Tigers get homecoming win over Warner Monarchs

The Ipswich football team avenged its losses last season vs. Warner with a convincing 34-6 win over the Monarchs that would certainly cap off the Tigers' Gala Day festivities.

The visitors' lone score would come late in the second quarter, a Peyton Jung six-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Cramer. That lone scoring opportunity had been enabled by a Tiger fumble. But Ipswich would still lead 20-6 at the half and would need to fend off the Monarchs early in the second half when another Warner score would have pulled the Monarchs back to within one possession. But the Tigers' defense said no way that was going to happen and quickly forced a Warner punt. And you know the rest of the story!

"The kids played well defensively all game long," said Coach Brian Hogie.

For one thing, the last time Ipswich was able to obtain a win over its Warner rivals would be way back in 2008.

This year Ipswich signaled its intentions early capping its initial drive with a 14-yard TD pass from Ian Beyers to Carson Gohl, but the conversion attempt failed, leaving the Tigers ahead 6-0 at the 6:48 mark of the opening quarter.

Ipswich added a pair of successful TD drives in the second quarter before that visitors' TD. Gohl had a six-yard TD carry and Tyler Hettich added the PAT run at the 9:19 mark of the second quarter. Then Ipswich would go up 20-0 with an 8-yard pass play from Ian Beyers to Carter Geditz, but the PAT play failed.

Ipswich would indeed tack on a third-quarter insurance touchdown drive, capped by Tyler Hettich's 27-yard run and a Luke Peterson conversion carry. The Tigers would then score their final touchdown in the fourth quarter -- an Ian Beyers keeper of four yards with 2:09 left on the scoreboard clock.

"That stop early in the second half was huge for our momentum and confidence," Hogie said.

The Tigers would again control the line of scrimmage for the most part on both sides of the ball, both offensively and defensively. And Ipswich featured more than one weapon in its offensive and defensive arsenals.

The Tigers would hold the Monarchs to 30 net rushing yards on 18 carries, but the visitors were a little more efficient through the air on a 14-29-2 evening that netted 106 yards. Ipswich countered with 203 rushing yards on 38 carries in a balanced effort led by Hettich with seven carries for 65 yards, followed by Luke Peterson at 11-46 and Gohl, 12-60. Ian Beyers kept for 32 yards.

The Tigers passed for 157 more yards on an 8-15-0 evening from Ian Beyers for 126 yards. Kadlec added one pass completion for 31 yards. Carter Geditz finished with three catches for 63 yards and Gohl, three receptions for 40 yards. Kadlec caught two passes for 42 yards.

Ipswich would earn 10 first downs that evening.

Defensively, Ian Beyers and Ty Kadlec each unofficially obtained nine tackles, followed by Hettich with seven.

Ipswich improved to 4-0 with the win and will next face unbeaten Herreid/Selby Area at Northern State University's new on-campus stadium at 7 p.m. on Friday.