Tigers keep Red Raiders out of end zone on homecoming
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Tigers used an aggressive defense to keep the London Red Raiders out of the end zone and used a running game to set up passing touchdowns for a 36-0 win in front of the largest MHS crowd of the season for a homecoming victory.
This was not only a South Central Ohio League win that put the Tigers at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the league, but it was the first shutout by the Tigers since Week 3 of 2004 when MHS defeated Paint Valley 28-0.
Back to '12 … the Tigers' defense held the Red Raiders to 27 total yards of offense with 43 passing yards and -16 yards rushing and forced four turnovers, along with McClain's Thomas Schrader gaining two interceptions. Compare that to the MHS offense, which totaled 380 yards of offense with 236 yards of rushing on 51 rushes and 144 yards in the air.
Add top-notch special team play where MHS put their offense in quality field position most of the game, and it was indeed a night of celebration at McClain Field.
"I'm proud of the kids," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "With all the homecoming activities, this week has been exciting. It was great to play in front of such a great crowd (Friday).
"London wasn't at full strength (QB Kyle Fisher was injured), but we had such great effort in this game. I liked our effort on special teams, and our defense was lights out."
The Tigers' first score was set up by their defense when Schrader intercepted a pass and raced nearly 20 yards to the 1-yard line, where one play later he handed the ball off to Roscoe East for the 1-yard score with 1:43 left in the opening quarter. The Tigers then went for a 2-point conversion and were successful as Jordan Goble found Shawn Haddox in the end zone for an 8-0 Tiger lead.
MHS returned to the end zone late in the second quarter where following two plays that went for negative yardage and a penalty for an ineligible player downfield, the Tigers reached pay dirt on a third-and-21 play where Schrader found an open Goble, who maneuvered his way down the MHS side line for a 71-yard score with 1:20 left in the first half. The PAT by Chris Sellman put MHS ahead by 15 points at the half.
Following a halftime performance of "Thriller" by the McClain marching band and Tigerettes, the MHS football team made the game even scarier for the Red Raiders as they recovered a fumble on the kickoff as Sellman fell on the loose football.
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That forced turnover set up a 10-play drive that totaled 65 yards with Goble gaining his second receiving score off a 14-yard pass (on fourth-and-10) by Schrader. Sellman again converted the extra-point kick for a 22-0 lead in the third quarter. Goble finished with 101 yards receiving on three receptions, and on special teams, Goble had four punt returns for 67 yards.
Schrader finished 7-of-15 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, along with nine carries for 42 yards.
McClain moved their lead to 29 points with 1:49 left in the third when Ryan Faulconer powered two yards through the middle of the LHS defense for six points. Sellman connected for his third PAT for a lead of 29-0.
Following a second interception in the third quarter by Schrader (in the past two games, Schrader has three interceptions), McClain's Zach Puckett raced 31 yards for a touchdown with 11:07 left in the fourth. Puckett led MHS in rushing with 73 yards, all in the fourth quarter. McClain's Nate Cornett recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers keep the shutout intact.
"Thomas is growing as a defensive player each game," Closson said. "Turnovers break the energy of a team, and Thomas did a great job.
"Our defensive line pressured up front, and we bottled up the run with our linebackers … they did an outstanding job. And with our defensive backfield forcing turnovers, it was nice to get that third tier on our defense."
As for the rest of the MHS rushing game, East ran 22 times for 63 yards, along with Goble gaining 14 yards. Also rushing for MHS were Alex Hollar (two carries for 19 yards) and Chris Speakman (one rush for 16 yards).
MHS will hit the road next week as they travel to Fayette County to face the Washington Blue Lions, who defeated Madison-Plains 42-41 Friday night. WCH has won four straight games for a 4-2 overall record and 3-0 in the SCOL.
London will host Clinton-Massie next Friday.
GAME NOTES: Trevor Gossett had three receptions for 30 yards … Isaac Savage had one catch … 8 players ran the ball for MHS … Haddox and Logan Rhonemus combined for a sack in the second quarter … The MHS defense forced a -22 yard play in the second quarter … London's Dustin Coffey had an interception in the second quarter … Clayton Burgess recorded a sack … Rhonemus recorded a solo sack in the fourth quarter.
