Last Friday night was a special night for the River Pilots. It was their 2025 celebration of Homecoming. Past alumni from 1975 were recognized and past cheerleaders took part in cheering the team on. The farthest back a cheerleader graduated was in 1958.

Coach Mike Flannery’s Pilots came onto the field fired up and ready to take on the Lancers of Federal Hocking High School.

The Lancers kicked off to the Pilots who took the ball on their 40-yard line. Trail Thompson’s first play pass went incomplete. The next play he took the team to a first down, and followed that up with a touchdown run. The extra point attempt failed. With only 34 seconds off the clock, the score 6 to 0.

The Lancers then took the kickoff, but the Pilots forced them to punt, and Cam Abott returned the ball to the Lancers 31. On the first play following the punt Thompson’s pass fell short, but he completed the next one to Trey Larrick, bringing up a third and nine. Next Thompson handed off to Wyatt Stalder who broke free to score on a nice 31 yard run. Carson Jones’ kick was good, making the score 13-0.

The next two series neither team could move the ball down field. With one minute left in the 1st quarter, an inside hand off from Thompson to Larrick went for a 34 yard score to make it 20-0.

In the 2nd quarter, Aiden Milhoan intercepted a Lancers pass setting up another Thompson pass to Crestyn Isaly’s who carried the ball in for a score. Jones’ kick was good making the score 27-0 with only eight seconds off the second quarter clock.

With the Pilots kicking to the Lancers, Lancer’s Senior, Gabe Bray took the ball and on a reversing play, carried the ball the length of the field for a TD. The two point conversion failed and with 26 seconds off the quarter clock the score now stood at 27-6.

The Lancer kick was returned by Bently Lucus to the Lancers 38. The two following plays were incomplete passes. Then Stalder ran the ball for 29 yards for another Pilots TD. Jones’ extra point was good with 1 minute and 34 off the clock, the score now stood at 34-6.

The Pilots’ kick to the Lancers was fumbled, and picked up by Andrew Crow inside the five yard line, on the next play Brayden Johnson ran for a three-yard TD. The PAT was good and with 10:21 left in the half the Pilots led 41 Lancers 6.

With the Lancers unable to move the ball it returned to the Pilots who three plays later added another score making it 48- 6 with 8:17 to play in the first half.

At the five-minute mark the Pilots once again took the ball in for a score. Trey Larrick picked up a first down to set up his next run into the end zone. The halftime score was 55-6.

In the second half the game clock was permitted to run continually, but In the fourth Quarter, Cam Abbott took over the QB position. His pass to Bently Lucus set up a 35-yard run for another Pilots TD. Once again Jones’ kick was good. Score with 3:38 left, 62-6.

In the final seconds of the game the Lancers managed to pass into the end zone for a final score of Pilots 62, Lancers 12. The Pilots season record now stands at 4 and 2.