The Kokomo Post Sports - Game of the Week: Eastern vs Northwestern (Photo Gallery)
Northwestern’s Senior Night is always a special occasion. The unique event is held at the start of the season, unlike most schools that celebrate their seniors during the final home game. The Tigers hoped to honor their seniors with a win and take down county rival Eastern for the second straight year. But Eastern’s physicality and strong defense controlled the evening, as the Comets rolled to a 44-14 victory.
The game was close through the first quarter, with both teams testing different offensive sets. Eastern was first to score after Northwestern’s Ty Kidwell pinned the Comets at their own 1-yard line with a perfectly placed punt. Quarterback Gibson Eagle led a confident drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Pickett. Eastern quickly got the ball back after forcing a fumble, but Northwestern responded when Sedrick Garcia intercepted Eagle to swing momentum back to the Tigers. Michael Arrick then put Northwestern on the board with a 9-yard touchdown run, spinning around and running backward as he crossed the goal line.
The first quarter ended tied at 7-7.
Neither team scored again until midway through the second quarter, when Owen Tolle knocked through an 18-yard field goal to give Eastern a 10-7 lead with 5:33 left in the half. Just over a minute later, Pickett found the end zone again on another 2-yard run.
Northwestern threatened late in the half, as Colin Cook connected with DeWayne Perrigan for a long pass that moved the Tigers into the red zone. But Eastern blocked Kidwell’s 25-yard field goal attempt to keep momentum.
With less than two minutes left before halftime, Eagle hit Bently Hullinger on a 76-yard touchdown strike, extending the Comets’ lead to 24-7 at the break.
Eastern opened the second half with the ball, and Northwestern’s defense looked to be settling in. But on a fake punt, Hurt took the ball around the right side for a first down to keep the drive alive. Pickett punched in his third touchdown of the night from four yards out, pushing the lead to 30-7.
At the end of the third quarter, the score remained Eastern 30, Northwestern 7.
Early in the fourth quarter, Eagle connected with Bently Hullinger for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-7. Moments later, Hurt sealed the game with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown, stretching the Comets’ lead to 44-7.
Northwestern added one final score in the closing minutes, as Sam Jones ran in a short touchdown to make it 44-14.
Eastern (2-0) looks to carry its momentum into next week’s conference opener at Delphi. Northwestern (0-2) will try to regroup as it begins conference play on the road at Southwood.