This was not only a South Central Ohio League win that put the Tigers at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the league, but it was the first shutout by the Tigers since Week 3 of 2004 when MHS defeated Paint Valley 28-0.
Back to '12 … the Tigers' defense held the Red Raiders to 27 total yards of offense with 43 passing yards and -16 yards rushing and forced four turnovers, along with McClain's Thomas Schrader gaining two interceptions. Compare that to the MHS offense, which totaled 380 yards of offense with 236 yards of rushing on 51 rushes and 144 yards in the air.
Add top-notch special team play where MHS put their offense in quality field position most of the game, and it was indeed a night of celebration at McClain Field.
"I'm proud of the kids," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "With all the homecoming activities, this week has been exciting. It was great to play in front of such a great crowd (Friday).
"London wasn't at full strength (QB Kyle Fisher was injured), but we had such great effort in this game. I liked our effort on special teams, and our defense was lights out."
The Tigers' first score was set up by their defense when Schrader intercepted a pass and raced nearly 20 yards to the 1-yard line, where one play later he handed the ball off to Roscoe East for the 1-yard score with 1:43 left in the opening quarter. The Tigers then went for a 2-point conversion and were successful as Jordan Goble found Shawn Haddox in the end zone for an 8-0 Tiger lead.
MHS returned to the end zone late in the second quarter where following two plays that went for negative yardage and a penalty for an ineligible player downfield, the Tigers reached pay dirt on a third-and-21 play where Schrader found an open Goble, who maneuvered his way down the MHS side line for a 71-yard score with 1:20 left in the first half. The PAT by Chris Sellman put MHS ahead by 15 points at the half.
Following a halftime performance of "Thriller" by the McClain marching band and Tigerettes, the MHS football team made the game even scarier for the Red Raiders as they recovered a fumble on the kickoff as Sellman fell on the loose football.
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That forced turnover set up a 10-play drive that totaled 65 yards with Goble gaining his second receiving score off a 14-yard pass (on fourth-and-10) by Schrader. Sellman again converted the extra-point kick for a 22-0 lead in the third quarter. Goble finished with 101 yards receiving on three receptions, and on special teams, Goble had four punt returns for 67 yards.
Schrader finished 7-of-15 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, along with nine carries for 42 yards.
McClain moved their lead to 29 points with 1:49 left in the third when Ryan Faulconer powered two yards through the middle of the LHS defense for six points. Sellman connected for his third PAT for a lead of 29-0.
Following a second interception in the third quarter by Schrader (in the past two games, Schrader has three interceptions), McClain's Zach Puckett raced 31 yards for a touchdown with 11:07 left in the fourth. Puckett led MHS in rushing with 73 yards, all in the fourth quarter. McClain's Nate Cornett recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter, helping the Tigers keep the shutout intact.
"Thomas is growing as a defensive player each game," Closson said. "Turnovers break the energy of a team, and Thomas did a great job.
"Our defensive line pressured up front, and we bottled up the run with our linebackers … they did an outstanding job. And with our defensive backfield forcing turnovers, it was nice to get that third tier on our defense."
As for the rest of the MHS rushing game, East ran 22 times for 63 yards, along with Goble gaining 14 yards. Also rushing for MHS were Alex Hollar (two carries for 19 yards) and Chris Speakman (one rush for 16 yards).
MHS will hit the road next week as they travel to Fayette County to face the Washington Blue Lions, who defeated Madison-Plains 42-41 Friday night. WCH has won four straight games for a 4-2 overall record and 3-0 in the SCOL.
London will host Clinton-Massie next Friday.
GAME NOTES: Trevor Gossett had three receptions for 30 yards … Isaac Savage had one catch … 8 players ran the ball for MHS … Haddox and Logan Rhonemus combined for a sack in the second quarter … The MHS defense forced a -22 yard play in the second quarter … London's Dustin Coffey had an interception in the second quarter … Clayton Burgess recorded a sack … Rhonemus recorded a solo sack in the fourth quarter.