Tigers wear down Warriors
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The season opener for the McClain Tigers was about two things … big plays and wearing down their opponent, and they did both to a tee. A second half full of power football was enough to wear down the visiting Adena Warriors, as the Tigers defeated the visitors, 47-21 at McClain Field.
MHS led by three points at halftime (18-15) but exploded with a power running attack the Warriors (0-1) couldn't handle, as the Tigers outscored AHS, 29-6 in the final two quarters.
"We went in at halftime and challenged the team," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "We challenged them to finish the game, finish strong and maintain drives … and that's what they did."
The running game was the difference for MHS, totaling 245 yards on the ground, with a big momentum swing to start the second half being the power game of junior Ryan Faulconer. Faulconer changed the entire pace of the season opener as he rushed the ball six straight times to open the third quarter, taking his team from their own 31-yard line to the Adena 18-yard line, including carries of 21, 18 and 10 yards.
The drive was ended with an 18-yard run by quarterback Thomas Schrader on a second-and-4 play. Faulconer finished the scoring on the drive with a two-point conversion run for a 26-15 lead.
Faulconer finished the game with eight carries for 74 yards (9.3 yards per carry). As for the rest of the Tigers' rushing attack, Schrader had seven carries for 18 yards, and Chris Sellman had five rushes for 16 yards.
"Ryan runs very hard," Closson said. "We believe in if you can establish a running game, you can demoralize a team. I want to credit our offensive line … they did a heck of a job."
The Tigers were led in rushing by Dillon Hunick with six carries for 83 yards (13.8 ypc), while Jason Flowers and Anthony Davis each totaled 25 yards. The MHS defense held the Warriors to 156 yards rushing and 66 yards passing.
Not to be forgotten with all that happened in the rushing game were two big plays through the air, with the Tigers' first score of the game coming on their first play from scrimmage as Schrader found Alex Hollar in the middle of the field. He went 67 yards for a touchdown with 5:08 left in the first, bringing the Tigers to within one point of tying the Warriors.
The other big passing play came with 10:31 left in the second with Schrader finding Faulconer for 52 yards for an 18-7 lead at the point. Schrader finished 2-of-7 with 119 yards and two touchdown passes.
AHS was first to score in the game, on their first possession, as they built a 14-play drive for 70 yards that ended with a six-yard TD run by Cale Free.
Following the aforementioned TD score by MHS at the 5:08 mark, the Tigers followed with a great defensive effort when Logan Rhonemus recovered a fumble with 3:12 left in the first.
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Later in the first, Schrader put the Tigers ahead 12-7 with an 11-yard score, then with 10:31 left in the second, the 52-yard TD catch by Faulconer occurred, putting the Tigers up by 11.
Following the TD, Sellman recovered an AHS fumble on the kickoff, but MHS returned the favor with a turnover of their own when Free took the ball 65 yards on an interception with 10:16 left in the opening half.
Schrader made his mark defensively, as he collected an interception in the end zone, taking the ball 68 yards before being knocked out of bounds.
In the second half, following the opening drive TD of Faulconer, Hollar returned an AHS punt 42 yards, putting MHS on the AHS 13-yard line. Three runs later by Sellman, the Tigers led 33-15 as the senior captain powered his way for a four-yard TD on third-and-one. Faulconer kicked the PAT.
MHS wasn't done scoring, as on the very next play by AHS, Caleb Rayburn intercepted a pass and took it 35 yards to the end zone with 6:25 left in the third.
AHS, with 1:13 left in the third, scored a TD with a 15-yard pass from Cade Harper to Tyrell Pettiford.
Hunick put MHS ahead 47-21 as he scored the final TD of the game with 5:53 left in the fourth, racing 22 yards to pay dirt.
"Adena played their heart out," Closson said. "They always play hard, and the first half showed that. That first half was tough.
"As for us, Thomas made good reads in the second half, Caleb had a big play on defense, our linebackers and defensive ends improved, and this was an all-around good game."
The Tigers play the next three weeks on the road as they visit Unioto next Friday.
BOX SCORE
AHS 07 08 07 00 — 21
MHS 12 06 22 07 — 47
GAME NOTES: Rhonemus finished the game with two fumble recoveries … MHS didn't convert their first three two-point conversion attempts … AHS converted a fake punt on fourth-and-1 following offsetting penalties … Schrader had a sack for an 11-yard loss … For AHS, Free had a fumble recovery … Schrader had an interception when AHS went for a two-point conversion … Schrader had three punts for 137 yards (45.1) … MHS has won three of the past four meetings with Adena.
