Tigers fall to host Northwest in Week 2

Week 2 saw the McClain Tigers go on the road to Scioto County to take on the Northwest Mohawks in non-conference action. Though the Tigers led after the first quarter, it was NWHS winning the game by a 46-24 score. 

The loss had some positives for the Tigers, as sophomore quarterback Hudson Lovett passed for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Lovett also rushed 12 times for 66 yards. 

Isaac Morgan finished with two receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown, which was a 20-yard reception. Also with a touchdown catch was Eli Douglas for 30 yards. 

McClain was first to score points in the game Friday, as the Tigers began on their own 30-yard line, but were forced to punt, only to have Austin Ruddle recover a fumble on the punt return attempt, giving the Tigers new hope with 5:00 left in the first quarter. 

That hope turned into points for McClain as the Tigers scored points on a third-and-3 play with Lovett rushing for a 7-yard touchdown. The PAT was blocked, leaving MHS in the lead at 6-0 with 2:50 left in the first quarter, and that score stood the the conclusion of the first. 

Northwest tied the score at 6-6 with 8:18 left in the second quarter, with a passing touchdown, but their 2-point conversion attempt failed. 

The Mohawks took a 12-6 lead with 7:06 left in the second quarter as Jake Brown’s pass to Orion Ellis left NWHS in the lead. The 2-point conversion failed for a second time. 

After a fumble by McClain, the Mohawks scored their third touchdown with a third-down play as Carson Christian rushed for the score. Again, the 2-point conversion wasn’t converted after McClain’s Hunter Peabody and Andrew Roeder made the tackle, leaving the Mohawks in front at 18-6. 

NWHS took a 24-6 lead with a QB sneak touchdown run by Brown with around 40 seconds left in the first quarter. The Mohawks converted a 2-point conversion. 

McClain wasn’t finished in the first half as Lovett found Douglas for a 30-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone just right before the half ended. MHS failed on the 2-point attempt, leaving the score 26-12 in favor of Northwest as that score stood at halftime. 

Northwest scored on their first drive of the second half with a touchdown pass. The PAT was good, leaving the Mohawks ahead at 33-12. 

The score went to 40-12 off another NWHS score with 3:57 left in the third quarter for a 40-12 advantage.

McClain scored a touchdown with 1:45 left in the third quarter when Lovett passed to Morgan for a touchdown. The 2-point attempt failed for a 40-18 lead by Northwest. 

NWHS scored one last touchdown with a 20-yard run. The pass on a 2-point conversion attempt was incomplete for a 46-18 score. 

Morgan scored the final McClain touchdown of the game as he raced 13 yards to pay dirt. McClain was unable to convert their 2-point conversion attempt for a 46-24 score. 

The Tigers finished the game with 299 yards of offense, including 161 rushing yards. Northwest totaled 357 yards on offense with 126 passing yards and 231 yards rushing. 

McClain is now 1-1 overall and will play again on Friday, Sept. 5 on the road against the Paint Valley Bearcats, who are 0-2 this season after losing in Week 2 to Athens by a 48-0 score. PVHS has been shut out in their first two games of the season. 

(Editor's note: Thank you to WVNU 97.5 FM for stats and information on the game.)