THE SKIP -- Another win for Doug Frye at Skip Baughman Stadium -- however, this time it came from the other side of the field.
Frye, an 11-year veteran at the helm of the Roughriders, left the program two years ago, taking over at rival Wapakoneta this year. His homecoming was successful, as the Redskins rolled up a 38-14 victory at St. Marys Friday night.
Wapak, which was 1-9 last year, improved to 5-1 overall and remained tied for the first place in the Western Buckeye League at 4-1. St. Marys saw its WBL record slip to 0-5 and 1-5 overall. The loss guaranteed back-to-back non-winning seasons for the Riders for the first time since 1961-62.
The Riders actually struck first in the game. Thanks to a 50-yard return of the opening kickoff by Mitch Fowler, St. Marys started its opening drive in Wapak territory. And the Rider offense looked impressive, running the option out of the T-formation.
Dustin Fisher capped a 46-yard, nine-play drive with a three-yard run. Allan Broyles split the uprights on the PAT kick, and the Riders led 7-0 with 7:48 left in the first quarter.
Wapak answered on its first possession, beginning a run of 32 unanswered points to put the game in hand. Greg Stoll capped the first drive with an 11-yard run. Mikey Grothause tied the game with a successful kick at the 2:38 mark of the first quarter.
After a St. Marys three-and-out and a 19-yard punt, the ‘Skins had a short field. Connor Pickens capped the drive with 14-yard run. Grothause missed the PAT kick with 9:31 left in the half.
Wapak’s defense got into the scoring act on the next Rider possession. Quarterback T.J. Powell fumbled an option pitch that went 25 yards backward into the St. Marys endzone where it was recovered by Wapak’s Zach Ferenbaugh for a touchdown with 8:43 left in the half. The Skins’ try for the two-point conversion failed, keeping the score at 19-7.
After stopping the Riders on three plays, Wapak’s "O" was back on the field and moving. The Skins rambled 69 yards on 12 plays. Logan Erb covered the final yard on a fourth-and-goal from the one. The PAT kick was blocked and Wapak led 26-7 with 1:06 left in the half.
Wapakoneta scored on its opening possession of the second half, as quarterback Kyle Gibson hooked up with Zach Brannan for gains of 31 and 19 yards. Logan Erb went the final three yards on the ground for a 32-7 lerad with 8:21 left in the third quarter.
St. Marys answered with its only other score in the game as Dustin Fisher capped a drive with a three-yard run on fourth down. Broyles made it two-for-two on PAT kicks, making the score 32-145 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
Wapak capped the scoring on its next possession. Logan Erb fumbled the ball into the endzone from two yards out, where offensive lineman Brad Fleck fell on it for a touchdown. For the second time iin the game, the Riders blocked the PAT kick, giving the Redskins a 38-14 lead with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.
Neither team crossed the goal line in the final period, although the Riders had a couple of nice drives, but were hampered by critical fumbles. St. Marys had seven fumbles on the night, losing three.
Wapak finished with 318 yards of total offense led by Erb with 138 yards on 18 carries. Gibson completed four of eith passes for 69 yards.
The Riders were led by Mitch Newbauer with 111 yard on 19 carries. Quarterback T.J. Powell completed one pass to Steve Elshoff for 30 yards. It was his only passing attempt of the game.
St. Marys will be back in action next Friday at home against Ottawa-Glandorf.
In a pregame ceremony the 2010 inductees into the Memorial High School Alumni Hall of Fame were introduced to the public by MHS Alumni Foundation President Bill Kellermeyer.
Dr. Catherine Durnell Cramton, MHS Class of 1975, will be inducted tomorrow evening for Academic and/or Professional Achievement. Mr. Damon Goodwin, MHS Class of 1982, will be inducted for Athletic Achievement, and Mr. Jack Lawler, MHS Class of 1951, will receive the honr for Serice to the St. Marys City Schools.
The Induction Ceremony and Banquet will take place tomorrow, Saturday, October 2, at "Lost in the 50s Diner". Cocktail hour begins at 6:00 pm, tickets are available at the door.
Scoring summary:
07:48 Q1 SM 3-yard Dustin Fisher run, Allan Broyles PAT kick good, SM-7 W-0.
02:38 Q1 W 11-yard Greg Stoll run, Mickey Grothause PAT kick good, SM-7 W-7.
09:31 Q2 W 14-yard Connor Pickens run, Mickey Grothause PAT kick wide left, SM-7 W-13.
08:43 Q2 W SM fumble recovery in end zone by Zach Ferenbaugh, 2-point PAT pass incomplete, SM-7 W-19.
01:06 Q2 W 1-yard Logan Erb run, Mickey Grothause PAT kick good, SM-7 W-26.
08:21 Q3 W 3-yard Logan Erb run, Mickey Grothause PAT kick blocked, SM-7 W-32.
03:27 Q3 SM 3-yard Dustin Fisher run, Allan Broyles PAT kick good, SM-14 W-32.
00:21 Q3 W 2-yard Logan Erb fumbled into end zone, recovered by Brad Fleck, Mickey Grothause PAT kick blocked, SM-14 W-38.