COVINGTON – Coach Tom Steel’s Covington Buccaneers scored their fourth shut-out of the season Friday night as they convincingly defeated the Northeastern Jets 22-0.
Playing on a sloppy field and in a steady rain, the Buccaneers ran their season record to 6-1, including a 4-1 in Mad River Valley League competition, to remain tied for the league lead. In other league competition, Miami East held on to their share of the lead with a 24-0 win over winless Greenon and Shawnee defeated Northwestern 8-6.
Covington’s Kent Thompson scored a touchdown and a PAT to run his season total to 94 points. Bob Rudy scored two touchdowns to add to his season scoring, which now stands at 46 points. John Flory scored a PAT and now has 62 points.
Covington’s first tally came with 3:01 showing in the first period when the high scoring Kent Thompson scampered three yards to paydirt. After a five yard penalty for delay of game, halfback John Flory scooted around right end for the PAT and the Buccs led 8-0.
Thompson’s run climaxed a 92-yard drive which was sparked by some electrifying running by Scott Thompson. The strong sophomore carried five times for 59 yards in the scoring drive. In his first starting assignment for the Buccs, he picked up 74 yards in five carries before leaving the game with an ankle injury five minutes before the half. The younger Thompson is expected to be back in action next week when the Buccaneers host Graham.
Neither team threatened seriously in the remainder of the half as the field was slippery and the wet ball was hard to handle.
Covington took the second half kick-off on their own 23 and marched 73 yards to the Northeastern five. On fourth down and goal, John Flory’s pass intended for Bob Rudy was incomplete and the Jets took over.
Unable to move the ball on two plays, the Jets elected to punt on third down. The punt was blocked by the entire left side of the Covington line and Rudy recovered the ball in the end zone for a 14-0 Buccaneer lead. Kent Thompson ran the PAT and the Buccs led 16-0.
Late in the final period the hard rushing defensive line of the Buccs blocked another Northeastern punt and this one was recovered by senior tackle Doug Minnick on the Jet 25 yard line. Four plays later with 2:37 showing, Rudy powered his way up the middle for a touchdown. The pass for the PAT failed and the Buccs led 22-0.
Covington dominated the offensive statistics as they rushed for 285 yards and had 12 first downs. The Buccaneers held the Jets to just 45 yards rushing, plus 22 passing. Northeastern managed only three first downs, all three coming in the first half.
Scoring Summary:
Covington ……….8…..0…..8…..6 – 22
Northeastern……0…..0…..0…..0 – 0