UHS Football Senior Night

Going in to Friday’s bash of last place teams, Eisenhower had lost 25 straight games. Urbana was trying to get out of a slump themselves, and trying to do it on senior night, a special night. It started out pretty good for the Tigers, No. 22 running the opening kickoff back for the touchdown, but missing the extra point to make it 6-0 Tigers.

In the second quarter, Kyle Johnson of Eisenhower ran it in for a touchdown to tie it up, but they missed the 2-point conversion. It stayed that score until half time, but after the half Kyle Johnson again ran it in for another touchdown, this time they did complete a 2-point conversion. The running back on Eisenhower then cut the Urbana defense and scored on a long run and missed the extra point, making it 20-6 Eisenhower. Urbana finally scored again when they sacked the quarterback in the end zone and got two points for a safety, making it 20-8 Eisenhower.

Urbana did have a lot of chances, including one that went to around their 10-yard line, but then Kyle Clevenger threw an interception with 5:43 minutes left in the game that turned the momentum back to Eisenhower. That bacically ended it, as Eisenhower ended a 25-game losing streak, and Urbana stays winless at 0-7.

It seems that the Tigers are preparing well enough. “Absolutely we were prepared. In fact, our coaching staff even anticipated and planned for new strategies and formations that Eisenhower had never used before. Unfortunately, the game is not played on paper and we didn’t make enough plays on Friday night,” says Nathan Watson, coach of the varsity football team.

According to Coach Watson, the team also is making penalties. “At the game, we had too many penalties–one of which cost us a touchdown in the first quarter–and we were in the red zone three times and came away with zero points. You can’t do those things and hope to win a football game,” he said.

“In regards to the overall future of the program, the two things we’re trying to instill are changing attitude and hard work ethic. I am seeing signs of a bright future,” he concluded.