Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
CAMDEN — The homecoming festivities started for Preble Shawnee before they hosted Tri-County North and continued well into the game as the Arrows cruised to a 55-8 win over the Panthers on Thursday, Oct. 4.
The Arrows offense scored on all five of its possessions in the first half and the defense added another score, while holding the Panthers without a first down the entire first half to take a 41-0 halftime lead.
“The thing that I think we get caught up with and kind of overlook is how well these guys are playing as a team and as a complete unit,” Preble Shawnee coach Dave Maddox said after the game. “They’ve worked so hard. The way they’re playing, that’s not easy. It takes a lot of work and effort from a lot of guys to be able to do what they’re doing, and keeping attitudes focused the success of the team, and keeping guys minds right. The biggest thing that I’m stressing right now to guys is just staying humble and continue to improve.”
It didn’t take long for the Arrows to take control.
After forcing a North punt, Shawnee scored on its second play of the game, a 28-yard touchdown pass from Brody Morton to Reece Smith, who was named Homecoming King prior to the game).
After another North punt, Shawnee scored three plays later to take a 13-0 lead on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Morton, who completed 13-of-14 passes for 255 yards, to Isaac Blankenship (7 catches for 147 yards) with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
That was the tone for the much of the first half. A North punt after three offensive plays and a quick Shawnee touchdown followed.
Shawnee extended its lead to 20-0 on a 36-yard touchdown run by Nolan Earles with 3:03 left in the opening quarter.
In the second, Morton hooked up with Kaden Taylor for a 27-yard touchdown pass and a 27-0 lead with 11:42 left in the half.
The Arrows next score came when North fumbled the snap on a punt attempt and Earles recovered in the end zone for a 34-0 lead with 10:21 left.
From that point both coaches agreed to a running clock if the lead stayed above the required 30-point mark. Typically, the running clock doesn’t go into effect until the second half.
A Lane Lovely 5-yard touchdown run with 2:34 left in the half made it a 41-0 game.
Shawnee started the second half with a Morton to Blankenship touchdown for a 48-0 lead.
North got its initial first down on its second possession of the third quarter then scored on a 68-yard touchdown run by Mason Givens.
Shawnee’s Ethan Mauller capped off the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
With the win, Shawnee, ranked No. 9 in the latest Division V state poll, improved to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference. All but one of the Arrows games have had a running clock in the second half this season.
“I’ve started saying stay humble and hungry,” Maddox said. “Hopefully, that will be what we do.”
The Arrows are scheduled to travel to Arcanum (4-3, 4-2 WOAC) on Thursday, Oct. 10.
North falls to 2-5 and 2-4 with the loss. The Panthers are scheduled to play at Ansonia on Friday. The Tigers are tied with Shawnee at 6-0 atop the WOAC stands.
Shawnee is scheduled to play at Ansonia on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
