| ELIDA, OHIO - Scoring 35 points in the first half, and two touchdowns on its first three offensive plays of the second half, St. Marys got back on track in a big way Friday at Elida.
The Roughriders improved to 4-2 with a 55-14 pasting of the 0-6 Bulldogs.
It was no contest from beginning to end, as the Riders dominated with nearly 300 yards of offense in the first half while holding Elida to negative 23 yards rushing.
The St. Marys first team offense participated in just three plays from scrimmage in the second half, scoring twice for a 49-0 lead before turning the game over to the reserves.
St. Marys got things started on its second possession as a 41-yard gain by Eli Holsinger set up a two-yard sneak by Tyler Sampson. Dusty Dircksen booted the first of his seven extra points for a 7-0 lead.
The Riders struck again in the first quarter, as Steven Kill capped an 11-play 83-yard drive with a four-yard burst with 2:28 in the first quarter.
Tyler Slone's recovery of a fumbled punt at the Elida 15-yard line set up the Rider's next score. Sampson again followed center Jim Bills into the end zone from two yards out with 9:09 left in the half.
St. Marys punched in two more scores in the last two minutes of the half. Sampson connected with Ty Dingledine from 19 yards out with 1:41 left.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs in their own territory with enough time left for Sampson to complete an 18-yard pass to Kill, and a 24-yard hook-and-ladder connection that Homan carried to the two-yard line, where the Riders called their last time-out with 10 seconds left in the half.
Homan covered the final two yards to give the Riders a 35-0 halftime lead.
Things quickly went from bad to worse in the second half for the Dogs.
Elida's first drive stalled at the St. Marys 25. On the first offensive play of the half, Homan raced around the right side and raced for a 75-yard score.
Elida turned the ball over on downs on its next possession. And it took the Riders just two plays to cover 43 yards and score again. This time it was Eli Holsinger going in from 31 yards out.
With 5:27 left in the third quarter, the Rider first team was done for the night.
Holsinger finished with 136 yards rushing on 13 carries, while Homan tallied 137 yards on nine carries. Kill finished with 54 yards on 10 carries.
Elida quarterback Adam Miller spoiled the shutout when he scampered in from 15 yards out with 7:26 to play.
The St. Marys second unit answered with a nice drive capped by Brandt Huttis, who scored from six yards out with 2:31 to play.
Elida added another score as Jacob Powers connected with John Doe (#81) for a 65-yard scoring pass to end the scoring with 2:31 to play.
St. Marys will look to clinch a .500 season next week on the road at Bath. The Riders return home Oct. 13 to host the Bulldogs who reside on the west side of Lake St. Marys. |
