Tipp cruises past Stebbins, improves to 4-0

Four games into the season, the Tippecanoe football team is living up to their expectations and in a big way.

The Red Devils traveled to Stebbins to battle a solid Indians team, and like the previous three games, Tipp was in total control.

With a running clock in the second half, the Red Devils defeated Stebbins 41-6 to improve to 4-0 on the season. Along with Troy’s win over Piqua, the Red Devils and Trojans sit atop of the MVL both with 3-0 records in league play.

“The boys got the job done tonight,” said Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher. “We started a little slow offensively, but their defense was better than we expected. Defensively, we shut their high powered offense down, and our guys played great. We had a lot of guys contribute tonight across the board.” 

The Red Devils took their second possession of the game and drove down the field and took the early lead. Quarterback Larkin Thomas connected with Will Strong from 39 yards out with 3:53 left in the opening quarter, taking a 6-0 lead over the Indians.

The duo connected again early in the second period. WIth less than one minute gone in the quarter, an 11 yard touchdown pass pushed the Tipp lead to 13-0.

Xavier Melton then got into the act as he scampered in from three yards out with just over two minutes left in the half, increasing the Tipp lead to 20-0, but they were not done before the half.

Inside the final minute, the Red Devils capped another drive when Thomas hit Grant Titley on another touchdown pass, this one from 15 yards out as​ Tipp headed into the break with a comfortable 27-0 lead.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Red Devils sent the game into a familiar mode of a running clock as Melton scored from inside five yards out. With 7:03 left in the third, the Red Devils led 34-0.

For good measure, Thomas went to the air again and capped the Red Devils scoring on the day with a touchdown pass to Melton as the two teamed up to extend the Red Devils lead to 41-0.

Thomas finished the day with 184 passing yards and four touchdowns, which gives him 11 passing touchdowns on the season with only one interception. Strong finished with 75 yards receiving, and Melton had another good day with 86 yards on the ground. Tipp had three times the total yardage in the game and held a 21-9 advantage in first downs. 

“We are very proud of this group and the work they’ve put in so far,” Burgbacher said. “Big challenge this week against a 3-1 Butler team. We look forward to a great week of preparation and another opportunity next week.”

The state’s fifth-ranked Red Devils return to action Friday night in a huge MVL contest at Butler, 7:30 p.m. kickoff.