Tigers earn 5th win of season
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
WASHINGTON C.H. — Roscoe East led the way offensively, and the Tigers' defense held the Washington Blue Lions when they needed to in the final minutes as the Tigers gained their fifth win of the season by a 21-15 score Friday at Gardner Park.
The Tigers, who entered the game No. 11 in Region 12, haven't lost on the road this season, as they now are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the South Central Ohio League. Washington falls to 3-1 in the SCOL and 4-3 overall.
Before the game, the Blue Lions were ninth in Region 12.
Offensively, McClain, who have won three straight games, totaled 436 yards of offense, with 303 rushing yards. Roscoe East led the Tigers with 186 yards on the ground (23 carries), followed by a combined 117 yards from Thomas Schrader, Chris Sellman, Clayton Burgess and Jordan Goble.
"Coach (Tim) Gossett came up with an offensive scheme, and the team was able to convert plays on the field," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "Washington was quick, and we came out with a power running game, which is something we haven't done lately.
"Our backs ran hard, and Roscoe had some big runs for us, but as a team … offensively, we need to finish drives."
Defensively, the Tigers forced three Washington turnovers, including on the first play of the game when Goble intercepted a Josh Williams pass.
Though the Tigers didn't score on the ensuing possession, they did, however, score on their second possession as they went 62 yards on six plays with Coleston Walters catching a pass midfield from Schrader and taking it 46 yards to visit the end zone for six points. Goble added two points as MHS converted the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Schrader finished the game 6-of-10 for 133 yards passing. Trevor Gossett led with three catches for 54 yards, while Shawn Haddox (12 yards), Walters and Coty Barnhart (21 yards) each had one catch.
In the second quarter, on first down, the Tigers' Sellman recovered a fumble with 8:27 left in the first half, but again, the Tigers were unable to reach pay dirt on the ensuing drive.
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The MHS defense showed up again with yet another fumble recovery, this time by Haddox with 5:40 on the clock on the Washington 29-yard line.
This time, the Tigers capitalized on the turnover as they went six plays and 29 yards as Schrader turned the corner and raced four yards on second-and-goal for six points with 3:08 on the clock. The PAT by Sellman made it a 15-0 Tiger advantage.
Not wanting to go scoreless in the first half, the Blue Lions showed signs of life on the offensive side as they went three plays for 60 yards and a touchdown, ending with a 49-yard run by Tye Smith (120 yards rushing) with 2:08 left in the second quarter. Washington scored two points with a run by Travis Leisure for a 15-8 score at the half. Leisure totaled 94 yards receiving and 13 yards rushing.
For the game, WCH totaled 281 yards of offense with Williams going 8-of-18 for 11 yards passing.
In the third quarter, the Tigers went for a trip to the end zone for a third time in the game … this one ending on a 31-yard power run by Schrader, who broke multiple tackles, knocking around Blue Lion defenders on his way to the end zone with 5:12 left in the third. The PAT was no good, leaving MHS ahead 21-8.
Washington didn't make it easy on the Tigers as they made it a 21-15 score when Leisure went 52 yards on a pass by Williams. The PAT was good by Ashley Lovett.
The Blue Lions, after regaining possession on their own 1-yard line with 1:03 left in fourth following an interception by Scylar Johnson, quickly moved 37 yards on a 22 yard catch by Leisure, with a 15-yard personal foul flag on the Tigers.
MHS responded with quarterback pressure by Kevin Willis and Nate Cornett. Later in the dive, Washington gained yards on the ground by Smith, along with a 13-yard pass to Kodi Jackson. On a trick play of sorts, the Blue Lions went for a trick pass and converted, but an illegal man downfield penalty crushed the around 40-yard gain and momentum. From there, the Tigers held the Blue Lions for the win as time expired.
"Coach (Corey) Dye had his players ready to play," Closson said. "They broke a couple plays on us a couple times, but our defense was solid. We just want to continue to get better. The kids were sick and tired of losing, and they have done something about it.
"The kids are staying humble, and they brave the attitude to the locker room after games and to practice on Monday."
