Tigers rack up gaudy stats against scrappy Comets in 45-27 win

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In a game split by weather, the Northwestern Tigers figured out how to bring some thunder of their own, defeating the Eastern Comets, 45-27, in Greentown on Friday and Saturday.

Northwestern maintained control of this game before and after the storms that delayed the game's finish to Saturday. The Tigers scored in every quarter, extending a 20-6 first-quarter lead to 33-13 at the half. Another six points scored in the third quarter allowed Northwestern to rest its first-line players, and it was then that Eastern found some success, scoring twice in the final frame to arrive at the 45-27 final.

The surprising thing about the lopsided final score is that Eastern ran 17 more plays from scrimmage, had eight more first downs, and suffered half the penalty yardage that Northwestern incurred. But what is done with the ball appears to be more important than how many times it is put into play, at least in this game.

Northwestern's senior quarterback was remarkably adept at doing something with the ball. He threw for an eye-popping 412 yards and six touchdowns against Eastern, including a 67-yard bomb to sophomore wideout Armani Jackson, who scored on two of his three catches and amassed 154 yards receiving.

Not to be outdone, senior receiver Hayden Cook proved to be Shank's preferred target, hauling in six passes for 110 yards and four touchdowns.

Eastern's Gibson Eagle, a sophomore under center, proved to be no slouch, and on many nights, his 356 passing yards and three touchdowns might have been enough to record a win. He found senior receiver Braylen Word seven times for 100 yards in the air and a touchdown.

Juniors Owen Tolle and Kaleb Hurt were also impactful receivers. Tolle caught five passes for 92 yards, and Hurt found the end zone twice, catching three passes for 85 yards.

Both teams also displayed powerful running games. Eastern's Isaiah Pickett scorched the turf 16 times for 176 yards rushing and a touchdown. Northwestern's Da'marco Reed, just a freshman, ran the ball eight times for 74 yards and a touchdown, including a 55-yard scamper.

Defensively, there wasn't too much to write home about, considering the high-octane nature of both team's offenses. Still, Northwestern's Dewayne Perrigen and Michael Arrick both forced fumbles resulting in turnovers. And Andrew Cavazos and Lucas Fewell of Eastern both registered sacks.

At 2-0, the Tigers play host to Southwood (0-2) on Friday night. Eastern (0-2) will try to find the win column Friday on the road against Delphi (1-1).

Look for additional photos of this game, courtesy of Adam Hartsough on the Lantern's Facebook page and group.