2008 Varsity Football

September 26: Covington

ISD 28      Covington 21

The Indiana Deaf Hoosiers battled the Covington Trojans (north of Terre Haute) last Friday at the friendly confines of Lowe field and were victorious in their final home game of the season.  ISD wore their home - black jerseys with orange numbers and black pants.  The Trojans wore white jerseys with gold pants and numbers.

In the first quarter, Covington received the kick-off and maintained possession for most of the quarter.  The Trojan’s seventeen play drive had the ball all the way down to the ISD six yard line.  It was fourth down and three yards to go.  In a crucial goal line stand, the Deaf Hoosier’s defense snuffed out any hope of a Covington score, stopping the Trojans and taking possession of the ball with the failed attempt.   The first quarter ended with neither team scoring.

The only ISD possession in the first quarter continued into the second quarter, ending in a score.  Quarterback Gabriel Paulone ran the ball in from the two-yard line for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful.  Covington came right back on their next possession when their tailback broke a 61 yard run to go in for the score.  With the kick, the game was Covington 7, ISD 6.  The fireworks continued three plays later as Paulone hooked up with Terris Hazzard for a 49 yard touchdown catch.  The two-point conversion was good with a Paulone run.  ISD 14, Covington 7.  The Trojans came right back in their next possession, ending in an 86 yard pass play.  With the PAT kick, the score was knotted at 14 going into the half.

Penalties hampered the Deaf Hoosier momentum as they were held scoreless in the third quarter.  Covington scored once in the quarter on a five-yard scamper into the end zone by the running back.  The PAT kick was good.  Covington 21, ISD 14.  Midway through the third, as Covington was again driving the ball in ISD territory, the Deaf Hoosiers defense came up big, making a key defensive stop on a fourth down and three.  The Trojans gambled – and lost. 

In the final quarter, ISD came back.  The Deaf Hoosiers drove the ball 59 yards in nine plays, culminating in a perfect 20 yard spiral and a clutch grab, Paulone to Tyler Crace.  The two-point conversion failed.  Covington 21, ISD20.  Once again, Covington drove the ball, making it to ISD’s 36 yard line.  They had fourth down and three to go for a first.  Again the Trojans gambled – and lost.  A swarm of Deaf Hoosiers met the ball carrier in the back field, greeting him with a four-yard loss. 

ISD took over possession, down by one point with 60 yards to go and just over two minutes remaining in the game.  A combination of ground and aerial attack led Paulone and the Deaf Hoosiers near the promise land.  With just :57 seconds showing on the scoreboard and fourth down, the Deaf Hoosiers put the Orange and Black faithful on their feet by scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a nine yard pass from Paulone to Tony Dall.  Dall then slammed the two-point conversion into the end zone, putting ISD up 28-21.

To their credit, the Trojans quickly marched the ball down the field, 32 yards in five plays.  With just seconds left, Covington’s quarterback threw a “hail Mary” pass into the end zone.  Terris Hazzard, amid a crowd of white jerseys, deflected the ball just inches away from the open arms of a waiting Covington receiver.  The ball fell harmlessly to the ground and with that, the Deaf Hoosiers won the game 28-21, and lay claim to an undefeated home winning streak in 2008.

ISD (4-2) will travel to Edinburgh High School on Friday (game 7) to face the Lancers who are looking for their first win of the season.

Summary Stats

• Indiana Deaf had 16 first downs.
• Covington had 10 first downs. 
• Indiana Deaf had 357 yards in total offense (175 rushing/182 passing).
• Covington had 295 yards in total offense (189 rushing/106 passing).
• Indiana Deaf was penalized 11 times for 105 yards.
• Covington was penalized 4 times for 27 yards.
• Indiana Deaf had 2 turnovers.
• Covington had 0 turnovers.

September 19: Wes-Del

 ISD 28      Wes-Del 6

 Indiana Deaf Hoosiers rolled into Gaston, Indiana on Friday to face Wes-Del High School in the fifth game of the season.  ISD was coming off a shut-out, homecoming victory against Alabama Deaf the week prior and was looking to continue the strong defensive performance against the Warriors.  Fans were not disappointed. 

ISD’s first score came as a result of a Tony Dall interception and a 16 yard return.  ISD’s passing attack drove the ball 29 yards in five plays before a Gabriel Paulone 25-yard run put the ball into the end zone for the score.  Paulone hooked-up with wide receiver Tyler Crace for the two-point conversion. The first quarter ended with the Deaf Hoosiers up    8-0.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the second quarter; ISD’s was on an eight-play drive from their own 24 yard line.  Paulone ran in on the keeper for the score.  The two-point conversion was no good.  Wes-Del came back with a touchdown, recovering an ISD fumble with just seconds remaining before halftime.  The Warriors PAT was no good and the half ended 14-6.

On offense, ISD scored on a quarterback keeper for 50 yards and the score.  The PAT was unsuccessful.  The third quarter came to an end with ISD leading 20-6.

Although time of possession was on the Warriors side in the fourth quarter, Wes-Del turned the ball over twice.  Terris Hazzard took advantage of the opportunity and ran 47 yards for the score (from the tail back position). The PAT quarterback keeper was good.

The game ended with ISD on top 28 – 6.  The Deaf Hoosier defense has shut out the opponents’ offenses in the past eight quarters of play, not allowing any touchdowns. 