The Tigers return to Fayette County next Friday as they face Miami Trace. MT defeated Madison-Plains 29-19 to move to 4-0 in the SCOL and 4-3 overall.
The Tigers, who entered the game No. 11 in Region 12, haven't lost on the road this season, as they now are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the South Central Ohio League. Washington falls to 3-1 in the SCOL and 4-3 overall.
Before the game, the Blue Lions were ninth in Region 12.
Offensively, McClain, who have won three straight games, totaled 436 yards of offense, with 303 rushing yards. Roscoe East led the Tigers with 186 yards on the ground (23 carries), followed by a combined 117 yards from Thomas Schrader, Chris Sellman, Clayton Burgess and Jordan Goble.
"Coach (Tim) Gossett came up with an offensive scheme, and the team was able to convert plays on the field," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "Washington was quick, and we came out with a power running game, which is something we haven't done lately.
"Our backs ran hard, and Roscoe had some big runs for us, but as a team … offensively, we need to finish drives."
Defensively, the Tigers forced three Washington turnovers, including on the first play of the game when Goble intercepted a Josh Williams pass.
Though the Tigers didn't score on the ensuing possession, they did, however, score on their second possession as they went 62 yards on six plays with Coleston Walters catching a pass midfield from Schrader and taking it 46 yards to visit the end zone for six points. Goble added two points as MHS converted the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Schrader finished the game 6-of-10 for 133 yards passing. Trevor Gossett led with three catches for 54 yards, while Shawn Haddox (12 yards), Walters and Coty Barnhart (21 yards) each had one catch.
In the second quarter, on first down, the Tigers' Sellman recovered a fumble with 8:27 left in the first half, but again, the Tigers were unable to reach pay dirt on the ensuing drive.
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The MHS defense showed up again with yet another fumble recovery, this time by Haddox with 5:40 on the clock on the Washington 29-yard line.
This time, the Tigers capitalized on the turnover as they went six plays and 29 yards as Schrader turned the corner and raced four yards on second-and-goal for six points with 3:08 on the clock. The PAT by Sellman made it a 15-0 Tiger advantage.
Not wanting to go scoreless in the first half, the Blue Lions showed signs of life on the offensive side as they went three plays for 60 yards and a touchdown, ending with a 49-yard run by Tye Smith (120 yards rushing) with 2:08 left in the second quarter. Washington scored two points with a run by Travis Leisure for a 15-8 score at the half. Leisure totaled 94 yards receiving and 13 yards rushing.
For the game, WCH totaled 281 yards of offense with Williams going 8-of-18 for 11 yards passing.
In the third quarter, the Tigers went for a trip to the end zone for a third time in the game … this one ending on a 31-yard power run by Schrader, who broke multiple tackles, knocking around Blue Lion defenders on his way to the end zone with 5:12 left in the third. The PAT was no good, leaving MHS ahead 21-8.
Washington didn't make it easy on the Tigers as they made it a 21-15 score when Leisure went 52 yards on a pass by Williams. The PAT was good by Ashley Lovett.
The Blue Lions, after regaining possession on their own 1-yard line with 1:03 left in fourth following an interception by Scylar Johnson, quickly moved 37 yards on a 22 yard catch by Leisure, with a 15-yard personal foul flag on the Tigers.
MHS responded with quarterback pressure by Kevin Willis and Nate Cornett. Later in the dive, Washington gained yards on the ground by Smith, along with a 13-yard pass to Kodi Jackson. On a trick play of sorts, the Blue Lions went for a trick pass and converted, but an illegal man downfield penalty crushed the around 40-yard gain and momentum. From there, the Tigers held the Blue Lions for the win as time expired.
"Coach (Corey) Dye had his players ready to play," Closson said. "They broke a couple plays on us a couple times, but our defense was solid. We just want to continue to get better. The kids were sick and tired of losing, and they have done something about it.
"The kids are staying humble, and they brave the attitude to the locker room after games and to practice on Monday."
The Tigers return to Fayette County next Friday as they face Miami Trace. MT defeated Madison-Plains 29-19 to move to 4-0 in the SCOL and 4-3 overall.