Preds Blowout Spartans
Posted 6/2/2013
By Jason Cox
Leader-Telegram staff
The Predators wasted no time. They relentlessly dominated early and
often — on both sides of the ball.
The Predators offense scored on all five of its possessions. The defense
picked off four passes and scored a touchdown of its own. And that was
just the first 17 minutes.
Chippewa Valley rolled to a 56-8 halftime lead over Central Wisconsin
and won 71-8 to pick up its first win of the regular season Saturday at
Carson Park.
"I'm just excited about our team right now," Predators coach Martin
Adams said. "It's good to see some positive things, especially with our
young unit."
Predators (1-1) quarterback Chance Garner was hot from the start. He
threw for 73 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown, on the Predators'
opening drive. He threw for four more scores and a total of 259 yards in
the first half while completing passes to eight different receivers.
"It was time for him to have a breakout game," Predators coach Martin
Adams said about Garner. "He took command in the huddle. He made some
very good decisions. His (passes) looked good tonight."
The running game was just as impressive. The Predators' backs averaged
11.9 yards per carry and racked up 261 yards on the ground in the game.
Aaron Woodard ran for a 28-yard score on the Predator's second
possession. Deshay Hudson needed just two carries to rip off 43 yards
and another score on their third possession.
The defense racked up seven sacks, forced seven turnovers and gave up
just 111 yards of offense in the game, 70 of which came on the Spartans'
only scoring play.
"We played good defense tonight," Adams said. "I was really happy with
how enthusiastic we were and just flying to the football. Our defensive
backs made some excellent plays."
Cornerback Donte Pettis sure did. The former Arena League player picked
off three first-half passes by Spartans quarterback Darrel Lafferty, who
completed just 1-of-16 passes in the first half. Pettis' second pick was
a leaping, one-handed catch at midfield that he returned for a
touchdown. He also added a sack and had a 45-yard touchdown catch on the
other side of the ball.
"He's tough, he's fast, he's level-headed," Adams said about Pettis.
"That's why we put him at corner."
Vince Furby showed off both his speed and agility with an 88-yard
kickoff return for a touchdown and a 44-yard touchdown run during the
running-clock second half.
The Predators will play the St. Paul Pioneers, last year's nationals
champions, Saturday at Carson Park.