MHS led by three points at halftime (18-15) but exploded with a power running attack the Warriors (0-1) couldn't handle, as the Tigers outscored AHS, 29-6 in the final two quarters.
"We went in at halftime and challenged the team," McClain head coach Randy Closson said. "We challenged them to finish the game, finish strong and maintain drives … and that's what they did."
The running game was the difference for MHS, totaling 245 yards on the ground, with a big momentum swing to start the second half being the power game of junior Ryan Faulconer. Faulconer changed the entire pace of the season opener as he rushed the ball six straight times to open the third quarter, taking his team from their own 31-yard line to the Adena 18-yard line, including carries of 21, 18 and 10 yards.
The drive was ended with an 18-yard run by quarterback Thomas Schrader on a second-and-4 play. Faulconer finished the scoring on the drive with a two-point conversion run for a 26-15 lead.
Faulconer finished the game with eight carries for 74 yards (9.3 yards per carry). As for the rest of the Tigers' rushing attack, Schrader had seven carries for 18 yards, and Chris Sellman had five rushes for 16 yards.
"Ryan runs very hard," Closson said. "We believe in if you can establish a running game, you can demoralize a team. I want to credit our offensive line … they did a heck of a job."
The Tigers were led in rushing by Dillon Hunick with six carries for 83 yards (13.8 ypc), while Jason Flowers and Anthony Davis each totaled 25 yards. The MHS defense held the Warriors to 156 yards rushing and 66 yards passing.
Not to be forgotten with all that happened in the rushing game were two big plays through the air, with the Tigers' first score of the game coming on their first play from scrimmage as Schrader found Alex Hollar in the middle of the field. He went 67 yards for a touchdown with 5:08 left in the first, bringing the Tigers to within one point of tying the Warriors.
The other big passing play came with 10:31 left in the second with Schrader finding Faulconer for 52 yards for an 18-7 lead at the point. Schrader finished 2-of-7 with 119 yards and two touchdown passes.
AHS was first to score in the game, on their first possession, as they built a 14-play drive for 70 yards that ended with a six-yard TD run by Cale Free.
Following the aforementioned TD score by MHS at the 5:08 mark, the Tigers followed with a great defensive effort when Logan Rhonemus recovered a fumble with 3:12 left in the first.
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Later in the first, Schrader put the Tigers ahead 12-7 with an 11-yard score, then with 10:31 left in the second, the 52-yard TD catch by Faulconer occurred, putting the Tigers up by 11.
Following the TD, Sellman recovered an AHS fumble on the kickoff, but MHS returned the favor with a turnover of their own when Free took the ball 65 yards on an interception with 10:16 left in the opening half.
Schrader made his mark defensively, as he collected an interception in the end zone, taking the ball 68 yards before being knocked out of bounds.
In the second half, following the opening drive TD of Faulconer, Hollar returned an AHS punt 42 yards, putting MHS on the AHS 13-yard line. Three runs later by Sellman, the Tigers led 33-15 as the senior captain powered his way for a four-yard TD on third-and-one. Faulconer kicked the PAT.
MHS wasn't done scoring, as on the very next play by AHS, Caleb Rayburn intercepted a pass and took it 35 yards to the end zone with 6:25 left in the third.
AHS, with 1:13 left in the third, scored a TD with a 15-yard pass from Cade Harper to Tyrell Pettiford.
Hunick put MHS ahead 47-21 as he scored the final TD of the game with 5:53 left in the fourth, racing 22 yards to pay dirt.
"Adena played their heart out," Closson said. "They always play hard, and the first half showed that. That first half was tough.
"As for us, Thomas made good reads in the second half, Caleb had a big play on defense, our linebackers and defensive ends improved, and this was an all-around good game."
The Tigers play the next three weeks on the road as they visit Unioto next Friday.
BOX SCORE
AHS 07 08 07 00 — 21
MHS 12 06 22 07 — 47
GAME NOTES: Rhonemus finished the game with two fumble recoveries … MHS didn't convert their first three two-point conversion attempts … AHS converted a fake punt on fourth-and-1 following offsetting penalties … Schrader had a sack for an 11-yard loss … For AHS, Free had a fumble recovery … Schrader had an interception when AHS went for a two-point conversion … Schrader had three punts for 137 yards (45.1) … MHS has won three of the past four meetings with Adena.