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An evening that began with promise and optimism ended in bitter disappointment for the Indian River High School football team on Friday night, Oct. 16, 1998.
After a beautifully-executed 66-yard touchdown drive on the game's opening series, IR was stopped cold by Laurel in the final three quarters and left to ponder a frustrating 20-7 loss to their Southern Division rival. The Bulldogs have now defeated Indian River 10 straight times dating back to 1990.
The loss was IR's first of the season, dropping its record to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the division. Laurel improved to 3-2, 2-1.
"They were tough, they beat us on both sides of the ball and they deserved to win tonight," IR coach George Bethard said. "They beat us on the line, they just shut us down."
IR managed just 134 yards total offense in the game and only 63 after the game's opening possession. After taking a 7-0 first quarter lead, the Indians drove into Laurel territory just once the rest of the night.
"We were coming out in wrong formations, I myself threw three interceptions tonight, so a lot of times I stopped the offense on our drives ... a lot of it was my fault," said IR quarterback Shawn Watkins, who completed 8 of 18 passes for 75 yards. "After the first touchdown we had no rhythm."
Laurel, meanwhile, had 311 yards total offense and a staggering advantage in time of possession. By the third quarter, the Bulldogs' huge offensive line was blowing IR off the ball and opening huge holes for the running backs.
Quarterback Mike Moore completed 6 of 12 passes for 80 yards and rushed 12 times for 44 yards and three touchdowns. Running backs Brooks Tyndall, Todd Brittingham, David West and Titus Mims combined for 164 rushing yards on 33 carries.
"They were a big line and they came hard at us and we just didn't get the job done tonight," Bethard said. "Tonight Laurel was definitely the better football team."
The game started on a high note for the Indians, who took over at their own 34 yard line after the opening kickoff and drove 66 yards in nine plays for a touchdown.
Runs of 10 and 20 yards by Antoine Stratton and an 11-yard completion from Watkins to Kendrell Marshall got the Indians deep in Laurel territory before Watkins hooked up with Stratton on a 15-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline on third and 13. George Cole's extra point gave IR a 7-0 lead with 6:48 left in the first quarter.
"I thought we were going to have a great day," Bethard said of the opening drive. "I thought it was still going to be a battle but I certainly thought we were going to win the game."
But Laurel responded with an impressive 13-play, 73-yard drive capped by Moore's three-yard scoring plunge. Moore also added the two-point conversion to give Laurel an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The senior quarterback had completions of 11 and 18 yards on the drive and the Bulldogs were aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty against IR.
Laurel's Robbie Macklin intercepted Watkins' third-down pass on IR's next series, giving the Bulldogs a first down at the IR 43. Titus Mims ran for 17 yards on the first play before Moore's 11-yard quarterback sneak got Laurel to the 11. Two plays later, Moore scored from three yards out to give Laurel a 14-7 lead.
The Bulldogs put the game away on their opening possession of the second half, methodically moving 65 yards in 12 plays and eating nearly seven minutes off the clock. They ran the ball every play on the drive and extended their lead to 20-7 when Moore scored from a yard out.
IR managed just four first downs the remainder of the game and never got closer than the Laurel 42 yard line. On the team's final three possessions, Watkins was intercepted twice and the ball was turned over on downs.
Laurel held Stratton and fellow running back Ryan Shelton to just 25 and 30 rushing yards, respectively.
"We got down and then we couldn't get a rhythm started," Watkins said. "And personally I tried to force to many balls deep instead of taking the safer shorter passes."
Added Bethard: "We would have loved to have been 5-0 but you watch the NFL or any other league and eventually someone comes along bumps you. But the thing is how much class were going to have to jump back next week (vs Milford) and get the job done."
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