Northern Heights remains winless
Jimmy Kegin
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Still searching for that elusive first win of the year, the Northern Heights Wildcats held their home opener Friday night, playing host to the West Elk Patriots, only to see the taste of victory slip away once again.
Now reeling from a three-game losing skid to start the 2006 season, Northern Heights fell 26-13 to West Elk in a game filled with inconsistency from the Wildcats and big plays from the Patriots.
Heights head coach Greg French is finding it more difficult each week to put a finger on his team’s troubles. After experiencing both ends of the spectrum with a blowout loss to Olpe and a heartbreaker to Lyndon, Friday night’s defeat was just as troublesome to French.
“The thing that frustrates me is we have the potential,” French said. “And at times we show our potential, but we just don’t have the consistency. It’s just a combination of a lot of things.”
Northern Heights appeared to capitalize on its potential in the nip-and-tuck first half of action. A scoreless first quarter was a battle of both defensive stinginess and stubborn field position as the Wildcats held the balanced Patriots attack at bay.
The Wildcats were able to put the first points on the board shortly after recovering a Patriot fumble on the 38-yard-line of West Elk. Seven plays later, Wildcat senior running back Derek Jackson plowed into the end zone for the touchdown.
West Elk responded with a touchdown drive of its own before the half but failed to convert a two-point conversion, leaving the score at 7-6 at the break.
However, a half of promise turned into a third quarter nightmare.
West Elk took just two plays on its opening possession of the second half to find the end zone again after quarterback C.J. Madison hooked up with receiver Sonny Lee for a 61-yard score.
Minutes later, after West Elk’s defense stiffened, Madison called his own number, scoring from two yards out on a quarterback sneak.
The Wildcats’ offense, suddenly unable to get even a first down, could only watch helplessly as Madison marched his Patriots down to score again on the Northern Heights defense.
“We’ve just got to try and get better and keep working on the mistakes we’re making,” French said. “The biggest thing is just consistency. We get a drive going, and then we have some mental errors and mistakes. A game of football is 48 minutes of being consistent, being mentally tough and physically tough. We’re lacking a little bit of all three right now.”
Wildcats senior quarterback Jake Weakley shared in his coaches frustrations after the disappointing showing.
“I think we need to practice hard, every day, like it’s a game,” Weakley said. “You play as you practice. We haven’t been practicing as hard as we can, and that’s why we haven’t been winning games.”
Weakley was able to break through for a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to receiver Levi Hizar with just 1:13 left on the clock.
West Elk coach Chris Haag was just happy to get a victory for his team. Before Friday night, the Patriots (1-2) were also without a victory.
“It just feels good,” Haag said. “Maybe we can get some momentum from this.”