No Answer
Hornets give up 37 unanswered points to rival Ichabods, lose 5th straight game
By Jesse Newell
Monday, October 30, 2006
Justin Whitworth’s voice barely made it over a whisper in the post-game interview at Yager Stadium on the Washburn campus.
There was a difference this time. The other four losses had been frustrating for the Hornets — the ones that make you want to yell and scream afterwards.
This one had been depressing — giving Whitworth’s voice barely enough volume to lift over the wind-whipped trash bags carried by maintenance workers around the stadium.
“It’s pretty much one of the worst things I’ve had to experience in my life — a five-game losing streak and then just getting dominated by Washburn,” Whitworth said after the Hornets’ 37-6 loss to the rival Ichabods on Saturday. “It’s not good right now.”
ESU ran into some familiar ghosts on Saturday, as untimely mistakes combined with a lack of offensive production to spell doom for the Hornets.
Trailing just 7-6 with 2:44 to go in the second quarter, the back-breaker came when ESU took over at its own 14 after a Washburn punt.
ESU quarterback Ben Purkeypile dropped back and threw a pass straight into the arms of WU’s Zach Watkins. The linebacker returned it 19 yards to the end zone, helping the Ichabods to a 14-6 lead.
“That was giant. Ben threw it right to him,” ESU coach Dave Wiemers said. “That’s pretty much a play we work on quite a bit. It’s frustrating to see that happen.”
The pick-six gave Washburn more than just points — it also provided the team with momentum.
“The wind,” Wiemers said, “went out of our sails in a hurry.”
Washburn added a field goal with 2.9 seconds remaining to take a 17-6 lead into halftime.
At the break, Wiemers decided to make the switch to Whitworth at quarterback for the rest of the game.
“It was time to do something,” Wiemers said. “We know Justin will at least maybe be a little more careful with the ball. Right now, we’re struggling at that position.”
Whitworth didn’t turn out to be any more effective. The senior was just 2-of-13 in the second half for 11 passing yards, also turning it over twice.
“I came in there and felt like I cost us any chance of getting back in the game,” Whitworth said, “by throwing an interception and fumbling the ball and not hitting open receivers.”
The snowball started piling from there.
After ESU’s first possession of the second half, Johnny Torres’ punt was blocked by Fletcher Terrell, and Washburn recovered it on the Hornet 17.
Four plays later, Ra’Shawn Mosley scored on a sweep right from three yards out to extend the advantage.
Washburn would score touchdowns on two of its final four possessions, including a last-second score that seemed to summarize the day for ESU.
With just 30 seconds remaining, WU quarterback Brandon Walker faced a fourth-and 10 from the Hornet 28.
Though he had already rushed for 89 yards in part-time duty, Walker saved his best run for last, breaking two tackles and staying on his feet in a 28-yard touchdown run that put the finishing touches on Washburn’s victory.
“We feel horrible for our seniors,” ESU safety Jake Richter said. “We thought we had a good chance coming in here.”
The loss was more stunning considering ESU started about as well as it could have wanted to, forcing a quick Washburn punt and driving 51 yards on the following possession.
Purkeypile found Lucas Sullivan on a screen pass, and the H-back took it 14 yards for a touchdown and 6-0 lead.
Following a Dominic Mirocke holding penalty, Jeff Edwards missed the 30-yard point-after attempt wide right. It was his first missed extra point as a Hornet.
Richter also made a pair of plays to keep ESU in the game.
With the Hornets trailing 7-6 in the second quarter, Richter halted a Washburn drive by intercepting a Beau Wofford pass at the ESU 7-yard-line.
“The receiver waited for me to make my break, and I saw he threw the ball, so I centerfield turned and caught that,” Richter said. “I thought maybe that would get our momentum going the opposite way.”
Richter came up big again on the next possession, intercepting a second Wofford pass — this one on the ESU 6 — to stop another potential score.
Purkeypile’s interception came three possessions later.
Richter added to his all-conference-like season Saturday, recording 18 tackles to go along with his two interceptions.
Last month, he was named Co-National Defensive Player of the Week by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette after recording 20 tackles in a 59-57 four-overtime loss to Pittsburg State.
ESU’s offense never did get on track. The Hornets had just 168 total yards on offense, with 111 of those yards coming on the ground.
Purkeypile and Whitworth combined to go 8-of-25 passing for just 57 yards with two interceptions.
“The offense was terrible today,” Whitworth said. “We couldn’t move the ball at all.”
ESU dropped to 3-6 overall, 2-5 in the MIAA. The Hornets finish their three-game road stretch with a trip to Central Missouri on Saturday before their final home game Nov. 11 against Missouri Southern.
“We’ve got a couple of games we can win,” Wiemers said. “We’ll come in tomorrow and work like we always do. The routine won’t change, and we’ll prepare the best that we can. Really, what else are we going to do?”
tpurk (anonymous) says...
