Published: October 11, 2008 01:17 am      

Steamers get back on track with 24-0 win over Erie-Prophetstown

Three goal line stands secure win

PROPHETSTOWN, Ill. — The Erie/Prophetstown Panthers homecoming was spoiled by the Fulton Steamers 24-0 at Mosher Field Friday.

The Steamers defense stepped up big on three different occasions as the Panthers were knocking on the door from the 1-yard line twice and once from the 6-yard line.

Each time the Steamers’ defense made sure the Panthers didn’t get on the board as they forced a fumble and made the Panthers offense turn it over on downs.

“With their offense we had a bend but don’t break kind of defense because once they start clicking on offense its hard to stop them and tonight we were able to do that” said Fulton’s head coach Patrick Lower.

Special teams started the Steamers on the right foot by blocking a punt which was returned by senior Andrew Weaks giving the Steamers a quick 7-0 lead.

“We worked very hard on special teams and we haven’t seen it pay off until tonight which was a good thing to see. The blocked punt really jump started our guys which was great to see and its always good to get on the board first” said Lower.

The Panthers, however, came right back.

On the first play from scrimmage, Wes Proulx pulled off a 54-yard run to put the Panthers in the red zone.

The drive ended on a sour note as a Lukas Jepson pitch to Proulx was wide and the Steamers recovered.

The Fulton lead grew mid way through the second quarter when Evan Regenwether punched it in from the five-yard line to give Fulton a 14-0 lead.

The Steamers would score just a few minutes before halftime when Travis St. Ores drilled a 37-yard field goal to put the Steamers up by three scores.

At the start of the second half the Panthers pulled a surprise onside kick and recovered.

On the drive, the Panthers used three different backs to carry the load. The drive went all the way to the one-yard line.

Again the Steamers’ defense stepped up and made the Panthers turn it over on downs ending any threat of a comeback.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. The last of the scoring came on a one yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Renkes to give Fulton a 24-0 lead.

“We played a very good team tonight, we had to play well and we did” said Lower.

The Steamers are now 3-4 on the season.



Score by Quarters

Fulton 7 10 0 7 —24

Erie-Prophetstown 0 0 0 0 —0

Scoring

F—Andrew Weaks blocked punt return (kick good), 9:10 1st.

F—Evan Regenwether 5 run (kick good), 7:56 2nd.

F—Travis St. Ores 37 field goal (kick good), 3:47 2nd.

F—Tyler Renkes 1 run (kick good), 5:47 4th.