Alter shuts out CJ in Week 10 rivalry game
By Mickey Shuey (Photo by Ben Jackson)
Northmont’s Good Samaritan Stadium was buzzing with anticipation on Friday night over a game that would decide the GCL North Champion. With faces aglow, the Alter Knights and CJ Eagles took the field, prepared for the daunting task before them.
After returning a Mitchell Haber opening kickoff to their own 31-yard line, CJ’s offense took the field. Under the guidance of quarterback Mike Simpson, the Eagles looked to make something happen early. Unfortunately the Alter defense found its swagger early, as the Knights forced a three and out on the game’s opening drive.
Ground oriented Alter would make a statement soon thereafter. Senior Cody Taulbee broke free for a 27-yard touchdown, capping an 8-play 55-yard drive with 6:49 left in the first quarter. The score was Taulbee’s 12th of the season. Combined with a stingy defensive attack, the Alter Knights would look to make more big plays.
About midway through the second quarter, Justin Winters punched in a score from a yard out. Winters, a junior, believes that there is more to the Alter-CJ game than the stats show.
“It’s great to just be able to come out against [CJ] our biggest rival and play as a team for one last time before the playoffs.” Winters said. “We have played as a team for the past forty-some years and to be able to be part of that is just a great blessing.”
Winters wasn’t alone in making some big plays. Several other juniors stepped up on both sides of the ball. Among them, TJ Dorow, a defensive back made some key tackles and knockdowns at some crucial moments.
“There was a lot of passion in this game because it is such a big game; you could feel [the passion] on both sides of the ball,” Dorrow said. “Overall our defense really stepped up and played one of our best games if not, the best game we have played all year. As a junior, I felt some extra pressure not to mess up because the seniors did not want to lose this game. Overall I felt I played very well and that I did not disappoint the seniors as they walked off the field Friday night.”
Early in the fourth quarter, the game was sealed by a 22-yard connection from Zane Pitzer to Connor Cummins. The touchdown pass, which was the first for Pitzer all season, nailed the coffin shut at 21-0. Before the game, Cummins remarked that catching passes has more pressure this season because of their rarity. Against CJ, the senior wide out caught every ball thrown his way; including one that was later fumbled and recovered by the Eagles.
In the end, the game ball went to Taulbee, who, along with rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown, made a great catch that resulted in a 32 yard gain for the Knights. The senior’s yardage accounted for a good portion of the 154 yards on the ground the team had overall. This number bettered the 23 CJ had on the night.
Eagles coach Andy Helms believes his team played a game much better than what the score shows.
“Our program focuses on having our kids be a great teammate to fellow players,” helms said. “All our guys show that they play hard, they practice hard, and I think that a lot of people, despite the score, will be able to see that from this game.”
The regular season is over for both teams; now both have the opportunity to continue with their great success in the playoffs. While Alter won this game 21-0, the game was indeed a battle of defense; and both teams showed up to play.
And as an Alter football fan, I personally consider this to be a testament to the great rivalry that has developed over the years. Alter may lead the series, but both teams win, in some way or another from being part of this great match-up.
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