Bobcats celebrate senior night in style

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA
Oct. 11, 2002

CHAD HANNAN

Staff Writer

The Iowa School for the Deaf celebrated senior night with a 46-28 win over the Thomas Jefferson junior varsity in eight-man football Thursday afternoon at Iowa Deaf, the Bobcats' first win over the Jackets in four years.

ronically, it was a freshman that got things started for ISD, as halfback Eric Humlicek sprinted in from 29-yards out and the two-point conversion put the Bobcats up 8-0.

"Our freshman played outstanding," ISD coach Mark Murray said. "We played real well on both sides of the ball."

After a botched punt attempt, the Bobcats took to the air as junior quarterback Moises Arteaga capped off a 35-yard drive by connecting with Scott Tinkham on a 1-yard pass for a 14-0 advantage.

Daniel Lewis stopped a T.J. drive by recovering a fumble at the ISD nine-yard line. After a 15-yard run by Arteaga and two long runs by Tinkham, Arteaga lunged over the goal line to put the Bobcats up 20-0.

T.J. finally got on the board on a 25-yard pass from Derek Townsend to Dane Christenson, but the conversion failed and brought the score to 20-6.

Following the kickoff, Humlicek broke free for a 50-yard run setting up an Edlin Dorn score the next play, making the score 26-6 with 44 seconds to go in the half.

Townsend wasn't done yet though, as he connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass with Corey Leslie and the Bobcats took a 26-14 lead into the half.

The first half wasn't all good for ISD, as junior quarterback Arteaga went down with severe lower back pain following a Yellow Jacket hit.

Josh Scherling, Arteaga's replacement showed cool nerves as he marched his team down the field and scored on a 1-yard keeper and then punched in the conversion.

"Josh Scherling played his best game as a Bobcat today," Murray added. "He wasn't expecting to play too much quarterback today, but he stepped in and played really smart and was very calm, he did a great job today."

David Arteaga scored on a 28-yard jaunt and Tinkham finished off his home football career by running in on a 41-yard scramble late in the fourth.

Townsend kept the Jackets going, connecting on a three-yard pass to Mark Corrill and hooking up with Mark Pruitt on a six-yard touchdown toss.

Joel Benzinger rambled in the conversion to cap the scoring.

Humlicek, who started his first game at I-Back after making the switch at halftime in last Saturday's win, rushed 18 times for 178 yards and a touchdown, while Tinkham finished with 128 yards on 13 carries and three touchdown.

Freshman Jordan Borgalia finished with 20 tackles to lead the Bobcats on defense.

"We would like to thank the T.J. coaches and staff for coming over and playing (against) us, it was great to get in a game with them today," Murray said.

The Bobcats are off until next Saturday when they will travel to North Platte, Neb. for a game with the Colorado School for the Deaf.

Thomas Jefferson JV 0 14 0 14 ? 28

Iowa Deaf 14 12 14 6 ? 46

Records: Thomas Jefferson JV (na), Iowa Deaf (3-2).

©2002 The Daily Nonpareil. All rights reserved.