TIPP CITY -- The 2006 football season lives on for St. Marys, as the Roughriders opened Division III, Region 10 tournament play with a hard fought 21-14 win on the road at Tipp City Saturday night.
The Riders advance to the second round next Saturday to face Sunbury Big Walnut at a neutral site to be determined Sunday. Big Walnut advanced with a 31-20 victory over Napoleon Saturday.
The Roughriders set the tone for the game with a bone-crunching, 23-play, 11-minute scoring drive to open a 7-0 lead and never looked back.
On a cold, crisp night the game began with a flurry of turnovers. Zach Dammeyer hauled in the opening kickoff for St. Marys and fumbled to the Red Devils at the Rider 19 yard line.
However, two plays later the Red Devils were just as generous when Red Devil running back Scott Franzer fumbled and St. Marys recovered at its own six yard line.
The Riders were able to string together a couple of first downs, moving the ball out to the 41 yard line, where Koby Frye fumbled with Tipp City recovering. But on the very next play, Tipp City quarterback David Strawser was intercepted by Troy Matthews at the Rider nine for the game’s fourth turnover in a little over three minutes.
St. Marys began “The Drive” with 8:52 left in the first quarter. The Riders marched 91 yards in 23 plays, scoring on a one yard run by quarterback Derek Dunlap with 9:34 left in the half. The key play of the drive was a fake punt, when Scott Laman took a short snap near midfield and picked up five yards on a fourth-and-two.
Tipp City was able to answer the St. Marys score on its next possession. The Red Devils went 67 yards on nine plays. The key play on the drive was a 20-yard pass from Strawser to Robert Goldsberry, who was pushed out at the St. Marys two yard line.
Andrew Ford scored on the next play and Jordan Beighle booted the extra point to tie the game at 7 with 5:09 left in the half.
The Roughriders moved the ball to near midfield where Dunlap mishandled a snap. The Red Devils recoved the third St. Marys turnover of the half, but were unable to capitalize when Beighle’s 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
Tipp City began the second half pretty much like the first half started, fumbling a pitch on its first play from scrimmage. Victor Long recovered at the Red Devil 29.
However, St. Marys was unable to take advantage of the miscue, as Frye was stopped for no gain on back-to-back plays to turn the ball over on downs.
The Rider “D” forced a three-and-out, and Tipp’s only punt of the game. From there a 32-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sheipline was called back on an illegal block. But the Riders were still able to score as Laman and Frye took turns pounding away.
Frye went in from one yard out, and Doug Burke added his second PAT for a 14-7 St. marys lead with 5:03 left in the third quarter.
Once again, Tipp City was equal to the challenge, driving 68 yards on 14 plays to tie the game at 14 with 10:26 left to play.
The Red Devils followed their score with a tough defensive stand, forcing a rare St. Marys three-and-out, and appeared to be getting a chance to have the ball with an opportunity to take the lead. But Victor Long’s punt was fumbled by Goldberry, and Matthews was able to fall on the loose ball at the Tipp City 16.
Four plays later Laman scored from one yard out, and Burke booted the PAT after a penalty for a 21-14 lead with 6:41 left in the game.
Tipp City pushed the ball back inside the St. Marys 20, but on a fourth down R.J Turner and Cody Smith sacked Strawser, turning the ball over on downs with 3:07 left to play.
The Riders were able to pick up a first down, forcing the Red Devils to deplete their timeouts. The Riders had to punt but Tipp City got the ball back with just 10 seconds left in the game. Strawser was able to complete a short pass to Goldsberry, but he was sacked and fumbled the ball away on the last play as the clock ticked down to 0:00.
Frye led the St. Marys rushing attack with 102 yards on 26 carries. Laman tallied 91 yards on 22 carries.
Dunlap completed four of six passes for 63 yards. Adam Johns caught three of those passes for 41 yards. Ford led alll rushers with 108 yards on 22 carries.
The Riders finished 275 yard of total offense on 67 plays and 176 first downs, The Red Devils ran 48 plays for 231 yards of total offense and 15 first downs.
St. Marys, now 9-2, picked up the 550th win in the school’s storied football history. The Riders will face a 9-2 Sunbury Big Walnut team that beat Lima Shawnee 14-7 in the first game of the season.
