Falcons run away with SCOL win against Tigers
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By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — It was the same result as the previous six weeks for the Clinton-Massie Falcons once the scoreboard clock went all zeroes Friday night at McClain Field.
Though the McClain Tigers honored all their senior athletes, band members and Tigerettes before the game, that was all the joy Greenfield had for the next 48 minutes, with the Falcons running away with a 63-7 South Central Ohio League victory.
"We were focused and (Scott) Wilkie ran wild," CM head coach Dan McSurley said. "McClain did a good job of holding Jordan (Scanlon), but when you stop him, we have other guys who hopefully fill in."
The win gives the Falcons 29 consecutive regular season wins, with a perfect overall mark of 7-0. MHS is 1-3 in the SCOL and 4-3 overall.
"They are an outstanding team, state-ranked and have a great program," McClain head coach Randy Closson said of the Falcons. "Coach McSurley has done a great
job."
Closson then talked about how teams get to the level of Massie.
"When you see teams like that, that doesn't start when the season begins or at two-a-days. That starts when kids are freshmen and work hard in the weight room to get bigger and stronger. It is a great combination they have going. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season."
Next week the Falcons, who just completed a three-game road trip, will host the SCOL-undefeated Washington Blue Lions in what will most likely be a battle for the SCOL championship.
"Now we have to turn our attention to next week and get ready for Washington," McSurley said. "It will be a big game for us.
"We are going to work hard to get ready for the veteran club they have in Washington C.H., and we are just glad to be back at home next week. It will be a great atmosphere, and we are happy to be back on the turf."
The ground game-plan by CM was as advertised with two backs going over the 100-yard plateau.
CM fullback Scott Wilkie led all rushers with 158 yards on 12 carries for 13 yards per carry (YPC). SCOL leading rusher Jordan Scanlon had 107 yards on 20 carries. Wyatt Running had 80 yards rushing in the second half for CM. Gunner Calhoun finished with 16 yards on four carries.
All nine Falcon TD's were scored by via the running play. Wilkie led with four touchdown runs, followed by Scanlon with three and Running with two.
To put the game in perspective, CM led by 14 after the first quarter and 35-0 at the half. With three quarters complete, the Falcons had a 56-point advantage. They scored once in the fourth.
The lone McClain touchdown came when each team had their second units playing in the fourth quarter, and junior Joe Under pounded his way 2 yards up the middle, on first-and-goal, for six points with 2:35 left in the contest. Luis Rivas kicked the extra point.
Besides that one moment, that would be all the points for the Tigers.
One key for the Tigers was they played without senior Jared Loftis, who was injured, and one of the top rushers in the SCOL, Zach Matracia, was held to zero yards and was injured late in the game.
The leading rusher for MHS was Clayton Burgess with 20 yards. Chris Sellman and Jordan Goble each had 18 yards rushing. Also running the ball for the Tigers were Isaac Savage, Camron Cooper and Dillon East.
"I'm proud of our kids," Closson said. "I thought we fought hard, but we couldn't sustain drives. The younger guys got a drive going and scored late. We fought hard for our seniors."
The defending four-time SCOL champions came to play.
CM (4-0, 7-0) scored on their first drive of the game (third play) with a 51-yard run by Wilkie, who blasted though the middle of the Tiger defense, untouched, with 10:49 left in the first quarter. The PAT by Geramie Dart made the score 7-0.
The score went to 14-0 with a 6-yard score by Scanlon, leaving 3:14 left in the first quarter. The score was set up on a 30-yard run by quarterback Jake Richardson, along with a MHS penalty that took CM from the 12-yard line to the six.
Scanlon added six points, again from near the goal line, with his second TD coming at the 11:18 mark of the second from 2 yards out. The 20-yard drive was set up after CM's Dillon Davis blocked a punt.
CM regained possession five plays later with an interception by Taylor Luckett on the CM 40-yard line.
The turnover led to more Massie points with Wilkie taking the ball 26 yards for a touchdown. The PAT made it a 28-point Falcon lead.
With 2:47 left in the first half, Scanlon added another score to his resume, this one a 13-yard run behind his blockers.
Speaking of his blockers, the CM offensive line was unmatched Friday.
The starting five linemen and tight end consisted of Jared Salisbury, Jimmy Singleton, Trent Smart, Jordan Phipps, Michael Stenger and Brad Burgess.
"They've played like this all year," McSurley said of his offensive line. "They play well and play as a unit. They are getting much better as a team. Plus we have four of the best running backs around."
Second-half scores were by Wilkie and Running (two TDs each). Running's TDs were for 20 and 67 yards.
Massie's starting defense had a shutout against the starters of McClain.
"Our defense made a few mistakes, but what helped us was the play from our big boys," McSurley said. "We rotated them and kept them fresh. Overall, our defense played well."
MHS will travel for the next three weeks to finish the season. Week 8 they will face the 1-6 Miami Trace Panthers.