Coach Paul Devine’s Covington Buccaneers chalked up their seventh consecutive victory of the year Friday night at Tipp City where they humbled the Red Devilds 33-7 in a game marked by numerous fumbles, penalties and injuries, and at times slowed to snail’s pace by confused officials.
Figuring heavily in last night’s triumph, Covington’s defensive forward wall again displayed the power and drive that has consistently held seven opponent’s running attacks powerless. The “push ’em back” boys thwarted several Tipp scoring threats with inches to go on fourth down.
Using sheer power, the “Thundering Herd”, led by the elusive running of flashback Doug Diltz, and the stellar line performances of Bill Frey and Dick Via, proved to another group of fans that they are justly entitled to the state ranking given them last week by the United Press football poll.
Before the game was three minutes old, Covington had kicked off, forced Tipp to punt, and four plays after laying hands on the ball at midfield had moved it to the Tipp 30-yard line from where Doug Diltz raced around left end for the first tally of the game. Leonard Woods’ conversion kick made the score 7-0.
Four minutes before the quarter ended, the Devine Dynamo drove to the Red Devils’ 18-yard stripe and two plays later, Diltz, running beautifully, smashed off-tackle and waltzed into the endzone all alone. Woods’ second conversion put the Buccaneers ahead 14-0.
An exchange of punts gave Covington possession of the ball on their own 25 midway in the second period. Two power plays picked up nine yards and then Kenny Shefbuch smashed straight up the middle, shook the secondary and dashed 66 yards to score. Woods’ third conversion attempt was low and Covington left the field at the half on the long end of a 20-0 count.
The Buccaneers’ offensive threats were temporarily halted during the third quarter as the Devine Dynamo was seriously hampered by the loss of ace quarterback Bob Tobias, injured late in the second period.
The Red Devils, unable to move on the ground, unleashed an aerial attack that clicked for 53 yards in seven plays and their lone touchdown as Coddington tossed to Kriger for the score. Coddington sprinted around right end for the conversion that made the score 20-7 as the period came to a close.
The early minutes of the fourth quarter saw a Tipp punt roll dead on the Covington 32 yard line. A line smash netted five yards and on the next play, Doug Alexander found a giant gap in the Tipp forward wall and streaked 63 yards down the left side to paydirt. Woods’ attempt for point-after was wide and Covington led 26-7.
Covington’s final tally materialized when Jim Minnick, Buccaneer lineman, pounced on a Tipp fumble at the goal line. Don Martin drove through on a quarterback sneak and then converted by passing to end Don Zimmerman as the “Thundering Herd” copped their seventh straight, 33-7.
Scoring By Quarters:
Covington …….14….6….0…13 – 33
Tipp City ……….0….0….7…..0 – 7