October 5, 2002 12:45 AM
Panthers boot Rocky
from unbeaten ranksBy Bill Barton, Staff
Sports writer
Surely, it seemed, it was only a matter of time before the Rock Island football team
would run past United Township.
But when UT junior Wade Adamson kicked a 26-yard field goal as time expired, the Rocks
were out of time and the hosting Panthers had pulled off the season's most unlikely upset,
taking down the Rocks 9-7.
UT won its first Western Big 6 Conference game of the season to improve to 1-2 and 3-3
overall.
The Rocks, ranked No. 4 in the IHSA Class 7A polls, had steamrolled their opponents
this season, outscoring them a combined 192 to 26. UT, meanwhile, had struggled, losing
its last three games, two of which came against Alleman and Galesburg.
During a week in which UT coach Mark Kaczmarek said he ``was fighting to keep the
wheels from falling off,'' the conditions didn't seem right for an upset. However, an
inspired UT stunned the Rocks.
The win snapped a three game losing streak for the Panthers. Ironically, in 1991, the
last time UT lost three straight games, the Panthers broke their losing skid by beating
Rocky.
Rock Island dropped to 5-1, 2-1 in the WB6. The loss also left Rock Island coach Vic
Boblett one game short of his 100th win at Rocky.
``All week we preached making the big play at the right time,'' said Kaczmarek. ``We've
been in a position to win our games this season, but we didn't make the plays when we
needed to. Tonight we made the plays.''
UT made the plays and got a big break from Rocky. Holding a 7-6 lead to start the
fourth quarter, Rock Island had the ball on the UT 4-yard line. On a bobbled exchange from
Rocky quaterback Chase Stephens to running back Calvin Krakilow, UT's Tim Hernandez dove
on the loose ball, giving the Panthers new life.
UT was forced to punt, but held Rocky on its next drive. Rock Island punter Jason Reda
punted the ball to the UT 8-yard line, forcing the Panthers to drive the length of the
field with less than five minutes in the game.
Behind the determined rushing attack of Darian Williams and Brandon Pirmann, UT marched
down the field in 18 plays, setting up the Adamson field goal.
``We made way too many mistakes against a team that was playing inspired football,''
said Boblett. ``We acted like a team that could just walk on the field and win. The better
team won. We got outplayed in every phase of the game.''
The Panthers didn't so much as sneak up on the Rocks. They simply outplayed them. Rock
Island had limited it opponents to an average of 62 rushing yards a game. UT rushed for
243 yards, led by Williams' 159 yards. Pirmann added 81 yards.
With their rushing game clicking, the Panthers controlled the pace of play. Three
minutes into the second quarter, Rocky had taken just eight offensive snaps, compared to
UT's 25 plays.
UT held a 6-0 halftime lead after Pat Larmore hit Troy Cogdill in the back of the
endzone for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
In its five wins, Rock Island averaged 270 rushing yards a game. The Panthers limited
the Rocks to just 155 yards on the ground. Rocky's longest play from scrimmage was Dillon
Smith's 16-yard run.
Rocky's lone score came on a 1-yard dive by John Saldana in the third quarter.
``We finally played up to our potential,'' said Pirmann. ``We're competitors and we
wanted this game.''
When Adamson's kick sailed true as the final horn sounded, UT's fans stormed the field.
It was only the Panthers' third win over Rock Island in the last 11 years.
``I thought our guys were flat and I sensed that in the locker room,'' said Boblett.
``Our guys thought they were coming to a party. They came to a party all right.''
It was just UT's.
-- RI sophs roll: Rock Island's Alex Stickel caught a short pass from
quarterback Jacob Markum, scoring from 16 yards out late in the fourth quarter for the
game-winning score in Rocky's 21-14 victory. Trailing 14-7 at halftime, UT recovered a
fumble on the second-half kickoff. Three plays later UT sophomore Zac Wilken ran 10 yards
for a TD to tie the game. Wilken also scored UT's first TD on a 6-yard run. Radelle Taylor
paced the Rocks, scoring on runs of 78 and 8 yards.
Copyright 2001, Moline Dispatch
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