(PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
DELTA FRESHMAN … Gunner Taylor looks for room to run on Friday night at Panther Stadium. VIEW 114 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
DELTA (October 11, 2024) – In a game with limited offensive possessions, Patrick Henry was the definition of efficient as they scored touchdowns on each of their four first half possessions in a 37-3 win at Delta.
Patrick Henry needed just six plays on their first drive to find pay dirt as quarterback Lincoln Creager scrambled, shook off some tackles, and sprinted 75 yards down the sideline for a touchdown with 8:17 to go in the first quarter.
Delta’s first drive was long on methodical, including a pair of third down conversions, a fourth down conversion, and carried over into the second quarter before ending with a Brodey Roth 33-yd field goal to make it 7-3 Patriots with 11:14 left in the half.
Delta would attempt on onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but was unsuccessful as Patrick Henry started their second drive at the Delta 45-yard line.
Creager opened the drive with a 17-yard run and four plays later he would score on a six-yard touchdown scamper to push the lead to 14-3.
After a Delta punt, the Patriots went to work through the air as Creager hit Kiefer Holloway on a 27-yard bubble screen to move the ball to the Delta 30-yard line.
Facing a third-and-ten, Creager would find a wide-open Cal Schroeder out of the backfield for a 30-yard scoring strike to make it 21-3.
The Patriots scored one more time in the first half after being set up at the Delta 46-yard line after a bad punt by the Panthers.
After a 19-yard completion to Lane Jackson, Creager hit Reid Creager on a 15-yard slant pass for a score with :51 seconds left in the first half as the Patriots led 28-3 at halftime.
Delta’s first second half drive saw the Panthers move the ball to the Patriot 12-yard line after a 25-yard run by freshman Marcus Nagel.
Two plays later on second down, Emric Friess was swarmed and coughed up the football which was picked up and returned 68 yards the other way by Conner Neiderhouse to make it 34-3 and put the running clock into effect.
Creager paced a balanced effort by the Patriots with 133 yards on the ground and 135 yards passing while accounting for all four Patrick Henry offensive touchdowns.
Delta was held to 89 yards out of their ground game, led by Landon Lintermoot who had 36 yards on 15 carries.
UP NEXT: OCTOBER 18 – Liberty Center (8-0, 5-0 NWOAL) at Delta (6-2, 3-2 NWOAL) 7pm
PHHS DHS
First Downs 9 10
Rushing Yards 24-179 35-89
Passing Yards 138 32
Passing 7-11-0 4-9-0
Total Yards 317 121
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties 3-30 2-15
P. HENRY 7 21 6 3 – 37
DELTA 0 3 0 0 – 3
PH – L. Creager 75-yd run (L. Creager kick)
D – Roth 33-yd FG
PH – L. Creager 6-yd run (Creager kick)
PH – Schroeder 30-yard pass from L. Creager (L. Creager kick)
PH – R. Creager 15-yard pass from L. Creager (L. Creager kick)
PH – Neiderhouse 68-yard return (kick failed)
PH – L. Creager 24-yard FG
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Patrick Henry – L. Creager 10-133; Delta – Lintermoot 15-36; Taylor 7-34; PASSING: Patrick Henry – L. Creager 6-10-135-0; Delta – Friess 4-9-32-0; RECEIVING: Patrick Henry – Jackson 2-56; Holloway 2-34, Schroeder 1-30
QUARTERBACK ON THE RUN … Delta signal caller Emric Friess takes off on run during an NWOAL game with Patrick Henry.