Bears host Eagles
Fri, 09/30/2022 - 9:34am
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Liberty remains undefeated
By:
David Hines, sports correspondent
The Willow Springs Bears took on the Liberty Eagles at Palenske Field Friday night, losing 42-14.
The Eagles started strong in the first quarter, getting a touchdown within the first three minutes of the game. Liberty’s Carter Pruett passed to Drew Ripko, who sprinted the ball through the side, juking Willow’s Gavin Ferguson, and finding his way to a Liberty touchdown. Liberty elected to kick, and the PAT was good.
Despite the score, the Bears did not slouch on defense when it came to pulling unwary Eagles to the ground. Pruett tried to run through the center twice, and both times was taken down by Willow’s Ryan Friga with no gain on the first play. Later, Friga took Pruett down just short of a first down on the second yard line.
Drew Ripko made an impressive 48-yard touchdown from the center. Ripko would complete three more impressive touchdowns, including 47-yard rush, and was a menace to the Bears on defense.
Willow began to make a comeback in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns on the Eagles, a feat many other teams had not accomplished. Even SCA powerhouse Ava could not manage a point against Liberty last week.
Taylor Rothermich of the Bears had a big game, leading Willow against the Eagles and scoring a touchdown. Rothermich received the ball on the Eagle’s 20 and started to run it in. He barely avoided the Liberty defenders and found paydirt. The PAT was good.
Willow managed one more touchdown in the third quarter. With the ball on the Eagles’ 45, Rothermich received the ball and looped behind the scrimmage, where he snapped to Ryan Koehler. Koehler, defended by Gavin Ferguson and Marcus Tinsley, ran it through the defenses for an impressive 45-yard touchdown. The PAT was good. Those 14 points were all the Bears would score.
In an impressive feat of skill for a young player, Willow’s Ronnie Collins, a 110-pound freshman, intercepted an Eagle long bomb in the last 30 seconds of play. He ran it ten yards before being taken down by the Eagles.
Next up, the Willow Springs Bears will take on the Salem Tigers, who are 0-6 in their season, in their homecoming game. Willow is now 2-3 in their season. Liberty remains undeafeated.