Pratt, Erickson, defense lead Dragons to season opening win
Sam Pratt scored twice, Dalton Erickson returned a kickoff for a touchdown and the Cameron defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt with less than a minute to play to defeat Plattsburg, 20-18, in their 2015 football season opener Friday night at Plattsburg.
The victory snapped an 11-game losing streak for CHS dating back to 2013.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards to the end zone to take a 6-0 lead on a seven-yard run by Tanner Bahora. A two-point conversion attempt failed with 8:57 to play in the first period.
An interception by the Dragons Logan Cantwell on the Tigers next possession set up the first touchdown of the season for CHS. Sam Pratt capped the 28-yard drive with a 20-yard run up the middle to tie the game. The two-point conversion attempt failed with 5:20 to go in the first.
After forcing a punt, the Dragons drove the ball down to the Plattsburg four-yard line, but lost a fumble.
But the Tigers gave the ball right back when Tanner Gordon picked off a Daniel O’Connor pass and returned to the PHS nine-yard line. On fourth and goal, Pratt scampered into the end zone on a three-yard run and Devin France scored on a two-point conversion to gave the Dragons a 14-6 lead with 7:20 to go in the half.
Late in the first half, the Tigers drove the ball down to the CHS two-yard line, but the Dragons stuffed a running play at the goal line as time ran out.
Plattsburg pulled to within two points in the third period when Matthew Graham scored on a five-yard run, but failed on a two-point conversion pass attempt.
Erickson then scooped up the ensuing kickoff at the Dragons 32 and took it all the way back to give CHS a 20-12 lead. Joe Bryant’s PAT sailed wide left.
With 6:56 left in the game, the Tigers went on a 78-yard scoring drive with O’Connor connecting with Tanner Sims on a 17-yard TD pass with 25 seconds to play. O’Connor then ran in the two-point conversion, but the score was wiped out by a holding penalty against PHS. O’Connor then connected with a receiver over the middle and he was tackled short of the goal line to preserve the Dragons lead.
Plattsburg tried an onside kick, but the ball went out of bounds and CHS ran out the clock to secure the win.
Cameron is back on the road next Friday when they travel to Excelsior Springs. The Tigers lost their season opener at Warrensburg, 61-26.
