Delphi blue after loss
By Todd Swank Contributing sportswriter

Broken play Oracle defensive back Matt Lewis provides the hit that breaks up a Tipton pass play Friday night. Delphi came up on the short end, losing 49-0 to the Blue Devils. Bill Stauffer photo

Tipton came to town on Senior Night and completely dominated the game from start to end. Playing their fifth team of the season ranked in the top ten or receiving votes for the top ten, the Delphi Oracles will prepare for the sectional following a 49-0 loss to the Tipton Blue Devils.

Tipton scored seven touchdowns with an average drive time of 1:47. Their longest drive took 2:39 while their shortest was a quick 0:42. While a couple TD drives were from inside Delphi territory, the rest were from midfield or longer.

It didn't take long for Tipton to get the Oracles' attention. On the fourth play of the game, QB Nathan Whisler tossed a 48-yard pass to Nate Massey for a quick 7-0 lead. The Tipton defense was to be heard from early. Delphi's first possession resulted in a punt on fourth and 11 at their own 27. The Oracles did a little better on their second possession, gaining a couple first downs before the drive stalled inside Blue Devil territory. Outside of FG range at the 36, Oracle Coach John Gasser went for it on fourth down. Matt Lewis came up short for the game's first turnover.

Tipton gave the ball back to Delphi a short time later. Three plays netted them nine yards. Their attempt to run for a first down came up short when the Oracles' Braden Atwood stopped Nathan Whisler for a three-yard loss to give the Oracles possession at the Blue Devil 40-yard line to end the first quarter.

Two running plays and an incomplete pass got no yards and Delphi was forced to punt from the 40. Tipton had the ball deep at their own six-yard line when they started the second period. Four running plays got them to the Delphi 17 with the big play a 66-yard scamper by Chris Grosvenor. A 17-yard pass ended the TD drive and the score stood at 14-0 early in the second. A pass by Dustin Salyer was intercepted to give Tipton a short field to work with. A short time later a 25- yard run stretched the lead to 21-0. A 16-yard burst by Kory Banes began another Delphi possession. But Tipton's defense again rose up to stop the Oracles, forcing a punt by Michael Myers. A great return by Tipton again gave the Blue Devils a short field. From the Delphi 28 it took four plays to put Delphi into a 28-0 hole going onto the locker room for halftime.

The game was put out of reach when the Oracles fumbled to open the second half and Tipton moved 37 yards in six plays. The lead was now 35-0. It was more of the same a short time later. Tipton forced a punt and drove 48 yards in six plays to lead 42-0.

Late in the third the Oracles had their best drive of the evening. Earning some first downs and moving the ball to the Blue Devil 15. A roll out and pitch by QB Shane Evans was fumbled. An alert Tipton player picked it up on the run and didn't stop running until he got to the other end of the field. The Oracles couldn't stop him but the officials did. A block in the back call on the return brought the ball out to the Delphi 48. Tipton drove the ball to the Delphi one-yard line. On fourth and goal from the one, the Blue Devils decided to go for the touchdown rather than a field goal. Delphi stopped them for no gain and took over at the one.

Delphi was forced to punt early in the final period and Tipton drove in for the final score of the game. It took one play, a 51-yard run, to score the last points of the game. The score was 49-0 when the Oracles got the ball for the last time. They managed two first downs in the last two minutes and had the ball at the Tipton 11 with just seconds on the clock. With 0:00 showing on the clock Evans rolled to his right and saw an open Dustin Oliver in the corner of the end zone. The pass was just out of reach as it rolled off his fingertips to end the game.

Delphi falls to 2 and 7 on the year. Their sectional begins with a road game to North Newton High School Friday for a 7:30 p.m. (our time) start. North Newton has an identical 2-7 record with one of those wins as the result of a forfeit. Tickets are $5 each.