LANDON FOOTBALL 34 MARET 8

The 1-0 Frogs entered Triplett Field at Bordley Stadium and likely few remembered their 35-16 loss on rocky Duke Ellington Field in 2019. They may have had some added confidence due to the presence of a new coach and 3 rushing TDs against Ron Brown. On the other side of the field, the Bears had positive vibes from their 28-7 win over MIAA A St. Paul’s.

The school, founded in 1911 by a blind French woman, uses the common moniker for her countrymen, Frogs, as their mascot or more appropriately  mascotte  grenouille.

Landon won the toss and deferred. A penalty and 3 short gains immediately required the visitors to punt.

Nathan Furgeson  lined up behind his center at his own 41. Runs by Ethan Ming (3 times), DP Pope (3) and Anthony Panetti (3) moved the line of scrimmage into the Frogs Zone—Anthony with the last yard for TD @ 6:30. PAT good: Bears 7 Frogs 0

In a sequence which foretold Maret’s afternoon, they held the ball for 9 plays, about 48 yards and 3 minutes BUT… on the last play a running Frog coughed up the ball. Taylor Best grabbed the spheroid and sprinted 70 yards for Landon’s second TD@3:50 PAT good: Bears 14 Frogs 0.

The visitors had another three and out. The Bears drove 46 yards in 4 plays—DP run for 20, Ethan for 10 & 1 and finally a 16 yard TD pass from Nathan F to Nathan R @ 0:34 with Chase Robertson’s 3^rd successive PAT. Bears 21 Frogs 0

Maret ran on the field with more energy and in nine plays moved the ball to the Landon 4. After 4 plays the Frogs only hopped to the Landon 1.5; a jet sweep found Bear DB Ethan who stopped his opponent for a loss. HUGE GOAL LINE STAND!!! The home team moved the ball far enough from their goal line to allow a secure punt.

This series saw the visitors QB in passing mode, an incomplete and 2 drop backs resulting in scrambles. With about 2 minutes left in the first stanza, their punt pushed the home  team back to their 16. Nathan F ran thrice and passed once, but the Bears stalled on this drive.

Frogs moved the ball 22 yards only to find Brian White on the bottom of a fumble pile with only 0:28 to half time. A long Nathan F to Anthony pass was the only result in this mini-possession.

HALFTIME BEARS 21 Frogs 0

[harkening to Maret’s French roots]

The school, founded in 1911 by a blind French woman, uses the common moniker for her countrymen, Frogs, as their mascot or more appropriately  mascotte  grenouille.

Les Grenouilles were not able to stop the Landon Pope (#14) over the 6 plays with DP running 10,19,29 and 20 yards. The coup de grace was Nathan F’s 1 yards QB sneak for a TD 9:33 pat good BEARS 28 FROGS 0

The visitors’ bad luck had a break next. They moved 90 yards in 5 plays and scored on a 50 yard TD pass at 5:34 and then a 2 point conversion. Bears 28 Frogs 8

A Bear named Best destroyed the Frog Karma with a 90 yard kickoff return. Taylor scored 13 seconds after Maret’s TD @5:21. PAT not good: Bears 34 Frogs 8

Whatever momentum that the visitors had was reduced by a TFL by Lucas Knight  and a 4 minute, 51 yard drive died. Landon held the ball for 1:00, the remainder of Q3.

To start off the last 12 minutes, the Bears fumbled the ball. Maret started only 35 yards from a TD. A TFL by Ethan slowed them down, but did not stop them. The Frogs continued to the Bears’ 21 but could not get past the 15.

Landon responded with a 3 and out. The home team’s punt  moved their opponents to the Bears 45. Seven Frog O plays only 9 yards—a TFL by Lucas (-8) and a Frog penaltyfrustrated Maret.

With 3:40 remaining, 6 successive runs killed the clock.

FINAL :BEARS 34 FROGS 8

WOODBERRY FOREST (1-1) TIGERS @ LANDON 9/23 4:30pm, several 300# players and a Leachman cousin QB.

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