It was the Keaton Fausel show for New Philadelphia (6-2, 5-1) on Friday night, with the junior quarterback scoring all three touchdowns in a 21-14 win over Lexington (3-5, 2-3).
Lexington had a 7-0 lead after one quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Joe Caudill, but New Philadelphia’s Fausel took it in the end zone himself for a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put the Quakers on the board. Aidan Mushrush knocked the extra point home to tie up the game 7-7. While Lexington was threatening to score at the end of the half, the Quaker defense put a stop to it at the goal line and kept the game tied.
In the third quarter Fausel took to the air attack and connected with Pete DiDonato on a 40-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. Mushrush was good on the PAT again and the Quakers were up 14-7.
Lexington came back to tie up the game 14-14 on another two yard run by Caudill in the fourth quarter. This was set up by a trick play where Caudill throw behind the line of scrimmage to Gage Powell, who then found Brayden Fogle downfield for a 33-yard score putting them at the nine yard line.
Fausel and the Quakers responded with 90 yard drive downfield to take the lead. Fausel found a wide open Carson Long on a slant route and he burned defenders the rest of the way to take the lead on a 65 yard pass play with 2:30 on the clock. The Minutemen threatened as time was winding down, but New Philadelphia forced Caudill to fumble and Jaiden Boltz recovered the ball in the closing minutes, which sealed the win.
Fausel was 14-for-22 for 217 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the day. He also ran the ball 14 times for 40 yards and a score.
Long caught five passes for 108 yards including the game winning touchdown. DiDonato had seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Jackson Korns had two of seven Quaker sacks on the day, showing the amount of pressure the Quakers put on Caudill. Also recording sacks were Zach Rothrock, Owen Schoelles, Jaiden Boltz, Boston Crowell and Garrett Dillon-Rine. Boltz had two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble to go with his team high 13 tackles. Brody Gilland and Rothrock each had 10 tackles, and Vincent Migoni also caused a fumble.
For Lexington, Caudill was 15-for-27 for 224 yards passing and had a pair of short rushing touchdowns. Fogle had four catches for 65 yards. Markale Martin also had four catches for 64 yards.
Remaining games for New Philadelphia:
Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. vs. West Holmes
Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. at Dover
Remaining games for Lexington:
Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. at Madison Comprehensive
Friday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m. vs. Ashland
