Tigers swamped by Marshfield 38-6, fall to 0-6

Friday, October 4, 2019
Nevada Tiger freshman tailback Case Sanderson finds an opening during the first half of Friday night's Big 8 Conference cross-division clash with the visiting Marshfield Blue Jays. Blocking for Sanderson on the play, are junior linemen Charles Ramey-Dias (51), and Grahm Kobel (73).
Photo by Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

The struggle continued for the Nevada Tiger football team Friday night as a 38-6 drubbing at the hands of the Marshfield Blue Jays moved the Tigers to 0-6 on the season (0-3 Big 8 West).

The Big 8 Conference cross-division loss extended Nevada's losing streak to 12 games, with their last victory coming more than a year ago.

Marshfield jumped on top early, via fullback Zach Cappel's seven-yard scamper at the 8:38 mark of the opening frame. A failed two-point play left Marshfield ahead 6-0.

On the ensuing drive Nevada marched down field, with running backs Case Sanderson and Collin Witte doing the bulk of the heavy lifting.

Set up with a first-and-goal from the Marshfield two-yard line, Nevada was pushed backward on three consecutive run plays. On fourth-and-goal from the eight quarterback Dylan Beachler's pass was off-target, as the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.

Early in the second Marshfield was back on the scoreboard, with their quick scoring drive punctuated by Cappel's 23-yard off-tackle TD run. With another two-point play coming up short Marshfield led 12-0 with 9:10 remaining in the first half.

Late in the first half Cappel found paydirt for the third time, elluding several tackles before darting to the left sideline for the 12-yard score.

Marshfield's third consecutive failed two-point play left the Blue Jays with an 18-0 halftime advantage.

On the second play of the second half Marshfield quarterback Brennan Espy broke loose in the open field and bolted 59 yards to the end zone. A successful two-point play handed Marshfield a 26-0 advantage.

Nevada replied on its ensuing drive, as freshman Sanderson's 33-yard rushing score, followed by an unsuccessful two-point play, trimmed the deficit to 26-6.

From there Marshfield tacked on two more touchdowns. Backup QB Blake Anderson connected on a 15-yard strike to wide-out Brooks Espy, and fullback Jeremy Graham plowed in from five yards out with 9:04 remaining in regulation for the game's final score.

For Nevada Sanderson finished with 16 carries for 132 yards and a TD.

"It's a better step in the right direction," said Nevada head coach Wes Beachler, during his postgame radio interview. "The strength has not been the passing game, and for the last couple weeks we've been working on that. I think it improved tonight, a lot of the incompletions were drops. We talked about (earlier in the week), we've got to get better at catching the football."

Added Beachler: "Once again, probably not the best thing to say on the air, but I'm very frustrated about holding calls that are called on us, and it's never reciprocated on the other side. We see it on the sideline, and I think that's a frustration for me."

Continued Beachler: "A little disappointed in our offensive line. I know they are young. I told them 'guys, when we get inside the 5-yard-line, it's going in. You've got to have an offensive lineman's mentality, we're going to punch it in.'"

Up next

A Big 8 Conference West division road contest with powerhouse Cassville, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

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