November 5, 2009
Beavers pound out 38-0 win over Chiefs
By Aaric Bryan
Valley Journal
DILLON — The Ronan Chiefs had to wait 16 years to play a playoff game. They'll have to wait at least one more year to score a postseason touchdown.
On a windswept field in Dillon Saturday, the Beavers, a perennial Class A powerhouse, shut down the Chiefs' running game and capitalized on Ronan mistakes to run away with a 38-0 victory and end an historic season for the Chiefs.
Playing in their first playoff game since 1993, the Chiefs were constantly going up against a nine-man front and their run game never could gain any traction. Averaging 330 rushing yards a game entering Saturday's contest, the Chiefs were held to 63 yards on 40 carries – an average of 1.6 yards a carry, which is more than 4 yards less than their season average.
"They put nine guys on the line of scrimmage to stop the run and we couldn't throw the ball, at least not as effectively to where we could run the ball," Ronan coach Jim Benn said.
Ronan quarterback Jackson Jore completed five of his 11 passes for 63 yards and was picked off once. Senior Matt Detwiler led the Chiefs with two receptions for 30 yards.
"We didn't capitalize on opportunities early in the game. Then we started making mistakes. When you start making mistakes against a perennial playoff team like Dillon it can roll on you pretty quickly," Benn said.
On their first possession, the Chiefs were threatening to score, but on a fourth-and-goal with a receiver wide open in the end zone on a play-action pass, the ball fell to the ground and the Chiefs went away emptyhanded.
Trailing 17-0 at halftime, Ronan had a great chance to switch the momentum after recovering a Dillon fumble on the second play of the third quarter. The Chiefs covered the ball at the Dillon 22-yard-line and Jore completed a 21-yard pass to Detwiler to take the ball down to the Beavers' goal line, but fumbled the ball away at the 1-yard line on the next play.
The Chiefs have been plagued by turnovers all season and Saturday was no different. The Chiefs turned the ball over four times against the Beavers.
Down 17-0 in the third quarter, the Chiefs still had a chance to make it a game, but another fumble and a 30-yard return for a touchdown by Dillon, was pretty much the nail in the coffin for the Chiefs.
"The kids played as hard as they could, we just made too many mistakes," Benn said.
The Chief defense was well prepared and did a great job, they were just called upon too many times against a well-coached team, Benn said.
The Chiefs held the Beavers to 140 yards on 43 carries and shut down the dangerous Dillon passing game. Dillon quarterback J.T. Linder only completed nine of his 17 passes for 86 yards and was picked off twice.
The loss was a disappointing way for the Chiefs (5-5) to end their season, but it can't diminish what they accomplished.
"I think it was a positive step in the right direction and a taste of things to come ... Our kids aren't satisfied, they want more than that. They expect to get back and win," Benn said. "I'm really proud of them," he added.
Summary
Dillon 38, Ronan 0
Ronan 0 0 0 0 – 0
Dillon 0 17 21 0 – 38
D - Torrey Vezina sacks Jackson Jore in end zone
D - Pete Walde 5 pass from J.T. Linder (Linder run)
D - Linder 1 run (Trevor Rehm kick)
D - Garrett Banning 30 fumble return (Rehm kick)
D - Toby Shepard 5 run (Rehm kick)
D - Hunter Johnson 9 pass from Linder (Rehm kick) |
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