Oct. 12 – VERSAILLES
One 55-yard touchdown strike from Dave Tobias to Phil Reck and a Tobias extra point was all it took for the Buccs to stay unbeaten and give Versailles their first loss of the season.
The play was a shift from the ordinary for the Buccs as Reck, normally lined up wide, stepped into a tackle spot and broke open down the middle of the field. No Versailles defenders picked him up and Reck hauled in the Tobias pass in stride and ran untouched into the end zone.
“I didn’t see him catch it,” said Tobias. “I threw it where he was suppose to be and all I saw was Phil heading to the end zone.”
It was a play the Buccs had used before and prepared for during the week leading up to the game.
“It was a designed play that we used against them last year,” said Covington coach Larrie Tisdale. “They were in man-to-man coverage and it worked just like you draw it up on the blackboard.”
To Versailles, the touchdown pass wasn’t the play of the game. The play that turned the tide was a Tiger fumble to set up the Buccaneer score. The Tigers were driving before a Mark Barga pitchout to Don Hope was mishandled. Covington’s Jeff Lauber pounced on the loose ball giving the Buccaneers new life and setting up the game-winning score.
For nearly 50 minutes, the two defenses dominated the game. Versailles scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Barga to Trace Dieringer, but failed on the 2-point conversion, which ended up being the difference in the game.
Covington racked up 100 yards on the ground and accumulated 75 yards in the air, 55 of those coming on the touchdown pass. Versailles, without their big play back Mike Prakel, managed just 73 yards on the ground and 79 yards through the air. Both teams committed 1 turnover and 4 penalties.
Covington improves to 6-0-1 and 4-0 in the conference. The Buccs try to stay at the top of the Three Rivers Conference next Friday as Graham comes to town.
Scoring Summary:
VERSAILLES – Trace Dieringer, 37-yard pass from Mark Barga (pass failed)
COVINGTON – Phil Reck, 56-yard pass from Dave Tobias (Tobias kick)
Scoring by Quarters:
Covington………0……0……0…..7 – 7
Versailles……….0……6……0…..0 – 6
Team Yardage:
Covington – 100 rushing, 75 passing
Versailles – 73 rushing, 79 passing