Tigers run over by Warriors in season opener 
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — Nothing at all went right for the McClain Tigers Friday night in their season opener against the Adena Warriors.
Nothing at all.
The Tigers managed just 50 total offensive yards, allowed 371 yards, had a player ejected in the second quarter and just ran out of energy in the second half in a 31-0 shutout non-league Week 1 loss to the neighboring Warriors.
Not to mention they had numerous penalties and three first-half turnovers.
It just wasn't the night of the Tigers.
"Adena dominated both sides of the ball, and we didn't make the blocks needed," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "If you can't block, you can't win.
"It's like we rolled out the red carpet and welcomed them to the backfield."
McClain (0-1) totaled a net of 23 rushing yards and 27 passing yards in four quarters, with 10 of those rushing yards coming in the final drive as the game was well in the Warriors' hands.
As for Adena, well, they played an old-time style of football where they just ran and ran the ball through the Tigers' defense to the point where they had 341 total rushing yards between four running backs, including 200 yards of rushing from senior running back Reid Hutchison (a team captain) on 28 carries for 7.1 yards per carry.
Hutchison wasn't the only Warrior to carry the rock, with senior fullback Jarrod Cyrus (a transfer from Unioto) rushing for 86 yards on 10 carries (8.6 ypc), bashing and barreling his way for three touchdowns. Ryan Wells had 10 carries for 57 yards.
"It was a frustrating night," Closson said. "Our defense fought hard … but ask any old football coach and a good run game will grind on you, plus we didn't tackle very well."
The tone of the night for MHS was set on the first two plays from scrimmage with the Tigers fumbling and losing possession of the ball on the first play of the game.
On Adena's first play from the line of scrimmage, they took the ball 35 yards (AHS recovered the fumble on McClain's 35-yard line) on a run by Hutchison with 11:43 left in the first quarter.
The score went to 12-0 when Hutchison capped off a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a 10-yard dash to the end zone with one player hanging off his back, leaving 11:09 left in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Cyrus finished off a 12-play, 73-yard drive with a 12-yard run through the middle of the Tigers' defense with 5:04 left in the quarter. The PAT was good for a 19-point lead. AHS missed their first PAT and didn't score on a 2-point conversion try after their second touchdown.
The Warriors added to their lead with a five-play, 47-yard drive when Cyrus scored for the second time on a 9-yard run with 1:02 left in the third, making the score 25-0.
Adena's final touchdown came when Cyrus scored for the third and final time on a 7-yard run on a second-and-goal with 3:49 left in the fourth. The drive went 12 plays for 75 yards.
"We fatigued out at the end … it's just tough, and we have tougher kids than the way we played tonight," Closson said. "Greenfield raises tougher kids than that. We have no excuses."
One positive for the Tigers was Camron Cooper's interception in the end zone with 4:41 left in the first quarter.
In a game of turnovers and mental miscues, the Tigers and Warriors each had many, including a player for MHS being ejected in the middle of the second quarter.
The miscues in the first half had MHS fumbling the football with 8:08 left in the first quarter to go with the aforementioned opening play lost fumble. A McClain pass through the receiver's hands was intercepted by Adena's Jordan Call with 2:59 left in the first quarter.
For the Tigers, Cooper was 3-of-6 for 27 yards passing as he was heavily pressured throughout the game. He led MHS with 16 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Coleston Walters (who made two outstanding tackles on defense, once flipping the runner) had one reception for 10 yards. Thomas Schrader had one catch for eight yards and Shaun Haddox had one reception for nine yards.
For the Warriors, quarterback Kirk Yates was 2-of-4 for 30 yards.
The Tigers will travel to Unioto High School to take on the Sherman-Tanks in Week 2 at 7:30 p.m. Adena will host East Clinton in Week 2.
GAME NOTES: The Warriors broke a two-year skid to the Tigers … On McClain's 2nd play from scrimmage, Cooper had a 32-yard run … Adena's Cade Harper had receptions of 19 and 13 yards … There were an estimated 18 penalties between both teams.[[In-content Ad]]
Nothing at all.
