Indians fall to Lower Dauphin 19-7
By Robb Helfrick
Playing in front of an enthusiastic, first-game home crowd, the Indians found themselves in a similar predicament as last week’s opening game. They fell behind early to Lower Dauphin, and their offense couldn’t score during the first half. The Indian defense buckled down in the second half- not allowing a single point- but the Waynesboro offense struggled to sustain many drives.
The result was an Indian 19-7 loss to the Falcons, as Lower Dauphin controlled the clock and made big plays when they needed them. Waynesboro committed some costly turnovers, and the visiting team took advantage of those mistakes.
During Friday’s game, the Falcons ran twice as many offensive plays at the Indians, putting undue pressure on Waynesboro’s defense. The Indian defenders lived up to that challenge in the final half, giving the offense some hope in the 4th quarter.
Lower Dauphin set the tone on the first drive, marching 74 yards in 10 plays with a solid ground attack to take an early lead. The Indians couldn’t move the ball on their first possession and punted from their own end zone.
The Falcons turned a botched snap into a 20-yard quarterback scramble, but Waynesboro stopped the drive, and Lower Dauphin settled for a field goal and a 10-0 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The start of the second quarter saw Waynesboro with good starting field position at midfield, but a fumble followed, and Lower Dauphin recovered. The Indians’ defense stepped up with a stop, but after starting a new possession, the tribe fumbled again. This time, the Falcons seized the opportunity. Lower Dauphin scored on a touchdown run with 2:32 left in the half, increasing the team’s lead to 17-0.
Waynesboro received the opening second-half kickoff, but the offense started with a three-and-out possession and then punted from deep in their territory. With Lower Dauphin driving again, the Indians made a key interception with 7:29 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Another Indian 3-and-out put Lower Dauphin in good shape near midfield, but as the Waynesboro defense showed for the entire second half, it did not yield. The Falcons punted, and the ball was downed at the Indians’ 1-yard line.
Waynesboro attempted to run the ball for some breathing room from the goal line, but Lower Dauphin tackled the Indians’ Dwayne Robinson for a safety and a commanding 19-0 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the Indians and Falcons trading field position, but Waynesboro kept coming at Lower Dauphin. The home team needed a break and finally forced one with a fumble recovery in Falcon territory.
Indian quarterback Brayden Heimbuch scrambled for 19 yards to the LD 25. On the next play, Heimbuch connected with Robinson for a clutch scoring pass, and the Indians were within two scores at 19-7.
Lower Dauphin drained vital time off the clock with their next drive, but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. With game time running out, the Indians fought back and penetrated Falcon territory, but any hope for a home-field comeback ended when the Falcons intercepted a Waynesboro pass.
The Indians travel to Gettysburg on September 11 to face the Warriors at 7 pm.
