Pilots Drown Cadets
The River Pilots used 21 first quarter points and never looked back in handing the Fort Frye Cadets a 38-13 defeat at Magnolia’s Alumni Field Aug. 24 to open the 2012 high school football season.
River took the opening kick and ran it down the Cadets’ throat as Jordan Sapp broke away on three long runs, and Nick Asturi capped the drive off with a one-yard plunge to start the game.
On the Fort’s next two possessions, Asturi and Evan Eggleston forced fumbles that set up TD runs of 34 and 28 yards. After the third Colton Wright extra point kick, the Pilots held a quick 21-0 lead in the first period.
Having their way with the Cadets on the ground in the first period, the Pilots went to the air in the second frame, as Cody “Golden Arm” Caldwell hit wide receiver Kameron Brown in stride for 58 yards to give the hosts a 28-0 lead after the Wright extra point kick.
In the second half, Wright split the uprights on a 32-yard field goal for the Pilots’ first points of the second half. Brown hauled in a 28-yard TD pass from Caldwell to end the River scoring and the starters sat the remainder of the game.
With the reserves in for River, Fort Frye would then score twice, once on a three-yard pass play and a long 55-yard TD run to end all the scoring in the game. Bailey Reusser added 14 yards on six totes, while Zac Smith and Joe Flannery added positive yards on the ground.
Sapp rushed for 140 yards on 14 carries and scored twice, while Asturi rambled 77 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown.
Brown hauled in 10 passes from Caldwell for 146 yards and two scores. He also snagged an interception on defense. Besides catches by Brown, Bryce Cross, and Freddie Mundt, Dallas Necessary grabbed two.
Caldwell was 9-20 for 203 yards and a pair of scores, while Flannery completed two passes, for 13 yards.
“We got out of the game injury free,” said Pilot Head Coach Mike Flannery. ” I thought our defense played well.”
River will make its first formal road trip of the season Friday at Newcomerstown, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.