Tipton's red crush

ADRIAN — For the third straight year, the Tipton Cardinals have advanced to the Class 1 state semifinals.

Jonathan Loganbill rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, Tipton’s defense forced five turnovers and the Cardinals snapped Adrian’s nine-game win streak Saturday with a 26-7 quarterfinal win.

The Cardinals (13-0) will play Valle Catholic (13-0) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Tipton.

“Soon as we hit the playoffs — you know this is our third straight year — we knew it would come down to defense,” Tipton coach Tony Braby said. “Adrian has a fine team and they’re well coached, but we played well. We forced turnovers, we capitalized on the turnovers and we just played all-around good football.”

The defensive effort shined against a Blackhawks team averaging about 300 yards and 33 points a contest.

Despite throwing for 183 yards and a touchdown, Trevor Gregg was exposed against a sure-handed secondary.

He threw four interceptions, three to Chris Bracht, and was sacked five times by an aggressive defensive line that shut down the rushing attack.

The Blackhawks’ ground game, averaging just shy of 200 yards for the season, gained only 62 yards, fumbled three times (losing one) and was held out of the end zone for the first time all season.

“It was a great defensive effort,” Bracht said. “We watched film on them all week and just reran the film over and over. Our defense hung in there and had a lot of heart, and we just stopped them in every aspect of the game.”

The momentum carried over to the offense, where Tipton capitalized on the turnovers and had little trouble moving downfield.

Because of a dominant effort from his backfield, quarterback Marcus Brinkley threw just two passes, one a 24-yard completion and the other an incompletion that was ruled pass interference.

Led by Loganbill, the Cardinals gained 354 yards on the ground as four players rushed for at least 50 yards.

“I’ve got to give credit to the offensive line,” Loganbill, known as Little Diesel by Braby, said. “They were just opening up the holes for me and my teammates, so they deserve the bulk of the credit.”

From the onset of the game, the defense set the table for the rushing attack.

After Tipton’s offense went three-and-out on the opening drive, Cameron Backes intercepted Gregg to set up the Cardinals at  Adrian’s 39-yard line.

Loganbill needed only two plays to find the end zone, taking a handoff 35 yards untouched up the left side. Bracht converted the point after and the Cardinals led 7-0 3 minutes into the contest.

After driving 63 yards to the Cardinals’ goal line, the Blackhawks couldn’t hold on to the ball for the second-straight series.

Erik White fumbled on the 1 and Burt Barbour recovered the loose ball.

Pinned against Tipton’s goal line, Loganbill broke free for a 39-yard run on the drive’s first play and the rushing attack continued to roll.

Keil Allison had three carries for 18 yards to cross midfield. After a pass interference prolonged the drive on third and 11, Dallas Peoples waited for his blockers up the right side and rumbled into the end zone from 27 yards out.

On the ensuing drive’s opening play, Bracht bit on an out route and could only watch as Skyler Kariker tiptoed the sidelines 73 yards into the end zone.

The point after was successful and Adrian trailed 14-7 late in the first quarter.

Both defenses buckled down in the second quarter, as neither team could find an inch of running room.

Adrian’s offense threatened late in the half, orchestrating a 49-yard drive into Cardinals territory, but a holding penalty pushed the Blackhawks back and forced them to punt.

The long snap fell short and the Blackhawks’ mistake put the Cardinals at Adrian’s 46.

On the ensuing possession, the Cardinals converted two third downs and a fourth down before being confronted with fourth and goal at the 3 with only 7 seconds left.

Loganbill punched it in from there behind the left guard to give the Cardinals a 20-7 halftime lead.

Bracht opened up the second half with an interception and Loganbill scored from 32 yards out, as the Cardinals led 26-7 after a failed two-point conversion.

Adrian piled up a mere 32 yards and two first downs in the remaining minutes, and Gregg was intercepted twice more by Barbour and Bracht.