BEDFORD
This was Dancing Against The Stars.
Fancy footwork figured into several key offensive plays for Seymour Friday night in its 26-7 road victory over Bedford North Lawrence, the third win in a row for the Owls.
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Quarterback Cody Ruble has been gaining a reputation as a thrower leading a passing offense. But not only did Seymour’s game plan flummox the Stars, he scored the most demoralizing touchdown with his feet on a stunning, break-tackles, 52-yard burst that seemed it might go for a first down, but instead became the game-breaking third-period score.
Ruble ended up with 93 yards rushing and 97 passing and except for taking a knee at the end and a sack he would have been over 100 on the ground.
Another Owl who showed his finest moves that could apply to the Senior Prom was Chandler Drummond, also on one play in particular. When Bedford was hoping to get the ball back and mount a last-hope charge, the senior carried on six straight plays for 43 yards.
The last culminated in a 12-yard touchdown when it seemed certain he would be stopped well short of the goal line. A dipsy-doodle move rescued the play. Drummond rushed for 82 yards, most of them coming on bucks up the middle, but occasionally around end.
Although he delivered explosively with three touchdown pass catches last week, freshman Bret Perry, a receiver, performed his own personal dance routine on a 24-yard TD run that was the end of a double reverse.
Receiver Drew Vehslage showed the glue in his fingers with five grabs from Ruble, including a slick 11-yard TD that was a beautifully lofted pass in the first quarter when Seymour put its stamp on the game with a 13-0 lead.
For all of that dazzling offensive payoff, coach Tyson Moore said his choice for player of the game was his offensive line, the grunts.
“They won the fight in the trenches,” Moore said.
He might well have chosen the entire defense, line and all. This is the third straight week the Owls have not allowed more than a single touchdown in a game.
Defensive back Evan Smith, who is becoming known for having a knack of intercepting passes, did not pick one off Friday, but he nailed Bedford quarterback Brye Lewis on a blitz for a sack.
The Seymour defense really stifled 2-3 Bedford’s offense all night. The Owls’ one flaw that leapt out and will no doubt be discussed at practice by coaches, was permitting two long kickoff runs in the second half. One of those led to the Stars’ only score in the third period.
Bedford only had to go 34 yards and Lewis finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown. At that point Seymour fans might have been shaken because the lead was just 13-7. Ruble’s big run promptly followed, however.
The margin could have been a little more comfortable for the Owls who were halted by a Stars goal-line that came up a yard shy in the second quarter. Bedford could not make anything out of that important stop. On the Stars’ following possession four straight penalties were whistled, stopping all momentum dead.
Seymour started the season with two losses, has now won three straight, and Moore is in a much better mood than he was after the early disappointments.
The first-year head coach, at Seymour, and in his career, now enters perhaps the most intriguing week of the season with the Owls facing rival Brownstown Central, 3-1, in the annual Jackson Bowl on the road next Friday.
Moore admitted the mood at practice coming off this solid win is bound to be more upbeat.
“Our preparation is going to be a lot better,” Moore said.