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Sports

Football: Plainfield North Falls Short Down the Stretch

Lockport 28, Plainfield North 21: In spite of good performances by QB Kurt Palandech and RB Jay Roberts, little mistakes and a late run by Lockport sink the Tigers

The  Tigers learned plenty about themselves in their final nonconference match against the Lockport Porters on Friday. Some good and some bad. 

Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good in a 28-21 loss.

“They made too many plays and they made them when they needed to," said Tigers coach Tim Kane. "And we tackled poorly on defense."

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The Tigers (1-1) got off to a promising start with a seven-plus minute drive to open the game, leading to a one-yard TD by junior RB Jay Roberts. 

The Porters (2-0) countered with a drive of their own early in the second quarter with their versatile running game. Junior RB Branden Bays scored on a one-yard TD to tie the game up. 

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Tigers QB Kurt Palandech appeared to have the answer with a solid strike down the middle to senior receiver Quest Young when DB Connor Wilson knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble, negating what could have been a 50-60 yard reception by Young. Not long after, Bays scored on a 38-yard run to put the Porters up 14-7 going into halftime.

The Tigers rallied to start the second half after linebacker Collin Holt recovered a fumble deep in Porters’ territory on the opening kickoff. The Tigers eventually would score on a two-yard run by Roberts, his second TD of the night. The Tigers, however, missed the point after. 

The Porters immediately struck back with a 36-yard run by Mike Haldemann. Haldemann made a brilliant cutback move on the defense to score the TD, putting the Porters up 21-13. 

Palandech went on two straight scrambles for 14 and 10, respectively, on long and third- and fourth-down plays to put the Tigers within two. A two-point conversion pass to receiver Matt Fenza tied the game at 21.

“It felt good,” Palandech said. “And it felt like momentum was on our side, the way we were able to hit back.” 

Unfortunately, the Tigers ran out of gas in the fourth as the Porters’ blitz packages on defense and their running game on offense wore them down. RB Rich Galvan put the Porters up 28-21 midway through the fourth with a 2-yard run and the Tigers were unable to respond.

“Obviously, we would like to have a few offensive possessions back,” Palandech said. 

Palandech had a solid game, going 9-for-18 with 168 yards passing and one interception. He was solid on the ground, as well, with 45 rushing yards. Roberts was solid on the ground with 88 yards running, 76 yards receiving on three receptions and two touchdowns. 

The Tigers begin conference play Sept. 9 on the road against . The Porters also open conference play Sept. 9 with a road game against Lincoln-Way East.

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