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Nevada offense smothered by El Dorado Springs
By Joe Warren
Nevada Herald
Defenses dominated and a few big plays were the difference as El Dorado Springs beat Nevada 7-6 in a game of neighboring towns Friday.
The Tigers managed only 119 yards of total offense against a stingy El Dorado Springs defense, with most of those coming in the first half.
Nevada's defense was almost as tough, allowing only 146 yards to the Bulldogs.
Both teams scored in the first half, with Nevada getting a 9-yard pass from freshman quarterback Ronnie Herda to junior tailback Heath Baker to take a 6-0 lead with 4:47 left in the quarter.
The play was a swing pass and Baker received great open-field blocks from receivers Nate Uttinger and Willie Bailey to spring him for the score.
The extra point attempt hit the left upright and bounced away to keep the Tigers from making it 7-0.
Little did either team know at the time that an extra-point would mean the difference in the game.
El Dorado Springs was unable to drive against the Nevada defense for most of the game.
A blown assignment on a deep pass play left a Bulldog receiver wide open and it ended up being a 47-yard touchdown pass as El Dorado Springs tied the game in the second quarter. The extra point was good and the Bulldogs took the 7-6 lead.
A questionable call earlier in the drive occurred when on fourth and one the Bulldogs went for it and seemed to be stopped by Nevada's Bradley Gash for a one-yard loss, but a facemask penalty was called even though nobody besides the official seemed to know when it occurred.
That kept the drive alive and the Bulldogs hit the big scoring pass two plays later.
Nevada did had two other great scoring chances during the game.
The first came with the Tigers leading 6-0.
A muffed punt by the Bulldogs was recovered by Bailey at the El Dorado Springs 22-yard line.
After three Baker runs and two Keith Overton runs the Tigers had the ball at the six-yard line.
Herda was pressured heavily on a roll-out and threw the ball to Uttinger in the end zone. Herda was falling down during the pass and his throw was short, and it was intercepted at the one-yard line to end the threat.
Another missed scoring opportunity came in the fourth quarter.
Nevada had the ball at their own 47, and Herda threw a perfect pass to a streaking Baker at the El Dorado Springs 22.
Baker was behind the defense and the pass hit him in stride but he was unable to make the catch and the Tigers were forced to punt two plays later.
Nevada did get a possession with 1:30 left in the game, starting at their own 14.
But on third and two with less than 30 seconds to play and still at their own 22, the Herda threw up a desperation pass and it was intercepted by El Dorado Springs' Anthony Cauthon, his second of the game.
Herda, who was making his first career start because junior Justin Reed was out with an injury, had trouble against the Bulldogs.
He threw three interceptions and only one touchdown, but also did not have much time to throw in the pocket.
Nonetheless coach John Skeans was happy with his quarterback's play despite constant pressure.
"I think Ronnie did a really fine job for us," Skeans said. "He's a really tough kid."
Skeans also acknowledged that the Tigers had opportunities to win the game.
"We had a few chances to take over the game, but we didn't," he said. "We're going to learn from this and bounce back."
Skeans said they knew El Dorado Springs would be a tough opponent.
"Our kids played hard," he said. "We knew going in it was going to be a challenge."
El Dorado Springs improved to 2-0 this season while Nevada fell to 1-1.
The Tigers have their home opener this Friday when they host East Newton at Logan Field.
"That will be exciting," Skeans said of the upcoming game.
He also said the team is far from a finished product.
"We've got to keep working," he said.