THE SKIP -- St. Marys ended the 2009 season at Skip Baughman Stadium with a whimper, losing its third straight home contest, this time a 25-0 shutout loss to Shawnee in front of a Parent’s Night Crowd.
The Roughriders, now 5-4 overall and 5-3 in the Western Buckeye League, will finish the season on the road next Friday at Kenton. The Wildcats have already clinched an outright WBL title with a 34-14 victory over Wapakoneta. After losing its first three games of the season, Shawnee has now won six in a row and stands at 6-3 overall and 6-2 in the league.
It was a rough night for the St. Marys offense with just four first downs in the game and 105 yards of total offense.
The Shawnee defense got the scoring started late in the first quarter. Josh Tuck stepped in front of a Derek Roop pass, picked up a couple nice blocks and went 50 yards with the pick-six. Treg Brown successfully booted the PAT through the uprights for a 7-0 Shawnee lead with 58 seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Indian offense got into the act with an impressive 77-yard scoring march in the second quarter. Most of the damage came on the ground with C.J. Sewell strutting into the end zone from one yard out. Brown was wide left on the PAT giving the Tribe a 13-0 lead with 7:18 left until half.
The Roughrider offense struggled in the first half with just three first downs, and never penetrated inside the Shawnee 40 yard line. St. Marys picked up its only first down of the second half on the opening drive, which ended in a punt.
The Riders got the ball back near midfield after a Shawnee fumble was recovered by Brandon Craft. However, three plays netted two yards and Devon Fitzgerald’s punt was blocked and recovered at the St. Marys 35.
Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Seth Rosenbauer connected with Luke Morgan for a 33-yard touchdown. The two-point try failed and the Tribe led 19-0 with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
Dan Roberts gave the St. Marys offense some great field possession as he returned the ensuing kick-off 47 yards to the Shawnee 29. But the Riders were unable to capitalize after three incomplete passes and a run of four yards.
Shawnee gave the Rider offense another chance, fumbling two plays later. Michael Lutz recovered and returned the loose ball to the Tribe 20. But four plays later, the Riders had gained just nine yards and turned it over on downs.
Shawnee tacked on a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Rosenbauer to Tuck. The Riders had two posessions and two three-and-outs in the fourth quarter.
Dan Roberts paced the Rider attack with 19 carries for 56 yards. Overall the Riders ran the ball 40 times for a net 100 yards. The passing game fared no better. Roop was one of nine for five yards and an interception.
