Kettering Alter vs. Ashland
Game Three
September 5, 2008
The Mighty Alter Knights loaded up the buses and took their game up to the
D-II Region 6 defending champions Ashland Arrows for game three. Though Ashland has a very long and storied football program of over 100 seasons,
this would be their first attempt to take on the Kettering Archbishop Alter Knights.
On this night, the attack made by the Arrows came up well short of the firepower brought to the gridiron by the Knights. Danny Jasper’s foot, the powerful running
and laser accurate passing of the Knight offense, and the brutal onslaught of
Tommy’s Guns on defense demonstrated to northeastern Ohio what they have in
store once the playoffs begin.
Alter opened the game with the first of five consecutive non-returnable kick-offs into the end zone by senior PK #7 Danny Jasper. During their very first series, the young Arrow QB attempted a pass that was intercepted by #2 senior DB Matt Pirrello and returned over 50 yards for the game’s first score. Led by the DE tandem of #1 junior John Doncaster and #49 senior Philip Sowar, the Knights forced the Arrows to punt on their second possession. The Knight offense responded quickly with the first of two TD passes from senior QB #9 Austin Boucher to #11 senior TE Eric Place. The Arrows were stunned, however the demolition had just begun.
On the Arrows third possession, Sowar again got a TFL, this time a sack forcing Ashland to punt. The elusive senior DL #45 David Cassella promptly blocked the punt and it was recovered by none other than Philip Sowar, who took it down to the 5 yard line. After a couple misfires on offense, Jasper then kicked his first field goal of 2008. The first quarter ended with the Knights fully in charge with a 17-0 lead.
The second quarter featured the defense increasing their dominance over the Arrows with Cassella and senior LB/SS #4 Chris Borland leading the way. On offense, junior RB #42 Cody Taulbee put together a series of nice runs, Borland also ran for a TD and the pin-point accuracy of the air attack ended this time with a TD pass from Boucher
to #81 junior WR Connor Cummins.
Alter got the opening second half kick off and after some great running by Taulbee and a great catch by Borland, Boucher took a keeper into the end zone. Alter then showed Ashland what they could expect when they needed to return a KO when #10 junior LB Tom Armstrong unloaded an awesome hit on the return man. By this time, Ashland knew they would need to pass to stay in the game. Tommy’s Guns responded with an arsenal of strong defensive penetration and TFL by Sowar and Cassella and some incredible DB coverage. Alter's offense responded in kind with the second TD pass from Boucher to Place.
The fourth quarter mainly featured the talents of upcoming Alter players such as junior DE #17 Zach Brand, sophomore QB #13 Zane Pitzer, and sophomore RB #26 Matt Hurtubise. Hurtubise, while supposedly with a stress fracture in his leg, flew by the Ashland defenders for a 53 yard TD run, proving there is not a single player on this 2008 team who, when given the opportunity to play, will give nothing but 110% effort each and every play.
Alter wins in a route, 51- 14
One game at a time. Three down, seven to go.
Knights now
3 - 0
The Alter Knights travel to victory Final Score
Alter 51
Ashland 14
