Tipp dominates Stebbins on TNL

It was a chance for the entire Miami Valley to see the Tippecanoe football team in action, as the Red Devils were highlighted last week as the Thursday Night Lights (TNL) Game of the Week.

What the area got to see was total domination and their best game of the season, as Tipp cruised to a 46-0 win over Stebbins. “I love the tempo and the sense of urgency we played with against Stebbins,” said Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher. “That was our most complete game we played all year.” Tipp dominated the game from the start on both sides of the ball. After holding the Indians to a quick three-and-out series, the Red Devils offense went to work. They went eight plays and 69 yards, capped off with a 13-yard touchdown run by Cael Liette to put the Red Devils on top 6-0 early.

“The kids saw the importance of getting off to that fast start because then we made Stebbins one-dimensional,” Burgbacher said. “They weren’t able to get into their game plan and by playing with some tempo offensively, they weren’t able to do some of the things defensively they wanted to. They do a great job of mixing their fronts up, but with us going fast, they weren’t able to get those things set up.”

On their next drive, Tipp went to work again. Liette broke into the secondary and they couldn’t catch him, as the senior sprinted 58 yards for the score, and with 5:37 left in the opening period, Tipp led 13-0. A huge interception from Tipp senior Cale Heeley set up Tipp in another good position to score. Starting at the Stebbins 22-yard line, Tipp used a touchdown pass from Peyton Schultz to Evan Liette just 28 seconds after the turnover, pushing the Red Devils lead to 20-0 with still five minutes left in the opening quarter.

That’s how the quarter ended, but on the first play from scrimmage in the second period, Tipp finished off a drive when Cael Liette rumbled in from two yards out to increase their lead to 27-0. Offensively, Stebbins never could get anything going, with their drives ending in missed passes. Several times, the quarterback wasn’t able to control the snap, giving Tipp’s offense a chance to add to their lead.

They did just that with 7:30 left in the first half, when Kade Teel connected on a 24-yard field goal to send the Red Devils in front 30-0 but they weren’t done yet. Tipp scored two more touchdowns before the half, including a drive in the final five minutes where Cael Liette set up the Red Devils in great position with a big run inside the 20. Later, a five-yard pass from Schultz to Jackson Davis made it 37-0.

With 43 seconds left in the half, a 17-yard scoring pass from Schultz to Lucas Merry sent the Red Devils into the half with an insurmountable lead of 43-0. Tipp added a field goal in the second half with a running clock in effect and finished off the Indians for their seventh win of the season. “We are still tied for the lead in the division and we moved up in the computer rankings,” Burgbacher said. “Plus, our kids saw what can happen when we play with that tempo.”

*Tipp is now guaranteed a home playoff game on Oct. 27. First up, however, they close out the regular season and are competing for a league title this Friday, Oct. 20, at home against Xenia.

(Carla Ungerecht photos)