Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Indians

Sacred Heart's chance of winning foiled by turnovers

  • Riley Haas (5) defends a pass in the first quarter. The pass fell incomplete. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Riley Haas (5) defends a pass in the first quarter. The pass fell incomplete. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Indian quarterback Andrew Steffek (12) falls short of the goal line in the second quarter. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Indian quarterback Andrew Steffek (12) falls short of the goal line in the second quarter. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Josh Terry (44) tackles Lion quarterback Cooper Smith (12). Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Josh Terry (44) tackles Lion quarterback Cooper Smith (12). Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald

    GIDDINGS – There was no way Sacred Heart coach Alex Seydler ever envisioned his Indians turning the ball over five times in a game.

    Temple South Central Academy used the Indians’ miscues to take a 52-6 verdict over the Indians in a TAPPS Division IV playoff game at Buffalo Stadium Friday night.

    The Indians were four for 10 on third down and the Lions 6 for 10.

    The Lions had 374 yards total offense - 288 rushing and 86 passing to the Indians’ 147 yards total offense.

    Halfback Austin Evans rushed for 135 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Lions.

    The Tribe had a chance to make a game of it just before intermission.

    Trailing 17-0, the Lions used a goal line stand to keep SH out of the end zone and then proceeded to drive 96 yards in 14 plays for a 24-0 halftime advantage.

    The Indians got off on the wrong foot when Evan Allerkamp returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown for a 7-0 Lion lead.

    With 1:11 left in the first quarter, the Lions scored with a little bit of trickery on a hook and lateral play that covered 32 yards to increase the lead to 17-0.

    With 50 seconds to play in the second period, Evans scored on a 3-yard run to make the score 24-0 at the half.

    The Indians were still in the game, but Central Texas Christian marched 55 yards in six plays with the score coming on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Cooper Smith to Rhett Humphery and the score was 31-0 with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter

    After an Indian turnover, Evans scored on an 18-yard run.

    Another Indian miscue led to a Humphery 1-yard run.

    SH scored its touchdown with 52 seconds to go in the fourth period on a 4-yard run by halfback Kellen Mechura to cap a 59-yard, 10-play drive.