Coalfield 18, Wartburg 12 – the Rest of the Story
By Terry Futrell
The scoreboard read Coalfield Yellow Jackets 18, Wartburg Central Bulldogs 12 as the game ended with midnight approaching – that is really all the record books will show. But for the players and fans who endured the thunder and lightning, the periods of rain and drizzle, and a game start that was delayed for almost an hour and a half, this was no ordinary game. A far more complex story unfolded on Rochelle Field at Coalfield on Friday night.
Scores never indicate the depth of the rivalry between Coalfield and Wartburg. After all, Coalfield had beaten Wartburg nine years in a row. Over the past three years the combined score was Coalfield 179, Wartburg 0. But for the players on the field, past performance was not relevant. This was now, and the stage was set for a battle that will long be remembered by players and fans of both teams.
It was a battle in which players, whether dressed in orange and black or in blue and white, gave the game everything they had in one of the purest, most intense exhibitions of the game of football ever seen in this area. For coaches, it was a chess match against no ordinary opponent and the stress level must have been enormous. For fans who were present, the game was an emotional roller coaster that held each captive until the final horn sounded.
The storyline was made more intriguing by the two quarterbacks who faced each other. For Coalfield, circumstances thrust freshman Cole Hines into the starting quarterback role. Not only was this his first high school game, he was charged with leading the heralded Jacket offense with very high expectations. Hines received his baptism by fire in the game while connecting on 5 of 10 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns.
Even though Wartburg quarterback Tyler Davis is a junior, due to past injuries he had never played against Coalfield. Getting off to a slow start in the game, Davis came alive in the second half and led the Bulldogs in a remarkable comeback from 12 points down to a 12-12 tie with 5:48 remaining. Davis completed 14 of 23 passes for 96 yards, and rushed 19 times for 73 yards, including both of Wartburg’s touchdowns. As stated by Wartburg Coach Kevin Human, Davis “showed tonight what I know that he is capable of doing.”
Coalfield received the opening kickoff and began their drive from their own 34-yard line. As one might expect with a wet field and ball, coupled with a quarterback and center paired in their first game, a bad snap on the second play and a fumble on the third quickly ended the Jackets opening drive. After a punt, the Bulldogs took possession on their 37-yard line and, thanks in part to a holding penalty, were also unable to move the ball and were forced to punt. Thus began the long battle that continued with a high level of emotions and intensity for two and one-half hours.
Coalfield began their second drive on the Wartburg 48-yard line. On the very first play, Seth Lowe bolted like the lightning that had moved through the area earlier and ran up the center for 48 yards and a Jacket touchdown. The extra point failed and Coalfield led 6-0 with 7:23 to go in the first quarter.
After a 45-yard kickoff by Jacket Hayden Hicks with no return, Wartburg began their next drive on their own 15-yard line. Even though Tyler Davis completed passes to Colby Justes and Michael Davis, a holding penalty once again cost the Bulldogs dearly and they were forced to punt.
Coalfield began their next drive at the Wartburg 49-yard line. Seth Lowe ran for 12 yards and a first down. Hines again fumbled but recovered the ball. The Jackets then put together two successful runs of 14 yards by Anthony Foster and 11 yards by Lowe. After another fumble and recovery by Hines, followed by a personal foul on Wartburg, Foster ran for two yards. Hines then connected with Isaac Vanwitzenburg for four yards and the Jackets second touchdown. Once again, the extra point attempt failed and Coalfield led 12-0 with 1:47 to go in the first quarter.
After an 18-yard kickoff return by Saylor Jones, Wartburg took over at their own 38-yard line. Following two very short runs, the Bulldogs were hit by two consecutive major penalties – a personal foul and an unsportsmanlike conduct, backing the Bulldogs up to their own 14-yard line. Colby Justes punted to lead off the second quarter and Coalfield took over at their own 40-yard line.
Each team then failed to make a first down on their next two possessions and was forced to punt.
