The Tipton Blue Devil football team defeated the Oracles Friday night 19-7. Delphi should have and could have won this game, but Tipton took advantage of some Oracle mistakes during a two minute span early in the fourth period to put this game into the win column.

The 5-4 Blue Devils forced the Oracles to punt the first two times they had the ball. On Tipton's second possession, the Devils needed only four downs to take a 6-0 lead with just under four minutes to play. Michael Myers blocked the extra point kick.

The return man for Delphi let the ball slip through his hands on the kickoff, but was quick enough to fall on the ball to keep possession for the Oracles at the ten-yard line.

On third and 16 from the four, Joe Little hit Matt Lewis on a screen pass out to the 22 and a first down. Two plays later Little was in the hands of a Tipton defender when he tried to get rid of the ball and was intercepted. Fortunately, for Delphi, the defense stepped up and kept the Blue Devils from scoring when, on fourth down, a pass fell to the ground in the end zone.

When Delphi started its next drive Shane Evans was the quarterback. Six running plays moved the ball out to the 35 before the Oracles punted. Once again the Delphi defense held the Blue Devils. Delphi took over at their 16-yard line with 5:53 to go in the half. The Oracles came away with a 7-6 lead after an 18-play drive that left 12.7 seconds on the scoreboard. Evans either ran or passed, 6 of 10 for 70 yards and a TD, the ball on 14 plays during the drive. Delphi had simply played harder than the Blue Devils to go into the locker room with momentum for the second half.

Tipton started the third by taking the ball from their own 30 to inside the Oracle 20-yard line. On third and five at the ten a Tipton player had a touchdown pass in his hands but dropped it and on fourth down another catchable pass was missed by Tipton. Neither team could get anything going the remainder of the quarter and the period ended the same way the half ended with the Oracles holding a 7-6 lead.

Delphi turned the ball over on downs early in the final period at the Tipton 38. It was at this point that the game was won for Tipton. It took 26 seconds and two plays, a 30-yard pass and a 32-yard run, for the Blue Devils to go ahead 12-7. A 2-point conversion failed.

On their fourth play after fielding the kickoff the Oracles fumbled a high snap from center. Tipton recovered on the Oracle 5-yard line. One play later and the lead stretched to 19-7 With Delphi needing a score, they moved the ball to the Tipton 17 before stalling and turning the ball over on downs with 3:11 left in the game. Delphi had one more possession but the game had already been decided.

The Oracles were led in rushing by Lewis with 41 yards and Josh Penn with 20.

Little went 5-10 for 68 yards and an interception while Shane Evans was 12 of 22 for 129 yards, a touchdown and a interception. Cory Smith was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 74 yards, Michael Myers caught 5 for 66 yards and a touchdown. Lewis caught 5 for 40 yards and Kory Banes 1 for 17 yards.

The Oracles record is now 2-7 going into the first round of the tournament. Delphi opens the tourney on the road at Northwestern for a 7 p.m. start. If you're planning to attend the game, the school is located 3431 N 400 W. Kokomo.