Published: September 12, 2009 12:40 am      

FOOTBALL: Surging Tipton upends No. 6 Rensselaer

RENSSELAER — Near-perfect execution for an excellent game plan had Tipton’s football squad pulling off a Hoosier Conference upset here Friday night.

The Blue Devils didn’t just upset Class 2A, No. 6-ranked Rensselaer Central, they dominated the previously undefeated Bombers 21-7. The victory improved Tipton’s record 2-0 in the conference and 4-0 overall as the Blue Devils head into next Friday’s showdown with 3A, No. 3 West Lafayette.

Tipton’s defense defused the Bomber offense limiting Rensselaer to just 64 rushing yards. Rensselaer quarterback Nick Green did throw for 130 yards, but 76 of those yards came on a shovel pass that resulted its only touchdown of the game.

Tipton’s defense also forced four Rensselaer fumbles, recovering three, and Kevin Moats also intercepted a pass.

“We gave up something like 25 yards of offense in the first half,” Tipton coach Aaron Tolle said. “What a great half. We played a great game defensively. We guessed wrong and blitzed one time, and gave up that huge play for a touchdown. My coaches did a great job of getting our defense prepared, and our kids did an excellent job of executing.”

Sophomore Jake Dye had a hand in all three touchdowns. He had two TD receptions, and threw a TD pass. Unlike the previous games, Tipton’s running game set up the passing game. Tanner Langley rushed 20 times for a career high 150 yards. As a team Tipton rushed 47 times for 255 yards.

“Our skilled kids did an outstanding job. I thought we needed to sprinkle in some runs with the pass, but our passing game kind of sputtered, and our quarterback got dinged a little. So we had to change things up, and sprinkle the passing with the run. Tanner did a great job. He ran hard, but it started at the line of scrimmage, our offensive line did an outstanding job [Friday].”

Tipton broke a scoreless tie by driving 60 yards in nine plays. Fifty of those yards came on the ground, and the drive was capped by Ross Schulenburg’s 10-yard TD pass to Dye. Zach Spencer’s PAT kick gave Tipton 7-0 lead at the 6:15 mark of the second quarter.

Moats’ interception set up Tipton’s next score, a 14-play, 58-yard drive. Tipton faced a fourth down and nine at the Bomber 16, and went to a trick play. Schulenburg pitched the ball to Dye, who threw the ball in the end zone where Seth Jacobs outjumped a Rensselaer defender to make the touchdown catch, and give Tipton 14-0 lead just before halftime.

Rensselaer’s touchdown cut the lead to 14-7 with 11:49 remaining in the game. The Blue Devils drove to the Rensselaer four-yard line on the ensuing drive, but turned the ball over. But three plays later, Ben Harlow recovered a Rensselaer fumble at the 11-yard line. Tipton capitalized as Schulenburg and Dye connected their second TD pass for the night and the Devils led 21-7 with 4:59 remaining.

Logan Reeves’ fumble recovery sealed the victory for Tipton.