Varsity Football

OC vs. Union County – OC faced their first region opponent Friday against the Union County Panthers.  Both teams were pretty even in abilities but the Patriots drew the short straw in this game losing by a touchdown 21-14.

Kendrick Presley take the snap from Peyton Carlisle.

        Throughout the first half each team matched the other’s score.  OC scored first and the Panthers answered.  However, the key moment of the game would be a 4^th down and goal to go on the Union Co 5 for the Patriots.



 Every time OC found themselves in a 4^th down situation inside the 30, when a field goal might make more sense, head coach Larry Milligan would take the chance and go for it.  And why not, in games past the Patriots would pull a rabbit out of the hat, gaining the necessary yards for a first down or score a touchdown.  Earlier, in the second quarter, OC found themselves 4^th and long when they gained the necessary yardage for a first down, and eventually scored.

  Union County had scored on a long drive gaining the lead by a touchdown 21-14.  OC took the kickoff and started their drive towards the end of the third quarter.  Once, the drive seemed to stall when the Patriots drew the Panthers offside with a staggered snap count.  On another occasion with 4^th and long, the Patriots drew Union offside again reducing the distance to a first down in half with the five yard penalty.  On the subsequent play OC gained enough yardage for a first down.

Anthony Thornton

But OC went go to the 4^th down well one too many times.  The Patriots found themselves 4^th and goal on about the 4 yard line.  QB Kendrick Presley pitched to running back Anthony Thornton who was stopped short by the Panther defense thus turning the ball over on downs.  By the time OC got the ball back the Patriots were out of time and timeouts. 

OC opened the scoring with a short 5 yard run by Presley at 5:22 in the first quarter after a nice, clock eating drive.  Presley faked a handoff to Thornton and found an open lane to the end zone off tackle.  Griffin Giles’ PAT was good putting OC up 7-0.

OC cheerleaders looking for a touchdown.

Not to be out done, Union Co. put together a good drive themselves eating up the remaining 1^st quarter clock and scored their first touchdown of the game with 35 seconds left.  The PAT was good and the quarter ended 7-7.

In the second quarter OC would once again score first.  OC’s drive would feature a pass to Anthony Thornton for a first down bringing the ball to the Panther 24 for a first down.  A personal foul penalty against the Panthers would move the ball further down field for OC to the 15 yard line.  Presley would move the ball to the 6, which set up a handoff to Andrew Williams for the touchdown on the next play.  Giles’ PAT was good and at 7:22 the Patriots were ahead 14-3. 

On the kickoff the Panther receiver picked up Giles’ kick stepping out of bounds at the Panther 10.  The Panthers engineered a drive that used almost all of the remaining 2^nd quarter clock answering OC’s touchdown with just 1:42 remaining.  Both teams went into the locker room tied 14-14.

Kenneth Cinereski

The third quarter opened with OC kicking off to Union.  Union’s first drive came to a sudden stop when Williams intercepted a Panther pass for OC.  The Patriots couldn’t capitalize on their good fortune and had to punt the ball.  The Panthers second drive of the game was successful when, at the 4:58 mark, they put the ball in the end zone making the score 21-14 Union Co. 

OC started their drive but it was stopped when Presley threw an interception with 2:44 left in the quarter.  OC would threaten once more in the 4^th quarter but would fall short on a 4^th down conversion. 

OC would also suffer serious losses in the form of injured players.  Taylor Liedberg broke a rib and had to leave the game.  Tanner Bowman was injured in the eye in the second quarter and had to leave the game.  In the fourth quarter, Andrew Williams hurt his knee and had to leave the game as well.  Please remember these players in your prayers.

OC travels to Social Circle (0-5 overall, 0-2 region) next Friday for their second region game. 

You can see all the pictures here:  http://hdgp.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8703639