Miami Trace runs over McClain
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — Miami Trace visited McClain Field Friday night and conquered. The visiting Panthers collected 494 total offensive yards and left Greenfield with a 42-6 victory over the McClain Tigers.
In the South Central Ohio League game, the Panthers totaled 380 yards of rushing and 114 yards passing, while the Tigers totaled 106 yards of offense, all rushing.
McClain falls to 3-5 overall and 0-5 in the SCOL, as the Tigers have lost five straight games.
McClain's lone score came in the fourth quarter with 10:13 left in the game, as it was already out of reach. For the Tigers, they scored on a second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, where Dillon Hunick raced and dove for the 4-yard touchdown.
That score was set up with a 56-yard run by Hunick earlier in the drive on second down, as he maneuvered his way past the MT defense and raced for those 56 yards down the sideline of MT. Hunick finished with 72 yards rushing.
"The kids fought hard," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "We told them all we can ask for is for them to battle, and overall, they did a good job on defense, for the most part.
"We played well in the second quarter and in the second half. I'm proud of the kids. They had to face adversity this week with Thomas (Schrader) out, and they chose to handle it in a positive way. We are disappointed in the outcome on the scoreboard, but we couldn't have asked more from the team (Friday)."
Replacing Schrader for the Tigers at quarterback was freshman Owen O'Connor, who had three rushes for 35 yards in his varsity starting debut.
"We got Owen ready, and being a freshman, the guys rallied around him," Closson said. "I was impressed with Owen. I was impressed with his poise … he took a couple of shots, but he stayed in the pocket.
"He did all I could ask for, and he has a bright future."
Other than that one scoring drive, playing without senior starting quarterback/defensive back Thomas Schrader, who missed the game with an injury, the Tigers didn't muster much for the game.
As for the Panthers, that was another story. MT led 21-0 after the first quarter and at the half, with both teams going scoreless in the second quarter.
"This was a good win for us," MT head coach Steve Bartlett said. "McClain is a class team. They have good coaches, and their kids played hard."
MT (3-1, 6-2) set the pace of the game on the very first drive with a 15-play, 69-yard drive that lasted seven minutes. The drive turned into six points when quarterback Jimmy Stroker went six yards for a touchdown with 5:00 left in the opening quarter.
For MT in that game-opening drive, no play went longer than 13 yards.
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With a six-point lead, the Panthers forced a turnover two plays into the Tigers' first offensive drive by recovering a fumble on a pitch play.
MT scored three plays later with the drive going just 26 yards, with Jeremiah Jones going 20 yards, untouched, to the end zone with 3:43 left on the first-quarter clock. A run by Trevor Haines for a 2-point conversion put the Panthers in front by a 14-0 score.
After forcing a MHS punt, the Panthers again scored on a three-play drive with Cedric Pettiford racing 65 yards on a pass from Stroker as time expired in the first quarter. The play saw Pettiford make the catch wide-open, in-stride. The drive went a total of 80 yards as Austin Dyer had a 13-yard catch in the drive as well. Pettiford finished with two receptions for 77 yards.
Stroker finished 5-of-10 for 114 yards in the air. He also rushed for 39 yards.
"We just called what we felt like was there," Bartlett said of the Panthers' first quarter.
In the third quarter, the score went to 28-0 with Haines running to six points on a 17-yard dash with 7:20 left in the quarter. Blake Pittser made it a 28-point lead with the extra point. That scoring drive went five plays, 63 yards.
Haines led all rushers with 212 yards on 24 carries, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.
Later in the third, the Panthers moved ahead by 35 points as their 11-play, 53-yard drive was capped off on a 10-yard rush from Haines with 15.7 seconds left in the third. Pittser made another PAT for the 35-0 advantage.
MT scored one final TD with 1:25 left in the game as the JV players were in the game for both sides.
The Panthers still have a shot at winning a share of the SCOL title, but to stay in the race, they must defeat the Clinton-Massie Falcons next Friday. MT has just one loss in the SCOL, while the Falcons are 4-0 in the league. CM defeated the Washington Blue Lions, 70-0 Friday in Week 8.
