Rockets end on a down note
HARVARD Eliminated from postseason contention and squaring off against a playoff-bound team, Burlington Central was just hoping to end its season on a positive note Friday night at Harvard.
However, the Hornets showed why they will be playing ball next week as they downed the Rockets 27-7.
Central (3-6, 2-3 Big Northern Conference East Division) fell into a deep first-half hole and simply couldn't bounce back.
The Hornets (7-2, 4-1) scored three times and forced three Rockets turnovers in the first two quarters. When Central was able to hold onto the ball, it could not move it. The Rockets didn't record a first down until the closing seconds of the second quarter.
Hornets running back Vince Gabrys ran roughshod over the Rockets defense for 146 yards on 19 carries, 143 of which came in the pivotal first half. He got the scoring started with a 59-yard run with 8:48 left in the first quarter.
Following a fumble by Central's Tre Llanes, Harvard's Andrew Kick found the end zone on a 2-yard plunge to put the Hornets up 14-0 at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter.
"It's been the story of our season," said Central coach Aaron Wichman. "We lose the turnover battle and teams get up on us and we have to spend all that energy to try and climb back in."
After Kick's run, the Rockets went three-and-out, and on the Hornets next possession, quarterback Zach Fiegel found Kick in the flat for a short pass that Kick took up the sideline and into the end zone from 35 yards out.
The Rockets appeared to shake off the rust during the break, as quarterback Tim Maroder ran off-tackle to his right for 36 yards on the first play of the second half. Maroder later kept the drive alive by hitting Roberto Cardenas with a nine-yard pass on fourth-and-6. Maroder scored on a 1-yard run three plays later.
"I think we executed well (on the drive)," Wichman said. "We talked to them at halftime and we made a few minor adjustments, and I give Tim a lot of credit. He wanted end this on a high note, but we could only get that one score."
Following Maroder's score, the Rockets only got the ball three more times, only amassing two three-and-outs and a turnover on downs.
Harvard's Cody Melson scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the contest to provide the winning margin.
"We had that good drive," Maroder said. "But then we were on defense entirely too long and it slowed us down. But I'm pretty proud of all the guys tonight. We didn't give up."
Maroder ended his night 5-of-12 passing for 34 yards and was also the Rockets' leading rusher, piling up 61 yards on 14 carries. Llanes had trouble finding running lanes all night, finishing with 30 yards on seven carries.
"Looking back on the season, I would definitely have liked to be in a different situation with the playoffs," said Maroder, who celebrated his 17th birthday Friday night. "I think, seeing what we did this year, as far as not finishing when we had the chance to, I think that'll make us stronger for next year, so I'm pretty excited for next year."
HARVARD 27, BURLINGTON CENTRAL 7
Burlington Central 0 0 7 0 7
Harvard 14 7 0 6 27
HARV Gabrys 59 run (Gonzalez kick), 8:48
HARV Kick 2 run (Gonzalez kick), 4:27
HARV Kick 35 pass from Fiegel (Gonzalez kick), 5:10
BC Maroder 1 run (Vincent kick), 6:38
HARV Melson 9 run (kick failed), 4:56
Team statistics BC HARV
First downs 5 20
Comp.-att-int. 5-12-2 4-11-0
Passing yards 34 64
Rushing-att-yds. 42-379 28-182
Total yards 105 294
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-50 1-10
Individual statistics
Rushing
BC Maroder 14-61, Llanes 7-30, Westergaard7-17, Kellenberger 1-0.
HARV Gabrys 19-146, Kick 23-83, Melson 5-45, Smith 2-10, Clark 3-10, Fuller 1-0, Carranza 1-0.
Passing
BC Maroder 5-12-2, 34.
HARV Fiegel 4-11-0, 64.
Receiving
BC Cardenas 1-9, Kellenberger 1-8, Westergaard 1-8, Llanes 1-4, Coffland 1-5.
HARV Kick 2-46, Koester 1-10, Melson 1-9.