Coalfield began their final drive of the first half on their own 37-yard line with 4:35 remaining in the half. Seth Lowe had successful runs of 10 and 25 yards to move the Jackets to the Wartburg 28. The Jackets were hit with a holding penalty, followed by a 7-yard run by Lowe and an 18-yard pass from Hines to Daniel Schaar. Coalfield was charged with another holding penalty, making it 1st and 24 on the Wartburg 28-yard line. Although Hines completed an 11-yard pass to Vanwitzenburg, Wartburg took over on downs at their own 19-yard line with 12 seconds remaining.
Bulldog Tyler Davis scrambled for 12 yards, then for 24 yards as the first half closed with Coalfield leading 12-0.
The second half began with an electrified Wartburg team taking the field. The Bulldogs put together a 13-play drive that culminated in an 8-yard touchdown run by Davis. Key to the Bulldog drive were pass completions of 14 yards to Caleb McCarty, six yards to Chris Flowers, 13 yards to Michael Davis, and 12 yards to Colby Justes. The extra point attempt failed and Wartburg trailed the Jackets 6-12 with 5:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Levi Mullins returned the Wartburg kickoff 25 yards, and the Jackets began their next drive at their own 46-yard line. A holding penalty on the Jackets nullified an 8-yard run by Lowe. Anthony Foster then ran for 11 yards, followed by an encroachment penalty on Wartburg. Runs of 11 yards by Foster and six yards by Hayden West gave the Jackets 1st and 10 at the Wartburg 28-yard line. Once again, a Jacket fumble and recovery, followed by two incomplete passes by Hines, ended the Coalfield drive.
The Bulldogs then put together a sustained drive of 12 plays with Davis scoring on a 3-yard run. The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard scramble by Davis, and pass completions of four yards to Caleb McCarty, seven yards to Michael Davis, and seven yards to Saylor Jones. The extra point attempt was no good and the score was tied 12-12 with 5:48 remaining in the game.
Following an unsuccessful 8-play drive by Coalfield that was hampered by two holding penalties on the Jackets, Wartburg once again took over at their own 13-yard line with 2:09 remaining in the game. A false start moved the Bulldogs back to the 8-yard line. Davis then ran for two yards and nine yards before throwing a pass to Owen Vespie that was intercepted by Coalfield’s Isaac Vanwitzenburg.
The Jackets took over on the Wartburg 26-yard line with 42 seconds remaining. Hines completed a screen pass to Lowe, but thanks to charging Bulldog Robert Williams, the Jackets lost seven yards on the play. Coalfield’s Jacob Bunch then sneaked downfield and was wide open for a Cole Hines pass that gained 27 yards, giving the Jackets 1st and goal on the 6-yard line. After spiking the ball to halt the clock, Hines then threw a completion to Vanwitzenburg for the touchdown, giving Coalfield an 18-12 lead with nine seconds remaining in the game. The extra point attempt failed.
Wartburg was unable to move the ball and Coalfield chalked up their tenth victory in a row over the Bulldogs 18-12.
Offensive standouts for Coalfield included Seth Lowe, who rushed 15 times for 150 yards, as well as receivers Jacob Bunch, Daniel Schaar, and Isaac Vanwitzenburg. Offensively for Wartburg, in addition to Tyler Davis, receivers Michael Davis with four receptions for 34 yards, Saylor Jones with two receptions for 19 yards, Colby Justes with four receptions for 19 yards, and Caleb McCarty with two receptions for 18 yards carried the load.
Coalfield’s defense was anchored by Daniel Schaar with 15 tackles and Seth Lowe with 11 tackles. For Wartburg, Saylor Jones had 10 tackles, Jeremiah Davis had nine tackles, and Chris Flowers had eight tackles.
A sign in Coalfield’s stadium read “A Decade of Dominance 2009-2019”. While that may have been true for the previous nine years, there was no domination by either team on Friday. It was a bone crushing battle between two closely matched teams, and the victory could have gone either way. The Jackets ultimately proved they could win in spite of adversity. The Bulldogs proved they are back and ready to face any opposition. Both teams earned the respect of all for their performance on the field.
Thanks to Greg Addington for the game stats.
Click on any photo to view a larger version.
