FOOTBALL: Oppel leads Bulldogs past Seymour 35-20

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

SEYMOUR – On Oct. 6 at Bulleit Stadium, freshman running back Austin Oppel ran for a game-high 134 yards on 21 carries to lead visiting New Albany to a 35-20 victory against Seymour. He also made two receptions for 65 yards.

Oppel, who picked up the slack for the Bulldogs because New Albany senior running back Darquan Richardson did not play, scored three touchdowns. Two of his scores came on the ground and the other one was a reception.

Junior wide receiver Devon Gummer had a productive game for New Albany (5-3, 4-2 Hoosier Hills Conference). Gummer made three catches for 131 yards and two TDs.

The Owls (3-5, 2-4) grabbed a 7-0 lead at the 8:51 of the first quarter when quarterback Alan Perry had a 20-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs answered with two long TD passes by junior Dylan Clark. He connected with Gummer on an 80-yard touchdown with 7:26 left in the opening period, tying the score at seven. Then at the 2:58 mark, Clark found Oppel on a 63-yard TD toss to put New Albany up 14-7.

A 39-yard touchdown catch by Gummer and a 1-yard TD scamper by Oppel in the second gave the Dogs a 28-7 halftime advantage. With New Albany leading 28-14 in the fourth, Oppel got the Bulldog lead back to 21 with a 1-yard TD run with 3:13 left in regulation.

Clark was 5-of-9 passing for 196 yards with no interceptions. Perry completed 18-of-29 passes for 259 yards and no picks and had a team-high 121 rushing yards on 19 carries. Teammate Tyler Bullard made seven receptions for 113 yards.

NEW ALBANY 35, SEYMOUR 20

New Albany       14  14  0  7-35

Seymour               7    0  7  6-20

First quarter

S – Alan Perry 20 run (Jacob Kriete kick), 8:51.

NA – Devon Gummer 80 pass from Dylan Clark (Noah Litzelswope kick), 7:26.

NA – Austin Oppel 63 pass from Clark (Litzelswope kick), 2:58.

Second quarter

NA – Gummer 39 pass from Clark (Litzelswope kick), 10:07.

NA – Oppel 1 run (Litzelswope kick), :31.6.

Third quarter

S – Devin Hill 3 pass from Perry (Kriete kick), 1:26.

Fourth quarter

NA – Oppel 1 run (Litzelswope kick), 3:13.

S – Alazae Louden 14 pass from Perry (kick failed), 1:51.