Tornadoes get past Bobcats, 25-16

Published 11:41 pm Saturday, September 26, 2009

FRANKLIN FURNACE — As Keith Jackson would bellow, “Fummmbllllle!”

Wet field conditions due to rain led to five fumbles — three by Green — and played a key role in the Racine Southern Tornadoes 25-16 win over the Bobcats Friday.

After Southern (3-2) drove to start the game and grab a 6-0 lead on a 2-yard run by quarterback Dustin Salzer, the Bobcats fumbled the ball on their first play and Southern recovered.

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Six plays later Greg Jenkins ran for the touchdown from 4 yards out and the lead was 12-0.

Green (2-3) answered with a 40-yard scoring burst by Tyler Hughes and cut the deficit to 12-6.

A bad snap on a punt sailed out of the end zone and gave Green a safety that cut the Southern lead to 12-8.

The Tornadoes (3-2) put together a scoring drive late in the half with Sean Coppick getting a 2-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds on the clock. Michael Manuel’s conversion kick pushed the lead to 19-8.

Green had a 30-yard, 16-play drive to begin the second half capped by Chad Lewis’ 2-yard run. The Bobcats’ faked the conversion and Hughes hit Lewis with a pass to make it a 19-16 game.

But Jenkins proved to be another key factor in the outcome. Jenkins broke loose on a 78-yard scoring run with 8:07 to play and it was now 25-16.

The Tornadoes had another potential scoring drive halted by a fumble.

Jenkins finished the game with 164 yards on 21 carries.

Southern had 317 yards rushing and 83 passing for 400 total yards.

Green was led by Hughes who ran 15 times for 68 yards. The Bobcats had 98 total yards, all on the ground.

Southern 12 7 0 6 = 25

Green 8 0 8 0 = 16

First Quarter

RS — Dustin Salser 2 run (kick failed) 8:43

RS — Greg Jenkins 4 run (pass failed) 5:28

Gr — Tyler Hughes 40 run (kick failed) 2:51

Gr — Safety

Second Quarter

RS — Sean Coppick 2 run (Michael Manuel kick) 0:20

Third Quarter

Gr — Chad Lewis 2 run (Chad Lewis pass from Tyler Hughes) 1:15

Fourth Quarter

RS — Greg Jenkins 78 run (kick failed) 8:07

——

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Southern: Greg Jenkins 21-164, Sean Coppick 18-87, Eric Buzzard 4-43, Michael Manuel 2-15, Dustin Salser 4-8. Green: Tyler Hughes 15-68, Chad Lewis 11-21, Cody Bruce 6-7, Mike Avery 3-2.

PASSING—Southern: Dustin Salser 3-3-0 83, Michael Manuel 0-1-0 0. Green: Tyler Hughes 0-4-0 0, Cody Bruce 0-1-0 0.

RECEIVING — Southern: Manuel 1-68, Buzzard 2-15. Green: none.