ST. MARYS – St. Marys scored on the opening possession of Friday night’s WBL contest at Grand Lake Health Field and scored late to break a tie as they handed #1 ranked Van Wert their first loss of the season 21-14.
Entering the week Roughriders first year head coach Bo Frye’s emphasis to his troops has been to control the line of scrimmage and the time of possession.
On the first drive of the game the blue and gold utilized a steady dose of senior Ross Henschen and junior Aiden Hinkle as they chewed up the clock and yards inside the redzone before Henschen rushed in from four yards away to cap off a 14-play drive that covered over seven minutes to give St. Marys a 7-0 lead.
Van Wert who began the night averaging 50.5 points per game through their first month of the season moved the ball effectively on their opening drive but saw it end at the Roughrider 15 when a pass from Aidan Pratt was intercepted by Ty Kiehl for the first turnover of the season for Pratt.
Following a St. Marys turnover and a Van Wert turnover on towns the Roughriders raced to a 14-0 lead with 7:41 to go before the halftime break on an 82-yard drive and a 26-yard scamper from Tanner Howell punctuated the seven play set for the score.
Trailing by a pair of scores in the third quarter the Cougars clawed back after a St. Marys punt with a Rideresque 16-play drive that covered 75 yards and four minutes to cut the lead to 14-6 on the seventh rushing score of the year by Pratt, a three yard scamper. The ensuing Van Wert extra point attempt was blocked by Roughrider senior Tanner Howell with 4:50 left in the third.
St. Marys continued to move the football through the end of the third and into the start of the fourth quarter but were unable to add to their lead as a 35-yard field goal attempt from kicker Brandon Bowers sailed wide left.
Two plays totaling 62 yards on the following Van Wert drive moved the Cougars deep into Roughrider territory and again saw Pratt find paydirt, this time from a yard out to cut the lead to 14-12 with 9:18 remaining. Pratt’s two-point conversion pass completion to Nate Jackson tied the game at 14-14 just moments later.
Almost exactly the same way they opened the game the Roughriders finished their final offensive drive of the game when they completed a 15-play drive that covered 62 yards to take a 21-14 lead after a Bowers extra point.
St. Marys 14th play ended on a one yard gain from quarterback Gavin Reineke that saw the signal callers helmet knocked off. Following a timeout the Riders were forced to use backup Kyle Kogge under center who wasted no time celebrating his birthday with his first career score from a yard away with 1:55 to go.
While the visiting Cougars were once again able to move the football deep into opponent territory they fourth and 13 play they would be forced to attempt to pick up would be their last play as a throw from Pratt sailed high into the back of the endzone and was picked off by safety Brayden Sullivan to secure the Roughrider victory.
“We can’t wait until the second half to decide to play against good teams, in a game like this you can’t just show up and expect things to go well” Van Wert (4-1, 3-1) boss Keith Recker remarked after the game. “We have to make things happen next week, OG will be a nice wakeup call next week that I think our guys will be ready for it.”
Aidan Pratt led the Cougars offense through the air as he connected on 18/34 passes for 194 yards but was picked off twice while also leading the team in rushing with 109 yards and two scores on 17 rushes.
St. Marys head coach Bo Frye remarked post game “I thought our kids played hard. We started to find our identity tonight and we have to continue to improve every day.”
Offensively the Roughriders (3-2, 2-2) were led by Ross Henschen who carried the ball 32 times for 158 yards as part of a 283 yard output on the ground for his squad that will be home next week to battle Shawnee.