Going into the Friday night rivalry match at Piqua, the Sidney Yellow Jackets still had an outside chance of making the Division 2 playoffs in high school football action, although head coach Adam Doenges was realistic about his team’s chances, saying a lot wouldhave to happen.
His Yellow Jackets did their part, winning a thriller at Piqua 17-14 when placekicker Danny Dean drilled a 34-yard field goal with 1:18 remaining for the final margin of victory.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as later that night, it was posted on a computer rankings website that Sidney had been “mathematically eliminated” from postseason play.
But you can bet no one will allow that to detract from the performance of the Jackets Friday night.
The defense was outstanding, limiting the Indians to just 223 yards in total offense and keeping Piqua’s 1,000-yard rusher, Darian Tipp-Clemons, in check. He entered the game with over 1,200 yards rushing on the season against a strong Piqua schedule, but the Jackets held him to 92 yards on 23 carries, forcing the Indians to look elsewhere. And they were able to pass for just 102 yards.
Meanwhile, the Jackets got another 100-yard rushing effort from sophomore tailback Isaiah Bowser, who finished with 107 yards on 18 carries. And when the game was on the line, Doenges called Bowser’s number repeatedly and he and his offensive line drove their team down to within Dean’s field goal range on a drive that started at the Jackets’ own 21-yard line with 5:41 remaining in the game.
Freshman quarterback Andre Gordon finished with 107 yards passing on 11-for-16, and hit Damien Duff with a 24-yard scoring strike just after the Jackets recovered a Piqua fumble to give Sidney a 14-7 lead at the half.
The defense gave the Jackets the chance to come from behind after Piqua scored first. In fact, Piqua’s last four drives of the first half were all three-and-outs, and the Indinas had a total of minus-11 yards combined on those four possessions.
Devon Rogers led the defense with nine tackles and a sack. Dillon King and Sam Niswonger had eight tackles apiece.
It was Sidney’s first win over Piqua since 2009 and only the third in this rivalry since 2003. And Doenges said after the game that it was Sidney’s first win over a team that will likely finish with a winning record since 2006, although the Indians must win at Troy to go 6-4.
Sidney will attempt to finish the season at 7-3 in a game at 3-6 Greenville Friday night. A win would enable the Jackets to finish in second place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division, behind champion Vandalia.
Loramie-USV
From an 0-4 start, the Fort Loramie Redskins have battled their way through key injuries to win five in a row and put themselves on the verge of a league championship and a Division 7 playoff berth.
The Redskins were stunned by two quick touchdowns by Upper Scioto Valley Friday night on the road, but kept the Rams out of the endzone from that point on and came away with a hard-fought 16-12 victory.
The win put the Redskins at 4-1 in the Northwest Central Conference and tied with Riverside atop the league standings. And it also put them in eighth spot in their region of D-7, and as everyone knows, the top eight qualify. A win over Lima Perry Friday on the road should take care of both things for coach Whit Parks’ squad.
The Redskins were down 12-0 before the players had a chance to work up a sweat.
“They were going wide on us with a lot of success,” Parks said. “The adjustment we made was realy a minor one with our linebackers. We put them out a little wider and from that point on, we held them in check.
“We really dug ourselves a hole, but we fought back out of it,” he continued. “I’m not sure we were as ready to play as I wanted to be, but we came back, and against a nice team. We didn’t do great things on offense, but we were efficient. Teams have been stacking the box with all 11 people, and we had some success throwing over the top. Drew (Wehrman) was able to pick out some people to throw to.”
Wehrman connected with Nate Pleiman and Blake Gaier for TD passes in the game, and Josh Siegel booted a 33-yard field goal.
Loramie, which lost starting quarterback Austin Siegel four games into the season, played without leading rusher Wes Puthoff, who suffered a concussion against Lehman and is out for the season. But freshman Carter Mescher was “next man up” and gave the Redskins some key runs.
“We missed Wes,” said Parks. “But for a freshman, Carter’s composure was pretty darn good. We had some kids that stepped up.”
Anna-Minster
Minster, No. 1 in its region of the D-7 computer rankings, got off to a fast start and rolled to a 35-14 victory over the Anna Rockets Friday night to go to 7-2 on the season.
The Rockets are 3-6 and will finish the season Friday night at St. Henry.
Minster will likely finish the season at 8-2, taking on 2-7 Parkway in the regular-season finale.
Minster got a 15-yard touchdown pass from Josh Nixon to Jacob Dues less than three minutes into the game for a 7-0 lead, and the two hooked up again with 2:03 left in the opening quarter from 14 yards out.
The Wildcats then made it 21-0 on a one-yard run by Evan Huelsman before Anna got in the endzone with just 26 seconds left in the first half on a 10-yard pass from Colin Wuebker to Carter Huelskamp.
Minster got a one-yard run from Nixon with 8:17 left in the third quarter for a 28-7 lead.
In the final period, Anna scored first on a 17-yard pass from Wuebker to Aidan Endsley with 3:21 to go, but Minster answered just 19 seconds later on a 49-yard run by Jared Huelsman.
Minster rushed for 209 yards, with Jared Huelsman having 98 on just seven carries, and Evan Huelsman 57 yards. Noah Rioch had 75 yards on 11 carries and Wuebker 50 yards for the Rockets.
Nixon was 21-for-34 for 206 yards, with Dues catching 10 passes for 120 yards.
Anna had just 66 yards passing and was intercepted four times.
Lehman-Ridgemont
Lehman (5-4) bounced back from a disappointing loss to Fort Loramie last week, hammering Ridgemont 62-0 Friday to stay in the D-7, Region 26 playoff picture.
Lehman currently sits in the fifth spot but does not control its own destiny in the race. The Cavaliers finish the season against winless Waynesfield-Goshen Friday night.
