Highland uses Nauman’s 300 yards to grind down Freddies, 17-14
Dane Nauman started where he left off last year on both sides of the ball, rushing for 300 yards and making 10 tackles in the season opener for Highland, leading the Scots to a 17-14 win over Fredericktown.
Highland had a 14-6 lead after one quarter and led 17-6 at the half. The second-half was a defensive battle until the Freddies scored late and added a two-point conversion for the final score.
Nauman’s 300 yards on 31 carries made up most of Highland’s 308 yards rushing on 36 carries. Kolton Srover completed four of 10 passes for 85 yards, and Zach Schmidt caught a pair of passes for 75 yards. Nauman had a hand in 10 tackles to lead the defense, and Landon Pedigo and Ladon Hayes each had nine.
The Freddies were led by Teegan Ruhl’s 187 yards rushing on 24 carries with two touchdowns. Kaid Carpenter picked up 24 yards on nine carries. In the air, Ben Mast completed five of 17 passes for 92 yards, and Trevor Bellman was 1-for-1 for 19 yards. Four different receivers caught passes for the Freddies. Logan Small had 11 tackles, and Mason Hoeflich made nine to lead the Freddies.
Mount Vernon edges Marion Harding in OT, 28-21
The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets started their 2022 season on a winning note by stinging their hosts Marion Harding, 28-21, in overtime Friday night.
Harding took a 7-0 lead in the first on an 80-yard pass play. The Jackets tied it in the fourth on a 38-yard run by Jonnie Askew, and took the lead on their next possession on a 55-yard run by Askew. The Presidents tied it late on a 1-yard run.
In OT, Harding struck first on a 4-yard scamper and Mount Vernon came right back from two yards out. After a defensive hold, MV won it on a 3-yard run.
Total plays were about even at 55-54 (Jackets led), and MV had a first down advantage at 15-12.
Mount Vernon senior quarterback Joel Hubbard completed eight of 17 passes for 96 yards and had two passes picked off. He also carried the weight on the ground with 23 carries for 38 yards, but Jonnie Askew’s 55-yard sprint for a score and 38-yard run gave him a team-leading 96 yards on only seven carries. Senior Layne Kuhlman pulled down five receptions for 57 yards, and Karter Harris, Askew and Evan Owens each caught a pass. Aaron White led the defense with 10 tackles, and Mark Hanna had nine stops, including two sacks.
Northmor lances Elgin, 45-0
The Comets were dimmed by the Golden Knights, 45-0, in the season opener for both teams, Friday. The Golden Knights were perfect in the air and steady on the ground, outgaining Elgin 398 to 100 while taking a 38-0 lead at the half, then taking their foot off the pedal.
Northmor’s AJ Bower was an immaculate 9-for-9 in the air for 163 yards and three TDs, and Max Lower carried 24 times for 171 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns. Hunter Fulk grabbed five receptions for 69 yards and two scores for the Knights. Caleb Schneurer made six PATs and kicked a field goal to highlight the Northmor kicking game.
Northmor got on the board less than 2 minutes into the game on a 29-yard strike from Bower to Fulk, and Lower made it 14-0 at the 7-minute mark on a 7-yard run. Northmor closed out the first-quarter scoring on a 1-yard run by Lower with 4:24 left. Eight seconds into the second, the Golden Knights struck again on a 56-yard pass, catch and run from Bower to Jaxson Wenger. Midway through the quarter, Schnuerer kicked a 25-yarder through the uprights for a 31-0 lead, and they took a 38-0 lead at the half after a 3-yard blast by Lower. A half-minute into the fourth, Northmor got its last tally on a Bower-to-Fulk TD strike of 20 yards.
Mount Gilead runs over Ridgedale, 56-0
The Indians took a 32-0 lead after one quarter and led 56-0 at halftime before subbing in and allowing the game to play out. Garrett George scored three times in the opening minutes and five times in the first half to make the game a runaway.
Mount Gilead wasted no time in its first possession, which started on its own 46. The Indians needed a little over a minute off the clock and scored on their fourth play from scrimmage when George took the ball 24 yards to paydirt. Matt Bland then scored a 2-pointer for an 8-0 lead.
After a Mount Gilead interception by Owen High, the Indians scored on their first play of their next possession when George took a handoff and scampered 80 yards for the second touchdown of the night.
From there on out, the story was Mount Gilead’s defense holding Ridgedale to three plays and a punt while George and Bland took over the ground game as the Indians secured the game by halftime.
George carried 15 times for 285 yards and five touchdowns. Bland was 1-for-6 in the air for 41 yards,
"I am really pleased with how our boys prepared this week," Indians coach Mike Reid said. "And again tonight they came out with a real businesslike approach. (George) ran the ball hard tonight, and Matthew did a great job running the offense.
“The boys up front created some huge seams for our guys to run in. Everything starts up front and our boys in the trenches really got after it tonight," Reid said.
“Defensively, I was very proud of our guys' execution of their assignments," Reid said. "They were well-prepared by our defensive staff and really didn’t give our opponents very much at all tonight."
The big win didn’t take away the Indians’ focus on Upper Sandusky this Friday.
"We are going to have to correct some errors and work to become more efficient in some aspects of our offense," Reid said. "Upper Sandusky will also challenge our defense. So we are going to have to step up our game. But I'm 100% sure the boys are up for the challenge."