I have been trying to refrain from speaking out over the conceived QB controversy that some select fans and editorial writers have created with their comments, editorials and negective article comments (such as "ESU quarterback Ben Purkeypile dropped back and threw a pass "straight" into the arms of WU’s Zach Watkins", which by the way happens to all QB's if you watch football.). The grumbling in the stands and articles in the paper have done nothing except create a controversy. I hope your proud of yourselves. Ben and Justin have remained good friends throughout all this and Justin (A great kid) continues to help Ben become a better QB. No doubt Justin has had success as a backup. However, the coach named Ben as the starting QB for their team style and strengths, his performances in the spring and fall, and from his extreme hard work and dedication. He will be the future for ESU if he keeps his wits about all this and ignores the fans and editorial writers.
If you recall, Ben was 4 for 4 in his first possession leading to a TD and a leg injury that he sucked up and tried to ignore. The next possession we run the ball and had an incomplete pass and had to punt. The next one we run the ball and complete a pass and had two incomplete making Ben 5 for 8 the first three possessions before some select fans started yelling at the coach to put Justin in. Then Ben comes off the bench after sitting a possession and throws an interception and doesn't play again the rest of the game. We all know the outcome from there. It's hard enough to be splitting time at QB every second or third possession (not allowing the QB's to get comfortable and find their groove), but they have to put up with all the extracurricular activities that go on behind the scences. Why can't you all support your coaches and players without all the negativety and mouth running.
I have not been against Justin playing or even starting. He has performed well most of the time, but I support the coaches and their decisions. I will admit that I don't agree with alternating QB's every second or third possession, but I will support and continue to support the team and Coach Weimers.
October 31, 2006 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blackngold10 (anonymous) says...
tpurk,
Who are you pointing the figure at for the last five losses. The press? It seems to me that this article was pretty accurate, we got our buns beat by our rival. The fact that Ben started great was fantastic, however you can't write an article that gives a play-by-play. Keys to game make the article readable. "Ben threw it straight into his hands", was a lead into a quote that the coach gave. Coach Wiemers, "Ben threw it right to him." That was obivously a critical part of the game. According to the coach again, "That was giant."
The column by the journalist a few days ago concerning starting Whitworth was just that a column. His opinion, with supporting facts, nothing slanderess.
I agree that its not the most pleasant thing in the world to hear fans 'pile on' amateur athletes, but unfortunately it happens when you get to a certain level of athletics.
Just as you voice you opinion about not liking the fact that the coach alternating QB's. Other fans can voice their opinion about that questionable decision, among MANY others.
Lastly I think that all the Hornets' teams have very supportive fans, but when ya get it handed to you by Washburn, grumblings should be expected.
October 31, 2006 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandygreg (anonymous) says...
Why is everyone picking on the quarterbacks? Anyone knows that it takes a team working together to win a game.
The job of the quarterback is to create opportunities for other players to score. From the defense making that tackle or preventing a pass completion to the offense giving the quarterback time to complete a catchable pass or creating a hole for the running back to pick up yards, it takes the team to win a game.
As for the fans yelling negative comments at the coaches and players, poor sportsmanship is not only limited to the players but also includes the fans. A true loyal and supportive fan will watch the game in support of the team and not try to destroy it with yelling in anger. When I am in the stands and hear the negative comments, it makes me sad and angry at the same time. I am not saying that we should not be disapointed in losing a game. No one likes to lose. We just need to show our support in good and bad times.
Obviously, the coaching staff saw something good in Ben to start him as a sophomore over Justin, a senior and more experienced in college football. However, as tpurk mentioned, they are good friends and respect each others abilities. They help each other to improve for the benefit of the team. When one goes in as quarterback, the other one respects the decision of the coaches, knowing that it is for the benefit of the team. They could just as easily be adversaries which would hurt the team. In watching Ben, it is clear to me that with another year of maturity and lessons learned, he will be the best quarterback for the next of his two remaining years of college, providing he is not discouraged from all the negative publicity and finger pointing at one person for the problems of the whole team. However, I know he is not a quitter and will just take it in stride.
Regarding the comments that he had a pass interception at the Washburn game, so did Justin. And Justin also fumbled the ball. Ben's intereception may have turned into a score for the other team but this was early in the game and after Justin came in replacing an injured Ben, the offense was still not able to create the opportunities to turn the team around. Had Ben not got injured and played the rest of the game, who knows what the outcome would have been. The point spread was most certainly smaller the first half compared to the last half when Ben was not playing.
November 1, 2006 at 12:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EsqEB (anonymous) says...
Makes me proud to be an Ichabod!!
November 2, 2006 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lollerskate (anonymous) says...
lol pwnd
November 2, 2006 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )