BOUNCE BACK WIN … Archbold’s Max Burrowes (#22) wraps up a Delta ball carrier on a first half tackle. (PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jesse Davis
DELTA (September 15, 2023) – Despite throwing the book at the Bluestreaks, the Delta Panthers were unable to make it on the board against an overwhelming performance by Archbold on Friday night.
Delta received the kickoff, but only managed five yards of progress by the time they had to punt. The punt, by senior Justin Ruple, rolled out of bounds at their own 46-yard line.
The Panthers nearly kept Archbold to four and out as well, but a run up the middle on fourth and one by senior Jack Hurst kept the drive alive.
A 35-yard pass from quarterback Cade Brenner to Hurst on the following play generated a Bluestreaks touchdown. Ruple was able to block the extra point to keep the score to 6-0.
Carl Warner Jr. started the Panthers’ drive strong with a 25-yard return, and a pair of facemask penalties against Archbold kept it moving, but an interception by Max Burrowes again turned the tide.
After a pair of incomplete passes and an illegal procedure call against Delta, Brenner lobbed another touchdown pass, this one for 45 yards to Stephen Diller. The extra point brought the score to 13-0.
After a 15-yard kickoff return and a trio of plays garnering just nine yards of progress, the Panthers failed on a fourth-and-one conversion attempt, turning the ball over to Archbold on their own 31-yard line.
Delta was able to mount a stronger defensive effort on the next drive, aided by a pair of penalties against the Bluestreaks and a three-yard loss on a tackle by Ronnie Wyse.
A pass into the endzone on fourth-and-goal from the 22-yard line turned the ball back over to Delta.
The Panthers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, going three and out then snapping over the head of the kicker into the endzone.
In order to avoid a Bluestreaks touchdown, the ball was tossed out of bounds for a safety, bringing the score to 15-0. Six plays later, a four-yard touchdown run from Lucas Dominique made it 22-0.
After a 43-yard gain on a sneak by Ruple on the first play of the drive, Delta’s offense again struggled to maintain momentum, with Tyler Ruple fumbling the ball, which was recovered by the Bluestreaks’ David Oregon.
Archbold’s eight-play drive ended in another touchdown, this one by a four-yard run from Chase Miller to put the team up 29-0.
Another three-and-out from the Panthers put the ball back in the hands of Archbold, who wasted no time marching back up the field. A six-yard touchdown pass to Miller put the score at 35-0 just before halftime.
Delta sophomore Jadon Lohman attempted an onside kick to start the second half, which rolled out of bounds at the 39-yard line.
On the very next play, Dominique outsprinted the entire Panther defense for a 56-yard touchdown run to make it 41-0.
The Panthers strung together a series of successful plays on their next drive, making it all the way to Archbold’s eight-yard line.
On fourth and goal, however, they chose not to attempt a field goal, and a pass intended for Wyse sailed over his head and gave the ball back to the Bluestreaks.
Both teams had a pair of possessions in the remainder of the game to put more points on the board, but neither was successful, with the game ending at 41-0.
UP NEXT: Delta (2-3, 0-2 NWOAL) at Swanton (0-5, 0-2 NWOAL) 7pm; Evergreen (2-3, 0-2 NWOAL) at Archbold (4-1, 1-1 NWOAL) 7pm
AHS DHS
First Downs 13 7
Rushing Yards 31-199 26-93
Passing Yards 159 93
Passing 11-17-0 4-11-1
Total Yards 358 126
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties 5-33 1-5
ARCHBOLD 13 22 6 0 – 41
DELTA 0 0 0 0 – 0
A – Hurst 35-yard pass from Brenner (kicked block)
A – Diller 45-yard pass from Brenner (Ramirez kick)
A – Safety
A – Dominique 4-yard run (Rodger kick)
A – Miller 4-yard run (Rodger kick)
A – Miller 6-yard pass from Brenner (kick blocked)
A – Dominique 56-yard pass from Brenner (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Archbold – Dominque 10-153; Delta – J. Ruple 8-48; PASSING: Archbold – Brenner 9-14-0-157; Delta J. Ruple 2-6-1-6, T. Ruple 2-3-0-27; RECEIVING: Archbold – Hurst 2-55, Diller 1-45; Delta – Wyse 1-18
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com
