OSSIAN – Bookend plays made the difference in the DeKalb Barons' second win of the season at Norwell.
The first came on the Barons' initial possession, when Evan Cochran hit Logan Schilling on a picture-perfect 35-yard touchdown pass. The last came when Chad Ramus snared an interception at the DeKalb 2-yard line with 1:42 left to seal the 7-6 win over the Norwell Knights.
DeKalb improved to 2-5 (1-4 Northeast Hoosier Conference) and Norwell dropped to 0-7 (0-5 NHC).
“They'd gotten a few on us here and there with some quick passing plays,” DeKalb coach Mike Cochran said. “Give credit to Chad Ramus coming up big on that last play and getting the ball back to let the game end.”
After DeKalb took the early 7-0 lead, Norwell came out and staged a scoring drive to open the third quarter, with Piercen Harnish hitting Cale Schumm with a 10-yard scoring pass. Norwell, playing without its regular kicker Briar Bolinger, who was injured in soccer, missed the extra point and DeKalb led 7-6.
The Knights threatened to score on a couple of occasions, outgaining DeKalb 315 to 219 in total offense. A fumble ended one deep drive and an illegal procedure penalty erased what would have been a go-ahead touchdown pass from Harnish to Schumm with less than 4 minutes remaining.
“Every time we'd get something good going, we'd try to give it back either by a stupid penalty or a fumble,” Norwell coach Jeff Miller said.
Cochran threw for 155 yards and rushed for 57 and Schlling ended up with three catches for 114 yards to lead DeKalb.
DeKalb running back Jimmy Duval appeared to suffer a fracture in his leg on the second play from scrimmage and was taken to the hospital.
Harnish rushed 20 times for 112 yards and completed 11 of 18 passes for 95 yards to lead Norwell. William Gerber rushed 19 times for 79 yards. Schumm had four catches for 29 yards and also intercepted a pass.
