ST. MARYS – Defiance knocked off host St. Marys for the first time since 2013 on Friday night as they dispatched the Roughriders 30-15.
On their first possession of the game the Bulldogs wasted no time jumping ahead on the scoreboard as they traveled 60 yards over three plays thanks to a connection from junior Brez Zipfel to classmate Anthony Wilder to take a 6-0 advantage. Zipfel’s two-point conversion hookup with Jordyn Wright gave the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead with 6:55 remaining in the first.
After forcing a three and out by St. Marys the Defiance offense again wasted no time putting up six as a five play drive culminated in a 34 yard screen pass and race to the endzone by Anthony Wilder. The ensuing two-point pass failed however with 2:55 to keep the Bulldogs ahead 14-0.
St. Marys leading rusher Colton Mabry’s two yard plunge with 8:04 to go before the half finished off his third score of the season and first of the game for a 69-yard drive over 13 plays to bring the hosts within 14-7 after a Logan Rush extra point.
The final score of the first half capped off a Defiance drive of 71 yards and 12 plays on a straight line score from 12 yards out by Zipfel, and a successful two-point pass to Wilder made the score 22-7. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs their leading rusher Brogan Castillo was injured on the drive and would not return to the field for the second half of play after being tackled picking up a first down.
Colton Mabry’s second touchdown of the evening on the first possession of the second half for St. Marys and a successful two-point pass to Kevin Perry brought the Riders within 22-15 and ended a 12-play, 85-yard drive that spanned nearly six minutes.
Utilizing their short passing game and overall team speed the Bulldogs pushed across a score by Anthony Wilder on a 12-yard pass and a successful two-pointer to Garrett Rodenberger to end the scoring at 30-15 with 8:16 to go.
Defiance’s final possession was stopped after an incomplete pass on third down but reopened seconds later when a punt bounced off the leg of a St. Marys defender at the 24 before ultimately eventually ending with no harm done on a turnover on downs.
Working from their own six with just 1:33 to go the Roughriders marched downfield and picked up four first downs but were unable to cut into the lead any closer before time ran out.
Defiance was led by Brez Zipfel who finished 9/15 for 120 yards and two scores through the air while Anthony Wilder paced the running game and their 207 yards with 81 yards and a score on seven carries.
The Bulldogs are off to their first 3-0 start since 2008 and will return home next week to take on 2-1 Van Wert.
Colton Mabry ended the night with 99 yards on 19 carries and two scores on the ground while Cody Wallace connected on 8/15 for 51 yards through the air.
Next up for the Roughriders (0-3, 0-2) who are 0-3 for the first time since 2013 is a trip to Harmon Field in Wapakoneta for the battle of Auglaize County against the rival Redskins.