SKIP BAUGHMAN STADIUM -- Under threatening skies, the 2009 Roughriders and the Urbana Hillclimbers slugged it out in a "Jamboree" Chicken Bowl scrimmage here Friday.
One "final" score had the Riders on top 21-13, but it was 14-13 at the end of the usual regulation three quarters played in this scrimmage. With the coaches apparently content to work with the squads on the field at the end of regulation, the Riders continued their possession for 12 plays after time had expired, resulting in the final touchdown.
The "Jamboree" designation came about because Urbana had played two scrimmages prior to this one. The OHSAA permitted member high schools to schedule a third scrimmage this year, but mandated that a fee be paid to OHSAA for the privilege. A $3.00 admission fee was charged at the gate, the first Chicken Bowl ever to charge admission.
St. Marys received the ball first and looked like they were going to continue last year's domination of Urbana with a workmanlike 5-minute scoring drive. A ten yard rushing gain on the opening play of the game followed by two third-and-short conversions put the ball at the Urbana 38 yard line. Kyle Puschel took the handoff and broke free in the secondary for a 38-yard touchdown. Dan Roberts' extra point kick was good and the Riders led 7-0.
Both defenses took over at this point, and the teams traded short possessions the remainder of the first quarter.
Urbana had had their first pass called back on a penalty, the second one nearly intercepted by St. Marys' Dan Roberts and their third fall incomplete. But a quick 11-yard completion near the beginning of the second quarter seemed to put the Rider defense on edge. The Hillclimbers put together an effective drive mixing pass and run, culminating in a passing touchdown in a fade route to the corner of the end zone at the 6:48 mark. The PAT attempt was low and wide, and St. Marys held on to the lead 7-6.
Again, the defenses took control and the teams traded punts until halftime.
The Hillclimbers received the kick after halftime, and they put together a sixteen-play scoring drive that lasted nearly eight minutes - with one brief interruption. St. Marys sophomore defensive back Allen Broyles played a long Urbana pass nicely. He came down with an interception and returned it almost 20 yards to the St. Marys 38 yard line before being tackled - and fumbling it back to the Hillclimbers. They took twelve plays to score from there and the PAT made it Urbana 13, St. Marys 7 at the 4:06 mark in the 3rd quarter.
But the Roughrider offense answered. Six hard-nosed running plays put the ball at the Urbana 38 yard line. Puschel broke loose again, running in a bookend 38-yard touchdown to match his first half score, with 1:00 to play in the 3rd quarter. Roberts' PAT kick broke the tie and made it St. Marys, 14-13.
Urbana came out in the shotgun. Two quick completions moved the ball to midfield. On a 3rd-and-4 play, a pass completion on a crossing route would have gained a first down, but the Urbana receiver was popped by a Rider linebacker and the ball came loose with the Riders recovering at the St. Marys 43.
St. Marys had time for two short runs to midfield before official time expired.
The Riders had a relatively easy time with last year's youthful Hillclimbers, who went on to a 9-1 regular season in 2008. St. Marys did not complete a single pass in tonight's practice contest, new Roughrider head coach Mark Hollars' debut.
The game counts next Friday, when the Riders travel to Sidney to restart the old series with the Division 2 Yellowjackets. Urbana hosts Division 4 London.
