Falls Drops Home Opener 21-6 to Oak Creek

It was a recipe of untimely penalties, turnovers, and a tough defense that left the Menomonee Falls Indians with a sour taste in their mouth after a 21-6 loss to the Oak Creek Knights Friday in Falls.

From the start, the Knights set the tempo and scored on their first drive of the game on a 10-yard pass from Jordan Strong to Jordan Veloz in the first. Early in the second, the Knights extended their lead to 14-0 after Derrick Stephan punched it in on a 3-yard pitch.

The Indians struggled to get into the flow of the game on offense, as they were called for several offensive penalties in crucial points in the game. After catching a break in the second quarter by a recovering fumble following a botched Knights pitch, Falls promptly turned the ball over five minutes later on an interception.

The Indians made things interesting in the fourth quarter, however. Quarterback Adam Vechart scampered for 31 yards on a designed quarterback run and took the ball to the Knight's 1-inch line. Falls' Justin Johnson made Vechart's effort pay off and punched it into the endzone on the following play. The extra point was no good, but the lead was trimmed to 14-6 with 9:16 to play.

On Oak Creek's next drive, the Knights made it to the one yard line, but penalties and plays for negative yardage pushed them backward and forced a 40-yard field goal attempt. Falls' Brian Schmit provided another spark and blocked the field goal attempt.

However, the turnover monster reared its head again. With 7:21 remaining, Vechart fumbled and Oak Creek's Dylan Parks recovered it and returned it to the Indians' 17. The Knights punched it into the endzone to take a 21-6 lead.

The frustration on the Indians part surfaced late in the fourth. After dishing out a late hit to Oak Creek's Strong, Falls' DeShawn Pullen decided to talk a little bit after. Pullen was ejected from the game, and penalized for talking and the late hit.

The Indians (0-0, 0-1 Greater Metro) will take on Wauwatosa East at 7 p.m. next Friday at Schumann Stadium in Menomonee Falls. The Knights (0-0, 1-0 Southeast) will play its first home game against Racine Park at 7 p.m. next Friday, as well.

For more information on the game, check out the game log below from Friday.

GAME BLOG:

FIRST QUARTER

Q1, 11:55: The 2012 season is underway. Falls kicks short, and the Knights will take over at their own 49 yard line.  

Q1, 9:21: Touchdown! Oak Creek scores quickly, marching down the field and finishing the drive on a 10-yard pass from Jordan Strong to tight end, Jordan Veloz. Falls 0 - Oak Creek 7

Q1, 7:09: First Falls drive stalls, forced to punt.

Q1, 1:03: Oak Creek running back Alex Hahn puts Oak Creek at the 20 yard line and in the redzone after a 23-yard run on a reverse.

End Q1: Oak Creek will start the second with the ball on the Indians' inch line. Falls 0 - Oak Creek 7

SECOND QUARTER

Q2, 11:28: Oak Creek takes a timeout on the two yard line. A five-yard penalty sent them back to the 5, and a short run has them at the two, 2nd down and goal.

Q2, 11:24: Touchdown! Oak Creek running back Derrick Stephan scores on a three-yard pitch. Point after was good. Falls 0 - Oak Creek 14

Q2, 11:16: A 30-yard kick return by Justin Johnson to the 50 was offset by an illegal block penalty. Falls jumped on the snap the following play, and will start thw drive with a 1st and 15 on their 6.  

Q2, 8:29: Falls takes a timeout, they'll have a 3rd and 14 on their own 18. 

Q2, 7:29: Falls punts, Oak Creek lets the ball roll and Falls downs it at Oak Creek's 43 yard line.

Q2, 5:28: Turnover! Falls catches a break and Brandon Reeves recovers a fumble on a botched Oak Creek pitch. Falls takes over at their own 39. 

Q2, 1:32: A 7-yard run by Rajaee Vasser puts Falls in scoring range at Oak Creek's 20 yard line.  

Q2, 0:27: Turnover! Oak Creek's Jordan Veloz intercepts a tipped pass by Falls' Adam Vechart. Oak Creek takes over at Falls' 44 yard line.

End of Q2: Oak Creek content to run the clock out. Falls 0 - Oak Creek 14

THIRD QUARTER

Q3, 12:00: Falls starts from their own 20 after Oak Creek kicker Brad Ploch sends the kickoff into the endzone for a touchback.

Q3, 9:58: Three and out for Falls to start the half. An unreturned line drive punt gives Oak Creek the ball on Falls' 35 yard line.  

Q3, 8:21: A 20-yard pass from Oak Creek's Jordan Strong to Chase Leonardi puts the Knights at the Indians' 14 yard line.

Q3, 5:33: Blocked field goal! After getting to the 1-inch line, Oak Creek goes no where but backwards. Oak Creek's Brad Ploch attempted a 40-yard field goal that was blocked by Falls' Brian Schmit. Falls takes over at their 32 yard line.

Q3, 1:40: Falls fails to execute a 3rd and 8. Oak Creek takes over on their own 28 yard line after a downed punt.

End of Q3: Oak Creek launches a punt that goes out of bounds. Falls will take over at Oak Creek's 48 yard line to start the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Q4, 9:28: Falls quarterback Adam Vechart provides a spark with a 31-yard scamper to Oak Creek's 1 yard line.

Q4, 9:16: Touchdown! Falls' Justin Johnson makes Vechart's effort pay off and punches it into the endzone on a 1-yard rush. Extra point was no good. Falls 6 - Oak Creek 14.

Q4, 8:28: Oak Creek faces a 3rd and 9 on their own 34, but fails to convert on an incomplete pass.

Q4, 8:17: After an Oak Creek punt and a 10-yard Falls return, the Indians take over at their own 43.

Q4, 7:21: Turnover! Falls quarterback fumbles and Oak Creek's Dylan Parks recovers and returns it to the Indians' 17.

Q4, 5:29: Touchdown! Oak Creek scores on a 1-yard run by running back Virgil Hammond. Extra point is good. Falls 6 - Oak Creek 21.

Q4, 4:16: Falls goes three and out and Anthony Russo boots a 64-yard punt on fourth down. Oak Creek will begin its drive at its own 19 yard line.

Q4, 2:03: Oak Creek looks content to run the clock out. Falls burns its first time out.

Q4, 1:56: After dishing a late hit out of bounds to Oak Creek quarterback Jordan Strong, and some trash talking after, Falls' DeShawn Pullen has just been ejected from the game. Cost his team 30 penalty yards.

End of Q4: Oak Creek goes to the "V" formation and ends the night.

FINAL SCORE: MENOMONEE FALLS 6 - OAK CREEK 21