SIDNEY MEMORIAL STADIUM -- Sidney snapped a seven-game losing streak to St. Marys with a 14-0 victory over the Roughriders Friday night at Memorial Stadium, spoiling the St. Marys coaching debut for Mark Hollars.
It was the first season-opening shutout for St. Marys in 41 years, going back to 1968 when Sidney posted at 42-0 win.
The game was delayed 45 minutes due to lightning, however, even though Mother Nature eventually calmed down, there was more lightning to come on the field.
Sidney speedster Jack Foy scored the first two times he touched the ball, accounting for all of the game's scoring in the first three minutes of the game. In fact, it took Foy about 12 seconds to run 74 yards to paydirt on the first play of scrimmage in the 2009 season.
Austin Kleinhans booted the PAT to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.
St. Marys went three-and-out on its first possession of the season, which then ended in disaster when Devon Fitzgerald’s punt was blocked and recovered by the 'Jackets at the Rider 13 yard line.
One play later, Foy, on his second carry of the game, scampered into the end zone untouched for a 14-0 Sidney lead with 8:56 left in the first quarter.
That would do it for the scoring in the first half... and the game.
St. Marys picked up three first downs on its next turn with the ball, but couldn’t mount much of an offensive threat the rest of the first half. However, the Rider defense was able to adjust in the second quarter forcing two Yellow Jacket punts in the final eight minutes of the first half.
St. Marys quarterback Derek Roop attempted his first pass of the game on the Riders' second possession of the first half. A 28-yard completion to Matt Watkins momentarily sparked the Rider "O" but the drive stalled just inside the Sidney 30 yard line.
The Riders' best chance to get back in the game came in the final minute of the third quarter, when Sidney Quarterback Alex Lochard lost a fumble at his own 33 yard line.
However, four straight St. Marys running plays netted just nine yards, turning the ball over on downs. The Roughriders were never able to crack the Sidney Red Zone.
Sidney threatened one more time, driving to the St. Marys two yard line later in the fourth quarter, but the drive stalled when Lochard's fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
The Riders finished with just 113 yards rushing on 37 carries. Justin Thomas led the way with 85 yards on 19 carries. Roop complete four of 11 passes for 73 yards. Watkins caught three of those for 64 yards.
Sidney did most of its damage on the ground. Foy finished with 131 yards rushing on 12 carries, as the Jackets totaled 251 yards rushing.
The Roughriders will return to the friendly confines of Skip Baughman Stadium next week to open the Western Buckeye League campaign against Elida. The Bulldogs picked up their first win in three years, as they opened with a 49-35 win over Liberty Benton Friday.