Summary Stats

• Indiana had nine first downs.
• Wes-Del had 16 first downs. 
• Indiana Deaf had 428 yards in total offense (307 rushing/121 passing).
• Wes-Del had 102 yards in total offense (63 rushing/39 passing).           
• ISD was penalized 15 times for 161 yards (ouch).
• Wes-Del was penalized three times for 25 yards.
• ISD had one turnover. Wes-Del had five turnovers

September 5: Union (Dugger) 

Union (Dugger) 20     Indiana Deaf 0

The Deaf Hoosiers traveled to Dugger, Indiana to face the Bulldogs of Union High School for their third game of the season.  Union had a two-game winning streak and had scored an average of 41 points in their first two games. 

To quote an old saying “When it rains, it pours.”  Most everything went the Bulldogs’ way during the game.  Union scored once in the first quarter again in the second quarter to close the half with a 14 – 0 lead. 

The third quarter was scoreless as both defenses gave up minimal real estate.

Union scored one more time in the fourth quarter, to seal the victory, shutting out the Deaf Hoosiers.  The final score was Union (Dugger) 20, ISD 0.

Summary Stats

• Indiana Deaf had 150 yards in total offense (107 rushing/43 passing).
• Union had 194 yards in total offense (144 rushing/50 passing).
• ISD was penalized four times for 45 yards.
• Union was penalized five times for 40 yards.
• ISD had five turnovers in the game.
• Union had one turnover in the game.

August 29: Lutheran

Lutheran 24      Indiana Deaf 14

The Deaf Hoosiers took one on the chin last Friday, losing to the Lutheran Saints 24-14.  On the opening play, Lutheran’s quarterback ran for a 52 yard gainer and punched it in two plays later for a score.  After an ISD fumble, Lutheran scored on a 38 yard pass, giving them two quick scores and putting the Saints up early in the first quarter.

After their first offensive series was a “3 and out,” the Deaf Hoosiers’ defense held the Saints and got the ball back, moving the ball down the field.  Facing fourth and six yards on the Lutheran 24, Tyler Crace made a crucial catch from a pass by Gabriel Paulone for a fourteen yard gain, putting the ball on the Lutheran ten yard line.  Two plays later, Tony Dall smashed the ball five yards into the end zone for the Deaf Hoosiers first score.  ISD converted the two-point PAT with a quarterback-keeper by Paulone.

ISD’s defense snuffed out the Saints’ first drive of the second quarter, stopping a Lutheran fourth down attempt on the ISD six yard line, preventing a touchdown and giving the Deaf Hoosiers’ offense the ball.  It took only five plays for ISD to score on a 54 yard touchdown pass from Paulone to Terris Hazzard.  With the clock ticking down in the half, Lutheran kicked a 34 yard field goal to give the Saints a three point lead, 17-14. 

Penalties stalled the Deaf Hoosier offense in the second half.  Both defenses held strong. The only points came on a three yard run by Lutheran’s running back in the 3rd quarter, with a PAT kick that followed.  The Deaf Hoosiers made a final exciting drive as the clock was running down in the fourth.  ISD went from its own 26 to Lutheran’s three yard line in a six play drive.   However, it was not meant to be as ISD fumbled the ball and ended the Deaf Hoosiers’ hope at a chance to score.

The final score was 24-14.   

 Summary Stats

• Indiana Deaf had 335 yards in total offense (105 rushing/230 passing).
• Lutheran had 361 yards in total offense (253 rushing/108 passing).
• ISD was penalized nine times for 58 yards.
• Lutheran was penalized four times for 40 yards.
• ISD had two turnovers in the game.

Lutheran had two turnovers in the game.

August 22: Bowman Academy

Bowman 24  ISD 50

ISD opened their 2008 season against Bowman Academy.  In the first quarter, Tony Dall ran in a touchdown from the two yard line, capping a 64 yard, eleven-play drive.  ISD converted on the two-point conversion with a pass from Gabriel Paulone to Tyler Crace.  The Deaf Hoosiers shut out Bowman Academy and the first quarter ended 8-0 in favor of ISD.

In the second quarter, ISD scored again on a 23 yard pass play from Paulone to Crace.  The two-point conversion failed.  Bowman scored on a drive, originating at their 24 yard line, culminating in a five-yard pass for the score.  The two-point conversion was successful.  The half ended with ISD 14, Bowman Academy 8.

ISD began strong in the third quarter with an opening eight-play, 60 yard drive.  Tony Dall ran the ball in from the three-yard line.  The two-point conversion was successful.  ISD intercepted the ball and ran it down to the four-yard line.  In the very next play, Dall ran it in for ISD’s second score of the quarter.  The two-point conversion was successful.  Bowman scored on the final play of the third quarter with a four-yard run.  The quarter ended ISD 30, Bowman 16.

In the fourth quarter, ISD’s defense dug its heels in and did not permit Bowman Academy any points.  ISD scored twice with a Paulone – Crace connection of 10 yards, and a 55 yard dash to the end zone by Terris Hazzard.  Both two-point conversions were successful. 

The game ended with the final score:  ISD 50    Bowman Academy 24

Summary Stats

• Indiana Deaf had 272 yards in total offense (185 rushing/87 passing).
• Bowman Academy had 278 yards in total offense (160 rushing/118 passing).
• ISD was penalized nine times for 70 yards.
• Bowman Academy was penalized nine times for 45 yards.
• ISD had one turnover in the game.

Bowman Academy had five turnovers in the game.