Hartford Indian Football 2011

Varsity Indians Suffer Tough 28-21 Playoff Loss at Constantine, Finish Season 6-4

By Web Staff
October 29, 2011

Hartford	7	0	7	7	21
Constantine	7	7	7	7	28

STAT LEADERS:

Rushing: Mireles, Hartford, 205 Yards

Passing: Traver, Hartford, 79 Yards

Tackles: Two Tied with 15 Tackles

   They say a battle in the trenches is just that. A battle. The game Saturday in Constantine was just that.
   Unfortunately, the Indians came out on the losing end.
   Despite hanging in all day long, costly turnovers and a costly fumble on a third down near the goal line late in the game did in the Indians 2011 season, as they fell at Constantine, 28-21, last Saturday afternoon.
   The first quarter was a battle, as both teams gained seven points on the scoreboard.
   Hartford struck first. After stopping Constantine on three-and-out, the Indians struck with the feet of David Mireles, who took the ball 46 yards on the second play of the game for the Indians score. Juan Perez added the extra point, and the Indians led 7-0 early.
   Constantine struck next for points in the game. After Hartford held them on a three-and-out, senior Ben Barber picked off the Luke Traver pass and took it back to the Indian eleven yard line. Three plays later, it was Payton White scoring for the Falcons on a two yard run. Nick Dimos added the extra point kick and it was 7-7 after one quarter of play.
   The difference in the game was the second quarter, as Constantine outscored Hartford 7-0, off of two more Hartford mistakes.
   The Falcons scored on their own on the first drive of the quarter. After a big pass play from Constantine quarterback Tom Reed to Brandon Edwards, Constantine needed all four plays near the goal line to score. On fourth down, Reed scored on a line surge, going one yard for the score. Nick Dimos added the extra point for the halftime lead of 14-7 for the Falcons.
   Two key Indians mistakes came about in the second quarter. Both were interceptions. The first on third-and-seven, when Luke Traver ran past the line of scrimmage, which is a penalty. Unfortunately, the Falcons picked him off. They did not score, neither on the second interception near the end of the half, on a half-back pass from Gareth MacMillan to Sergio Perez, which could have been ruled dual possession, but was ruled an interception.
   The third saw both teams score, evening the playing field at seven a piece in the quarter.
   The Falcons struck first in the quarter. After an onside kick hit a Hartford player and was recovered by the Falcons in Indian territory. From there, it took them about five plays until Ben Mallo took the handoff ten yards, dragging two Indian tacklers into the end zone, for the touchdown. Nick Dimos added the extra point and the Falcons had their biggest lead at 21-7.
   But Hartford came right back just a minute later, when David Mireles broke off another huge run, going 69 yards for the Indians score. Juan Perez added the extra point and the game was then 21-14.
   The rest of the third was defense dominated. Hartford put a good drive together, getting the ball to midfield late in the third, but the Constantine defense stymied any hopes right there and the Indians were forced to punt.
   The fourth quarter saw seven points each, and Constantine put an end to the threat late, to secure the win.
   Constantine struck in the first three minutes of the quarter, as Tom Reed faked three handoffs and scampered 39 yards for the Constantine score, although it could be disputed a missed block in the back call was missed. Nick Dimos added the extra point for the Constantine 28-14 lead with around nine minutes left.
   Hartford came back with around five left in the game, as they struck on third-and-goal. After converting a fourth-and-one earlier in the drive, Jimmy Mullins caught a Luke Traver pass for a ten yard score. Juan Perez added the extra point and it was 28-21.
   Constantine made a small drive in the fourth quarter and was forced, with three minutes left, to punt to Hartford. Hartford responded, driving all the way to the Falcon one yard line. A big, 44 yard pass from Luke Traver to Sergio Perez was the catalyst.
   However, after a two-yard run, a one-yard loss, a fumble and an incomplete pass, the Indians were stopped and the season was over.
   The Indians were led by David Mireles and his 205 yards of rushing on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Luke Traver was five-of-eleven passing for 79 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions on the game. Jimmy Mullins caught four passes for 33 yards and a touchdown, while Sergio Perez added 44 yards on one catch.
   On defense, the Indians were led by Tony Kucharski and Noey Lopez, who both made fifteen tackles each, while John Scherer added ten tackles. Jared Meachum had nine tackles, along with an interception, as well.
   The Falcons were led by the run, led by Payton White, who rushed for 80 yards on fifteen carries and a touchdown. Ben Mallo rushed for 72 yards on twelve carries and a score, while Tom Reed added 52 yards on eleven carries and a touchdown. He also threw for 41 yards on two-of-five passing. Ben Mallo had one reception for 28 yards and Brandon Edwards added one catch for thirteen yards.
   On defense, the Falcons were led by three tacklers with over ten tackles. Jeff Steiner had thirteen tackles, Nick Dimos had eleven tackles and Brandon Edwards had ten tackles. Tom Reed had two interceptions.
   The Indians finished the season at 6-4 overall.
   The Falcons, now 8-2 on the season, are back in action this Saturday, November 5th against Schoolcraft at home. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM. The Eagles come in 7-3, defeating Cassopolis 34-13 last Friday. These two teams played two weeks ago, Constantine winning, 28-21.