By Tim CopseyAntwerp – The weather was perfect for Senior night festivities and football as the Antwerp varsity team closed out the home portion of their 2014 schedule here Friday night. The opponent this week was the Sherwood Fairview Apaches and they took home the victory 35-7.
The Senior night recognition was bitter sweet this year as Seniors and Juniors were acknowledged with the announcement of no varsity football schedule in 2015. Senior players Trenton Copsey, Nick Barnhouse, Alex Vail, Jarrett Bute, Jordan Laker and Jacob Patterson were introduced as players that dedicated themselves to the football program. Juniors Justice Clark, Austin Wendt, and Carlos Sanchez were recognized players as well. Cheerleaders, band members, and statisticians were also honored.
The first quarter of the game was a battle of turnovers between the two Green Meadows Conference schools. Antwerp won the toss and received the opening kick- off, only to fumble the ball away. A stout Antwerp defense held the Fairview offense in check and Fairview punted the ball back to the Archers. A firm stand by the Fairview defense led to a Jarrett Bute punt but an aggressive Fairview offense threw the ball into the hands of Archer defender Justice Clark for an interception. Antwerp quickly fumbled again. The Antwerp defense stuck the Apaches again and Fairview punted the ball through the end zone bringing a close to quarter one with no score.
After switching ends of the field the Archer offense came to life as Justice “Juice” Clark busted off a 66 yard run from a Josh Poulson hand-off to put the ball inside the Fairview 5 yard line. A couple plays later Nick Barnhouse scored on a two yard dive and Jarrett Bute tacked on the extra point to put the Archers up 7-0 with 10:13 remaining in the half. The lead was short lived as the Archer defense began to wear down. On a 3rd and long situation, Fairview’s Austin Meyer scampered 43 yards deep into Archer territory. Timmy Timbrook finished off the drive in the end zone and Patrick Voirol added the extra point to tie the score 7-7 with 6:13 until half time. Fairview then picked up momentum as the defense held Antwerp the rest of the quarter and the offense picked up seven more points, just prior to the half expiring, to take the halftime lead 14-7.
The second half was marred with turnovers and penalties. Antwerp logged four more turnovers, with two fumbles and two interceptions, while Fairview logged eight second half penalties. The penalties weren’t enough to slow down the Apache offense as they racked up 21 more points in the half. Antwerp closes out the 2014 season travelling to Haviland to take on Wayne Trace at 7pm Friday.
