Bill Higgins : Novelist , publicist and nostalgic historian — Page 3
Book review : The Great Spiritual Migration — Page 5
Taylor men ’ s basketball gets big road win over # 3-ranked Davenport — Page 8
The SEGway News
Serving South East Grant County
Volume 1 , Number 8 A Good News Ventures publication November 24-30 , 2016
MPO to be part of Taylor ’ s ‘ Sing Noel ’
The Marion Philharmonic Orchestra will present its holiday concert in collaboration with Taylor University on Saturday , December 3 , 2016 , at 7:30 p . m . in the Rediger Chapel Auditorium . The MPO is proud to be part of Taylor ’ s annual presentation of “ Sing Noel ” this season . The concert will feature guest artist Steve Amerson , Tenor and Taylor alum , in a performance of Handel ’ s Messiah and a variety of Christmas pops selections . Also performing on the concert will be Lauren Walker , Soprano , Courtney Jameson , Alto , and Conor Angell , Bass . The Taylor University Chorale and Sounds , under the direction of Dr . JoAnn Rediger , will be featured throughout this concert . This will be the first MPO event to be held in the newly renovated Rediger Chapel Auditorium in the LaRita Boren Campus Center .
“ Sing Noel ” will be the second concert of the MPO ’ s 2016-2017 “ Masterpiece ” series , the final season for Music Director Alexander Platt . In his honor , the season will feature many of his favorite musical selections and soloists from his tenure with the MPO . As an extension of its mission to enrich the community through musical programming and education , the MPO offers affordably priced tickets for patrons of all ages . This season , complimentary tickets are available for children 12 and under with each purchase of an adult ticket . Adults tickets are $ 20 , and Students 13 and up are $ 10 . Tickets can be ordered through the MPO Box Office at 765-662- 0012 . Tickets for “ Sing Noel ” are also available through the Taylor University Music Department , 765-998-5232 .
As Grant County ’ s community orchestra , the MPO partners with generous donors each year to provide rich musical and educational experiences . This past season , the MPO engaged more than 1700 young people in its programming through concert attendance , production assistance , performance opportunities and internships . Since it began in 1969 , the orchestra has evolved from a group of local volunteer musicians into a professional symphony that features the finest musicians in the state , in the most beautiful and intimate venues in the county .
Panthers to play for state title
Semi-State 20-13 victory punches ticket for Lucas Oil
by Doug Roorbach
Blayne Altum capped off a running-back-by-committee effort with a four-yard touchdown with only 18 seconds left in the game to give the Eastbrook Panthers a 20-13 win over the Whiting Oilers in the IHSAA Class 2A Semi-State Friday night and punch their ticket for a trip to the State Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday , November 25 at 12 noon .
“ I don ’ t think anybody on the coaching staff in their wildest dreams felt like this was even a possibility , let alone a reality ,” said Jeff Adamson , head coach of the Panthers , “ I think that makes it all the more fun .”
It didn ’ t come easy , although it looked as if it would after the first nine minutes .
Eastbrook took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 12 plays , capped by Justin Singer ’ s two-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal to take a 7-0 lead .
After a quick three-and-out by the Oilers , the Panthers did it again , driving 77 yards on nine plays and scoring another touchdown — this time on an 18-yard scamper by Edward Keasling .
“ The first two drives I think we were able to go fast enough so that maybe they didn ’ t have time to adjust ,” Adamson said .
Just when it seemed like the Panthers would roll up unlimited yards and win easily , the Oilers signaled their intent to make it a game by blocking the extra point , and , just-like-that , the momentum shifted . It would be the first of many turnarounds over the ensuing 39 minutes .
“ There ’ s so much riding on the game that every single
Photo by Marc DeBonis
The Eastbrook Panthers fly the “ W ” after taking a 20-13 victory over the Whiting Oilers in the Semi-State game . The Panthers will play for the state championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday at 12 noon .
play counts ,” said Adamson , “ It really felt like if anybody could get a big play or hold a drive together , it was going to be enough to swing it .”
“ I was actually a little scared ,” said Jackson Liddick , the senior quarterback of the Panthers , when asked if he felt good at that point of the game , “ because I was thinking ‘ We ’ re never this hot this early .’ Whiting definitely responded .”
It took Whiting all of one play to capitalize , in fact . From his own 42 , Oilers quarterback Stuart Glascow dropped back and fired up a pass for Nino Barbosa . Singer seemed to be in position to make an interception , or at least break up the pass , when he slipped and fell . Barbosa made the reception and ran 58 yards for a touchdown and suddenly it was 13-7 .
There were still two minutes left in the first quarter , but the rest of that period and the entire second quarter would pass with no further scoring .
“ They put an extra linebacker up in the box , changed from a 5-2 look to a 5-3 , which made it a lot tougher for us to be running the ball ,” said Adamson .
Which is not to say that it was uneventful — both teams just seemed to settle in to the game and , like two heavyweight boxers standing toeto-toe , slugged each other as hard as they could , neither willing to bend , let alone break . Both teams turned over the ball on downs . Both had special teams misadventures — Whiting a failed fake punt and Eastbrook a punt that Jackson Liddick had to kick with his left foot just to get it off .
Eastbrook ’ s defense proved stronger , allowing the Oilers just 74 yards — including that 58-yard pass — and two first downs in the first half . The Panthers , meanwhile , racked up seven first downs and more than 200 yards — all of it on the ground .
Whiting would change that , somewhat , in the second half . Taking the kickoff on their own 32 , the Oilers put together a five-minute , 68- yard drive for a touchdown to tie the game . Glascow provided 60 of the yards himself , running the ball , not passing .
The two teams then traded punts , followed by drives where each team turned the ball over on downs . The grinding running games wore down both teams , and the clock , burning through the remainder of the third quarter and 10 minutes of the fourth .
Adamson noted : “ We were debating to take the wind in the third quarter or the fourth quarter because it was unbelievable , you couldn ’ t throw into it , it was difficult to kick , and [ assitant coach ] Nate Brown said ‘ We need to make sure we ’ ve got the wind in the fourth quarter .’ We don ’ t throw a lot , but they couldn ’ t throw into the wind
>> Panthers page 8
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