playoff.

Falcons' senior Pete Anderson said Friday's win has been in the making since last November's bitter loss.

"Last year was a tough loss," Anderson said after scoring all three Twin Bridges touchdowns. "We made a lot of mistakes, and we should have won."

Anderson scored on touchdown runs 2, 1 and 2 yards to lead the Falcons to the win.

His first touchdown put Twin up for good with 5 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first quarter.

Anderson's second TD run came six plays after a big return from senior Clay Pierson and a late hit gave the Falcons the ball at the Sheridan 26.

In between the first two touchdowns, the storied rivalry nearly reached its boiling point.

Twin Bridges senior Luke Banks dove to block a punt and hit Sheridan punter Tanner Rowberry, drawing a penalty for roughing.

Rowberry, a dominant player for Sheridan on both sides of the ball, left the game with what looked like a broken left leg. He was carted off the field and taken to the hospital.

As Rowberry, whose younger brother Tyler blew out his knee earlier in the season, was tended to by the medical staff, a Sheridan fan was thrown out of the game for threatening an official because

See SHERIDAN, Page B6

Banks wasn't ejected.

The Sheridan sideline was also whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing the same.

"That was too bad about Tanner Rowberry," Anderson offered, without being asked about the star on the opposing team. "He's a good player."

Twin Bridges led 13-0 at halftime, and the Falcon defense gave the Falcons the ball in good position to start the third quarter.

Sophomore Jacob Vail, who had a huge game defensively, sacked Sheridan quarterback Casey Crippen for a 14-yard loss to the Sheridan 1-yard line. The sack forced the Panthers to punt out of their end zone.

Eight plays later, Anderson, who ran for 81 hard-earned runs on 22 carries, capped a 41-yard drive with a 2-yard plunge. After a blocked extra point, the Falcons led 19-0.

The Panthers got back into the game on the next play from scrimmage when Crippen, a junior, hit classmate Mike Buyan for a 65-yard touchdown pass.

Crippin forced a fumble with a big hit on the first play of the next drive. Senior Paul Tezak recovered the fumble at the Twin Bridges 12.

The Falcon defense, however, held its ground and got the ball back when sophomore Tony Degel sacked Crippen on fourth down.

"During the week, coach (Robb Lott) was saying it's a big momentum change when you stop them down at the goal line," said Anderson, one of several Falcons with big defensive games. "We managed to do that. We got a couple big stops for us that were key."

Senior Clark Vial, who ran for 48 yards on 12 carries, was in on two sacks for the Falcons, who got to Crippen five times. Banks also had one, and sophomore Tyler DiGiovanna got Crippen once for a two-yard run when he was scrambling for yardage.

Buyan led the Panthers with 89 total yards. He had 24 on the ground.

Crippen, who ended with minus 22 yards on the ground, passed for 85 yards. He hit freshman Nathan Allhands for a 17-yard gain.

Junior Josh Bodda was a force for the Panthers defensively. Senior Brandon Christensen also had some big defensive plays for the boys in purple and black.

The teams combined for 178 yards of penalties. The Falcons were whistled nine times for 83 yards, while Sheridan racked up 95 yards on 10 penalties.

Anderson said that is likely due to the intensity of the heated rivalry.

"It's always kind of the feeling that you've got to bring it all every game against these guys," Anderson said. "We know they're going to be tough."

Both teams are now 4-1.

Twin Bridges 7 6 6 0 — 19

Sheridan 0 0 6 0 — 6

First Quarter

TB — Peter Anderson 2 run (Jake Schmit kick), 5:24

Second Quarter

TB — Anderson 1 run (pass failed), 11:57

Third Quarter

TB — Anderson 2 run (kick blocked), 6:19

Sher — Mike Buyan 65 pass from Casey Crippen (run failed), 6:09

INDIVIDIUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Twin Bridges, Anderson 22-81, Clark Vial 12-48, Schmit 8-50, Clay Pierson 1-5, Tyler Lott 1-6, Team 3-(-8). Sheridan, Buyan 11-24, Crippen 16-(-22), Levi Broksle 2-7, Bradley Lueck 1-1, Team 1-(-6).

PASSING — Twin Bridges, Schmit 4-9-0-6, Lott 1-2-0-13. Sheridan, Crippen 4-14-1-85.

RECEIVING — Twin Bridges, Pierson 3-7, Anderson 2-12. Sheridan, Buyan 1-65, Nathan Allhands 1-17, James Huffield 1-2, Lueck 1-1.