Drew Terhall | Aim Media Midwest
NEW MADISON — Preble Shawnee sent an early statement to the rest of the football teams in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference with a 42-25 road win over Tri-Village on Friday, Aug. 30.
Shawnee raced out to a 14-0 lead then pulled away late to knock off one of the teams considered to be in the running for the conference title.
“(It) was a hard-fought game by both teams,” Shawnee coach Dave Maddox said. “We were able to get up on them early, but (Tri-Village) continued to fight and play hard all night. The momentum shifted back and forth the entire game.”
The Arrows scored on their first possession of the game as junior Brody Morton, who had 11 carries for 164 yards and three touchdowns on the night, scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to go up 7-0.
Shawnee had chances to add more points on the board, but two rushing touchdowns by Morton — both over 50 yards — were called back on holding penalties.
The Tri-Village offense couldn’t get anything going. They went through the first quarter without picking up a first down. The opportunity to tie the game was there, they couldn’t take advantage of the Arrows’ mistakes.
Preble Shawnee was backed up to their own six-yard line in the second quarter. On third and long, Tri-Village got an interception but was called for pass interference. With a more manageable third down, Morton hit senior Isaac Blankenship on a screen pass for the first down.
Later in that drive, Morton hit senior Reece Smith for a screen pass. Smith took it 13 yards for the touchdown as Preble Shawnee went up 14-0.
Tri-Village got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Trey Sagester found senior Lane Bierly for a 28-yard reception to give the team their first first down of the game.
With 48.7 seconds left in the first half, Sagester scored on a quarterback sneak from one yard out to go into halftime only down 14-7.
A few rushing touchdowns called back and some missed deep passes by Morton left the door open for the Patriots.
But like in the first half, Tri-Village couldn’t cash in on the Arrows’ mistakes. Bierly picked off Morton and gave the offense the ball in Arrows territory.
A bad snap turned a third one from the 2-yard line to a fourth and 31 from the 32-yard line. After the Patriots failed to convert the fourth down, Morton ran for a 49-yard touchdown. This time, there were no flags and Preble Shawnee took a 21-7 lead.
Sagester found sophomore Griffin Richards for a 19-yard touchdown pass in response of the Arrows’ last touchdown. After a failed point after attempt, Tri-Village was down 21-13.
Later in the third quarter, Sagester hit a wide-open sophomore Teddy Miller for a 33-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, Tri-Village made it a 21-19 game with 1:46 left in the third quarter.
The Arrows responded with a score of their own. Morton rushed for a six-yard touchdown and Preble Shawnee extended their lead to 28-19.
The Patriots got back on the board with another Sagester to Richards touchdown, this time from 12 yards out. After another failed two-point conversion, Tri-Village was down 28-25.
Tri-Village couldn’t get the offense and the defense playing at the same level. When the offense was struggling, the defense was picking up the slack. When the offense was humming, the defense couldn’t get that one stop they needed.
One minute after Tri-Village scored, Preble Shawnee drove down the field and scored on a four-yard touchdown run from Blankenship.
The Patriots were driving down the field trying to make it a one-score game. Down to the seven-yard line, Sagester was picked off. The Arrows got the ball back with 3:54 left in the game.
They drained the clock as they marched down the field and scored. Senior Lane Lovely scored on a four-yard run to give the Arrows the 42-25 victory.
Morton completed 11-of-22 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Lane Lovely added 42 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Blankenship had six catches for 73 yards.
Brody Lynch led the defense with 17 tackles. Nolan Earles added nine and Caleb Blankenship had seven.
“We made a lot of mistakes at some crucial moments that TV capitalized on,” Maddox said. “I’m proud of our team for fighting through the adversity and continuing to play hard the entire game. They kept grinding it out. Our defense was able to get a couple stops late in the game, and our offense took advantage. We have to stay focused and continue to improve each day.”
With the win, Shawnee improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the WOAC. The Arrows return home this Friday (Sept. 6) to host National Trail, a 26-12 winner over Tri-County North in Week Two.
(Editor’s note: The Greenville Daily Advocate contributed to this story)
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X.