MHS will travel for a non-league game next Friday in Jackson. Jackson defeated Portsmouth Friday by a 26-19 score, as they are 4-4 overall.
In the South Central Ohio League game, the Panthers totaled 380 yards of rushing and 114 yards passing, while the Tigers totaled 106 yards of offense, all rushing.
McClain falls to 3-5 overall and 0-5 in the SCOL, as the Tigers have lost five straight games.
McClain's lone score came in the fourth quarter with 10:13 left in the game, as it was already out of reach. For the Tigers, they scored on a second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, where Dillon Hunick raced and dove for the 4-yard touchdown.
That score was set up with a 56-yard run by Hunick earlier in the drive on second down, as he maneuvered his way past the MT defense and raced for those 56 yards down the sideline of MT. Hunick finished with 72 yards rushing.
"The kids fought hard," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "We told them all we can ask for is for them to battle, and overall, they did a good job on defense, for the most part.
"We played well in the second quarter and in the second half. I'm proud of the kids. They had to face adversity this week with Thomas (Schrader) out, and they chose to handle it in a positive way. We are disappointed in the outcome on the scoreboard, but we couldn't have asked more from the team (Friday)."
Replacing Schrader for the Tigers at quarterback was freshman Owen O'Connor, who had three rushes for 35 yards in his varsity starting debut.
"We got Owen ready, and being a freshman, the guys rallied around him," Closson said. "I was impressed with Owen. I was impressed with his poise … he took a couple of shots, but he stayed in the pocket.
"He did all I could ask for, and he has a bright future."
Other than that one scoring drive, playing without senior starting quarterback/defensive back Thomas Schrader, who missed the game with an injury, the Tigers didn't muster much for the game.
As for the Panthers, that was another story. MT led 21-0 after the first quarter and at the half, with both teams going scoreless in the second quarter.
"This was a good win for us," MT head coach Steve Bartlett said. "McClain is a class team. They have good coaches, and their kids played hard."
MT (3-1, 6-2) set the pace of the game on the very first drive with a 15-play, 69-yard drive that lasted seven minutes. The drive turned into six points when quarterback Jimmy Stroker went six yards for a touchdown with 5:00 left in the opening quarter.
For MT in that game-opening drive, no play went longer than 13 yards.
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With a six-point lead, the Panthers forced a turnover two plays into the Tigers' first offensive drive by recovering a fumble on a pitch play.
MT scored three plays later with the drive going just 26 yards, with Jeremiah Jones going 20 yards, untouched, to the end zone with 3:43 left on the first-quarter clock. A run by Trevor Haines for a 2-point conversion put the Panthers in front by a 14-0 score.
After forcing a MHS punt, the Panthers again scored on a three-play drive with Cedric Pettiford racing 65 yards on a pass from Stroker as time expired in the first quarter. The play saw Pettiford make the catch wide-open, in-stride. The drive went a total of 80 yards as Austin Dyer had a 13-yard catch in the drive as well. Pettiford finished with two receptions for 77 yards.
Stroker finished 5-of-10 for 114 yards in the air. He also rushed for 39 yards.
"We just called what we felt like was there," Bartlett said of the Panthers' first quarter.
In the third quarter, the score went to 28-0 with Haines running to six points on a 17-yard dash with 7:20 left in the quarter. Blake Pittser made it a 28-point lead with the extra point. That scoring drive went five plays, 63 yards.
Haines led all rushers with 212 yards on 24 carries, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.
Later in the third, the Panthers moved ahead by 35 points as their 11-play, 53-yard drive was capped off on a 10-yard rush from Haines with 15.7 seconds left in the third. Pittser made another PAT for the 35-0 advantage.
MT scored one final TD with 1:25 left in the game as the JV players were in the game for both sides.
The Panthers still have a shot at winning a share of the SCOL title, but to stay in the race, they must defeat the Clinton-Massie Falcons next Friday. MT has just one loss in the SCOL, while the Falcons are 4-0 in the league. CM defeated the Washington Blue Lions, 70-0 Friday in Week 8.
MHS will travel for a non-league game next Friday in Jackson. Jackson defeated Portsmouth Friday by a 26-19 score, as they are 4-4 overall.