By Gray Haynes

Friday night’s matchup between the North Webster Knights and the Homer Pelicans was a tale of two halves with Homer coming out on top 32-22.  Homer dominated the first half with the help of North Webster fumbles while North Webster dominated the second half on the ground.  North Webster won the coin toss and deferred their option to the second half.  Homer took the opening kickoff back to the 37 yard line, and a penalty pushed the ball into North Webster territory at the 48.  After a couple of big plays, Homer had the ball on the Knights’ 18.  There, the North Webster defense stiffened and forced Homer to turn the ball over on downs.  The visiting team ran three plays and was forced to punt.  Homer took over on their own 39 yard line.  After a long run, Homer’s offense stalled out and turned it back over to the Knights on downs at the Homer 21 yard line.  On the first play from scrimmage, North Webster fumbled; the Pelicans scooped and scored the football.  After the PAT was good, Homer led 7-0.

North Webster returned the ensuing kickoff to the 33 yard line and marched out to near midfield before fumbling for the second time in the game.  Two plays later, Homer scored again to make the score 13-0.  The Pelicans missed the extra point.  The Knights took the kickoff out to the 39 yard line and fumbled three plays later for the third time in the game.  An errant snap by Homer gave the ball right back to the Knights on the Homer 42 yard line.  After picking up a couple of first downs, the Knights turned it over on downs.  Homer fumbled again at the North Webster 42.  The Knights picked up another first down before stalling out and giving the ball back to the Pelicans on downs.  Homer mounted a nice drive on the ground and through the air.  The Pelicans punched it in on a short pass and made the PAT to make the score 20-0.

North Webster took the kickoff out to the 30 and after two plays fumbled yet again.  Homer found the end zone quickly, but missed the extra point attempt.  This made the score 26-0 in favor of the home team.  North Webster attempted one pass as time expired in the half, but it fell incomplete.  At the half, the score was Homer 26 North Webster 0.

The Knights took the second half kickoff out to the 37 yard line.  The Knights ground game took them all the way to the Homer 9 yard line to make it 1st and goal.  Two consecutive bad snaps took the Knights back to the 32 where it was 3rd and goal.  A great pitch and catch from quarterback Christian Whitlock to receiver JQuarian EAster took the ball to the 4 yard line.  On fourth and goal, JKobe Lawson crossed the goal line for the Knights.  The PAT made the score 26-7.

An onside kick attempt by the Knights was recovered by Homer at midfield.  After the Knights’ defense held tough, a 45 yard punt return by Kemo Jefferson gave the Knights the ball at the Homer 40 yard line.  Behind the blocking of Kody Beshea, Hudson Smith, and Sam Morgan, the Knights scored on the ground.  The PAT made the score 26-14.  Another onside kick attempt by the Knights bounced out of bounds.  Homer marched down the field and scored to make the score 32-14.  After the kickoff, North Webster was pinned deep in their own territory-starting their drive at the 7 yard line.  The Knights mounted a nice drive through the air and on the ground.  A long pass from Whitlock to Martavious White took the ball deep into Homer territory.  Then, the bug from the first half bit the Knights again, and they fumbled at the Homer 10 yard line.  The Knights’ defense forced Homer to punt from their own end zone and took over at the 30.  North Webster scored, with about a minute left on the clock, on a seven yard touchdown pass from Whitlock to White.  The two point conversion made the score 32-22.  After another onside kick attempt was recovered by Homer, the knelt on the ball to end the game.  The final score was Homer 32 North Webster 22.  Next Friday, North Webster travels to Garrison, Texas.