SKIP BAUGHMAN STADIUM - Back in contention for the Western Buckeye League title, St. Marys knocked off Van Wert Friday night to go 4-0 for the first time since 1994.
Playing at home for the first time this season, the Roughriders were able to focus on the task at hand, despite the tragedy that struck the country Tuesday.
"It's a great way to open the home season," St. Marys Coach Doug Frye said. "It was a tough week for all Americans. I appreciate the kids being able to focus. Their hearts and prayers were with everybody affected by the tragedy."
A stingy defense was able to keep the Riders on track early as the offense squandered a couple early scoring opportunities. St. Marys got inside the red zone twice early in the game, only to be turned away twice.
Dustin Alexander looked like he would get things started with a bang, taking the opening kick straight up the gut and into daylight. Alexander had four blockers and daylight in front of him, but the Van Wert kicker, Korey Heppeard, was able to snake his way in for a touchdown-saving tackle at the Van Wert 39.
Five plays later St. Marys had the ball first and 10 at the Van Wert 12, only to fumble the handoff on the counter play with Van Wert recovering.
The Cougars moved the ball well on their first possession, only to end up punting into the St. Marys end zone. On the next play, Ty Dingledine busted the trap play up the middle and wasn't stopped until he rambled 62 yards to the Van Wert 18.
Stephen Kill ran off tackle for 12 yards on the next play, but from there the Cougars stiffened and stuffed Kill on four straight running plays to take over on downs at their own three yard line.
On the Riders' third drive of the game it looked like deja vu all over again. St. Marys marched the ball 80 yards to the Van Wert 13.
Three plays later St. Marys was faced with a fourth-and-two at the Van Wert five. Frye elected to shun the field goal and go for the two yards. A sweep to Nathan Homan was buried under about seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, but the Riders got new life when one of the Cougars grabbed Homan's face mask.
From the spot of the penalty, the half-the-distance mark off was not enough for the first down, so Kill came on to attempt his first field goal of the season. He split the uprights from 22 yards out to give St. Marys a 3-0 lead with 4:59 left to play in the first half.
St. Marys' defense went back to work, turning the Cougars back on their next possession without a first down. Heppeard's nine yard punt gave the Riders tremendous field possession at the Van Wert 33.
On the next play from scrimmage, Homan ran right, breaking two tackles, and was dragged down at the six. Two plays later, quarterback Tyler Sampson sneaked in from the two for a 9-0 lead with 2:13 left in the half.
The Cougars threatened late in the half, but their last minute drive was foiled by a Charles Owens interception in the end zone with two seconds left in the half.
At halftime, the St. Marys All Brass Marching Band and the Van Wert Cougar Pride Marching Band combined on the field to play a stirring rendition of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." The lyrics had been distributed at the gates and the audience was invited to sing along. The combined bands received an extended standing ovation at the conclusion of the piece, in recognition of not only the impressively rapid and excellent preparation of the musicians, but also of the resolve which may be required of all Americans in the times ahead.
St. Marys appeared to take control of the game early in the second half. A 49-yard gain by Dingledine quickly returned the Riders to the red zone. Two plays later on third-and-one, Sampson called his own number looking to pick up a first down. Instead he found a gaping hole and rambled 16 yards for the score. This time Kill's PAT was good and the Riders were rolling 16-0 with 7:57 left in the third quarter.
Van Wert Quarterback Taylor Markward came to life running and passing, moving the Cougars inside the St. Marys 20. But on fourth and two, Markward failed to connect and the Riders took over.
St. Marys recovered a Van Wert fumble, but couldn't go any where early in the fourth quarter. Van Wert took over on its own 20. Markward threw four straight completions for first downs, followed by a 14-yard gain by Matt Hurless to the St. Marys one.
Markward sneaked it in from there and the Cougars were a two-point conversion away from being down by one touchdown and another conversion. However, Markward was sacked by Shawn Hays, and the Riders maintained a 16-6 lead with 6:06 left in the game.
St. Marys failed to get a first down on its next possession following an unsuccessful onside kick.
Van Wert's defense was especially tough in the second half, as All-Ohio standout and Ohio State bound Joel Penton plugged up the Riders' running game.
"He's everything they say and more," Frye said of Penton. "We didn't prepare our game plan around him, but we did try to work away from him during the game."
The Cougars took over on their own 14, but couldn't move the ball, and lost it on downs when Mike Schwartz sacked Markward at the 26.
From there it took four plays to put the game on ice, as Homan scored from 12 yards out to build the Riders' lead to 22-6.
"I especially want to credit the defensive coaching staff of Mike May, Todd Armstrong and Greg Freewalt," Frye commented, "and Scott Schulte's kickoff team. Defense and Special Teams won the game for us tonight."
With the win, St. Marys upped its WBL record to 3-0 and is tied for first with Kenton, which knocked off defending WBL champ Defiance 35-21 Friday.
St. Marys racked up 303 yards rushing, led by Ty Dingledine with 140 yards on 12 carries, the long gainer being a 62-yarder on his first carry of the game. "I want to congratulate Ty Dingledine," Frye said. "It's nice to see him finally break out for a big game."
The Roughriders stay home next Friday to take on the Shawnee Indians.
