Related Links:
Scores
Stats
Standings
Joe Eitel
Photos by Andrews Photography
CLICK FOR
LARGER IMAGE
|
SHAWNEE -- Three St. Marys fumbles and a missed extra point helped the Shawnee Indians grab control of the Western Buckeye League Football race Friday night at Shawnee.
Shawnee improved to 6-0 with a 7-6 win over the Riders, who dropped their first game of the season and fall into second place in the WBL at 5-1.
For the second straight week, the Riders battled back from a halftime deficit, but this time came up short.
St. Marys capitalized on a Shawnee fumble early in the fourth quarter and took over in Indian territory at the 40. From there the Riders ground out three first downs, and ended up scoring on a one-yard sneak by Corey Vossler.
With 4:16 left in the game, the all-important PAT kick by Ross Quellhorst sailed wide right.
Shawnee's offense was able to respond with two crucial first downs to milk most of the clock.
A 14-yard run by Ryan Small, and a 12-yard completion from Matt Hershey to Ryan Downard allowed the Tribe to move into St. Marys territory.
However, the Riders were able to use their timeouts and force a punt with 1:06 to play.
But starting at their own 15, the Riders were unable to generate any come-from-behind magic. Vossler threw an incompletion and was then intercepted with 46 seconds to play.
Shawnee did a good job of controlling the clock in the second half with a big advantage in time of possession.
The Riders' Achilles Heel was showing Friday as they were unable to stop the Shawnee passing game. Hershey completed 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards without an interception.
The Riders connected on just three of eight passes for 32 yards.
Fumbles were devastating for the Rider offense, which was unable to sustain any kind of momentum.
Senior Justin Nagel lost all three fumbles, including the opening kickoff, which pretty much set the tone for the game.
Shawnee started on the St. Marys 22 yard line, but the Rider defense responded with its back against the wall.
Shawnee's first four plays netted nine and a half yards, and the Riders took over.
An offsides penalty threw the Riders off-step, forcing the half's only St. Marys punt.
Again the Indians were held on three plays, forcing a punt that Nick Yahl returned to the St. Marys 43, giving the Riders a shift in field position.
From there the Blue and Gold offense kicked into gear, picking up three first downs and moving inside the Shawnee 15. But Justin Nagel's second lost fumble gave the ball back to Shawnee.
The Tribe moved the ball to near midfield, but again were forced to punt, pinning the Riders at their own 15.
St. Marys again showed signs of life, grinding out three first downs, before another first down offsides penalty seemed to throw the Riders off their game. The drive ended when a fourth-and-six pass by Corey Vossler fell incomplete.
Shawnee responded with an impressive drive of its own, mixing the pass and run and moving the ball well.
A 14-yard completion from Matt Hershey to a wide open Ryan Downard set the Indians up at the St. Marys three.
Two plays later, sophomore fullback Derek Lingenfelter scored from two yards out with 37 seconds left in the half to give the Indians a 7-0 going into the halftime break.
Shawnee finished with 290 yards of total offense and 15 first downs. The Riders rolled up 220 yard of offense and 12 first downs.
Bo Frye paced the Riders on the ground with 20 carries for 81 yards.
The Riders return home next Friday for a Homecoming battle against Kenton. The Wildcats improved to 4-2 on the season with a 29-0 thumping of Wapakoneta Friday.
|