The Tigers managed just 50 total offensive yards, allowed 371 yards, had a player ejected in the second quarter and just ran out of energy in the second half in a 31-0 shutout non-league Week 1 loss to the neighboring Warriors.
Not to mention they had numerous penalties and three first-half turnovers.
It just wasn't the night of the Tigers.
"Adena dominated both sides of the ball, and we didn't make the blocks needed," MHS head coach Randy Closson said. "If you can't block, you can't win.
"It's like we rolled out the red carpet and welcomed them to the backfield."
McClain (0-1) totaled a net of 23 rushing yards and 27 passing yards in four quarters, with 10 of those rushing yards coming in the final drive as the game was well in the Warriors' hands.
As for Adena, well, they played an old-time style of football where they just ran and ran the ball through the Tigers' defense to the point where they had 341 total rushing yards between four running backs, including 200 yards of rushing from senior running back Reid Hutchison (a team captain) on 28 carries for 7.1 yards per carry.
Hutchison wasn't the only Warrior to carry the rock, with senior fullback Jarrod Cyrus (a transfer from Unioto) rushing for 86 yards on 10 carries (8.6 ypc), bashing and barreling his way for three touchdowns. Ryan Wells had 10 carries for 57 yards.
"It was a frustrating night," Closson said. "Our defense fought hard … but ask any old football coach and a good run game will grind on you, plus we didn't tackle very well."
The tone of the night for MHS was set on the first two plays from scrimmage with the Tigers fumbling and losing possession of the ball on the first play of the game.
On Adena's first play from the line of scrimmage, they took the ball 35 yards (AHS recovered the fumble on McClain's 35-yard line) on a run by Hutchison with 11:43 left in the first quarter.
The score went to 12-0 when Hutchison capped off a seven-play, 71-yard drive with a 10-yard dash to the end zone with one player hanging off his back, leaving 11:09 left in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Cyrus finished off a 12-play, 73-yard drive with a 12-yard run through the middle of the Tigers' defense with 5:04 left in the quarter. The PAT was good for a 19-point lead. AHS missed their first PAT and didn't score on a 2-point conversion try after their second touchdown.
The Warriors added to their lead with a five-play, 47-yard drive when Cyrus scored for the second time on a 9-yard run with 1:02 left in the third, making the score 25-0.
Adena's final touchdown came when Cyrus scored for the third and final time on a 7-yard run on a second-and-goal with 3:49 left in the fourth. The drive went 12 plays for 75 yards.
"We fatigued out at the end … it's just tough, and we have tougher kids than the way we played tonight," Closson said. "Greenfield raises tougher kids than that. We have no excuses."
One positive for the Tigers was Camron Cooper's interception in the end zone with 4:41 left in the first quarter.
In a game of turnovers and mental miscues, the Tigers and Warriors each had many, including a player for MHS being ejected in the middle of the second quarter.
The miscues in the first half had MHS fumbling the football with 8:08 left in the first quarter to go with the aforementioned opening play lost fumble. A McClain pass through the receiver's hands was intercepted by Adena's Jordan Call with 2:59 left in the first quarter.
For the Tigers, Cooper was 3-of-6 for 27 yards passing as he was heavily pressured throughout the game. He led MHS with 16 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Coleston Walters (who made two outstanding tackles on defense, once flipping the runner) had one reception for 10 yards. Thomas Schrader had one catch for eight yards and Shaun Haddox had one reception for nine yards.
For the Warriors, quarterback Kirk Yates was 2-of-4 for 30 yards.
The Tigers will travel to Unioto High School to take on the Sherman-Tanks in Week 2 at 7:30 p.m. Adena will host East Clinton in Week 2.
GAME NOTES: The Warriors broke a two-year skid to the Tigers … On McClain's 2nd play from scrimmage, Cooper had a 32-yard run … Adena's Cade Harper had receptions of 19 and 13 yards … There were an estimated 18 penalties between both teams.[[In-content Ad]]