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SIDNEY-- When it comes to fumbles, what goes around comes around.
It looked like a game-killer.
For the second time in the game the Riders lost a fumble inside the Sidney 10 yard line. The second time came with less than three minutes left to play and the Yellowjackets leading 10-7.
Shawn Craft lost the handle on the ball as he appeared to be crossing the goal line. Sidney recovered the loose ball in its own end zone and seemed to have the game in hand.
However, on the very next play, the Riders defense stripped the ball from Sidney tailback Zach Guey, and recovered it on the Sidney 15. Five plays later Craft redeemed himself, scoring from two yards out with 34 seconds to play.
Craft's score capped a 14-0 fourth quarter run, as the Riders rallied for a 14-10 season-opening win at Sidney's Julia Lamb Stadium Friday night.
All of the scoring came in the second half, beginning with the Yellowjackets opening drive of the third quarter.
A pass interference penalty put the Jackets in good field position near midfield. Sidney quarterback Chad Guey then scrambled for one first down, and completed two passes, moving the pigskin inside the Rider 30.
On a third-and-one from the 28, Zach Guey caught the Riders crowding the line of scrimmage. He found a seam and rambled 28 yards to paydirt.
A player not listed in the program (rumored to be a soccer team ringer) booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 8:53 left in the third quarter.
The Roughriders' first possession of the second half started out well, but ended in disaster. After a couple first downs, and moving the ball into Sidney territory, the drive stalled.
Lining up for his fourth punt of the game, Matt Helmstetter watched the snap sail over his head. He recovered at his own 23, but the damage was done.
The Roughrider defense allowed just two yards on the next three plays, but the Jackets were in field goal range. The mystery place-kicker nailed a 35-yarder for a 10-0 lead.
With their backs against the wall, the Rider offense came charging back. St. Marys marched 80 yards in 11 plays on their next possession to score its first points of the 2003 season.
Key plays in the drive included an 18-yard pass from Corey Vossler to Eric Sullivan and a 19-yard touchdown run by Justin Nagel.
Nick Pfeffenberger booted his first PAT of the season, cutting Sidney's lead to 10-7 with 11:46 left to play.
The two teams then traded three-and-out possessions before Sidney put together a drive deep into St. Marys territory. A fourth down offensive pass interference penalty forced the Jackets to punt with 4:32 left to play.
Again the Riders got going quickly with a 15-yard gain on a counter play by Nagel. Runs by Vossler and Craft netted zero yards and a motion penalty put the Riders in a third-and-15 situation.
From there Vossler rolled right and threw back to Nick Yahl, who rambled up the sidelines for a gain of 54 yards.
A gain of nine by Nagel and a two yard run by Craft gave the Riders a first down inside the Sidney five with less then three minutes left to play.
The next play saw Craft fumble into the end zone. Sidney was almost in position to "take a knee" but with 2:41 left to play, handed off to Guey, who turned the ball right back over to the Riders on the 15.
Nagel and Craft took turns on three consecutive four-yard gains for a first down at the three. Following a sneak by Vossler that gained one, Craft crossed the goal line with the winning score with 34 seconds left to play.
A desperation pass by the Jackets was intercepted by Nick Yahl to seal the win.
The first half was a defensive standoff, as neither team was able to get on the scoreboard.
The Roughriders picked up two first downs on the game's opening drive, but stalled near midfield.
Sidney's best scoring opportunity of the first half came on its first drive. The Jackets started on their own 20 and moved to the St. Marys 23 before being forced to attempt a 40-yard field goal, which failed.
Nagel had three long runs on the Riders' next drive, as the Riders moved from their own 20. However, a 17-yard gain on a counter play ended in a fumble, which Sidney recovered at its own eight yard line, spoiling a golden scoring opportunity in the Red Zone for the Riders.
The St. Marys defense was the highlight of the second quarter as Sidney was unable to pick up a first down.
Twice the Roughriders began drives inside the Sidney 40 yard line, but the Jacket "D" was also up to the challenge, as the Riders were unable to take advantage of the field position.
The Riders dominated the stats, totaling 294 yards of offense compared to 111 for Sidney.
Nagel had a big night on the ground with 164 yards on 21 carries. Craft ran for 51 tough yards, also on 21 carries, while Vossler completed two of three passes for 72 yards.
The Roughriders open Western Buckeye League play next week against Defiance at Skip Baughman Stadium. The Bulldogs knocked on Napoleon 19-7 Friday in their opener.
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