Magnolia 53,

Lincoln County 14

The Magnolia Blue Eagles tamed the Lincoln County Panthers, 53-14 to push their undefeated season to 7-0 with three more games to go in the regular season.

The Eagles Dillon “Action” Jackson looked true to form after gaining a team-high 118 yards and two touchdowns against Lincoln as he was the feature back with the absence of side-kick Stingray Bates, who is nursing an injury.

The Blue Eagles offense used an effective ground game, garnishing 217 yards rushing on 43 carries, while their defense limited the high-powered Cougar ground game to 15 yards rushing.

It was junior fullback Traeh Keller who dented the first of his two scores on a three-yard scamper to kick-start the Blue Eagles’ offense for a 6-0 lead after the extra point kick failed.

The Blue Eagle signal caller atoned for his missed PAT when he connected with Jared Blatt on a eight-yard pitch and catch before the half to give Magnolia a 12-0 lead.

In the second period the Panthers got something going on the Eagle defense and scored on a two-yard run. However, their kick also failed and the Eagle lead was cut in half 12-6.

But, Magnolia retaliated twice in the second quarter with a nine-yard touchdown scamper by Jackson and Keller’s second TD from one yard out to push the Eagles’ advantage to 26-6 at the break after Justin Fox’s two extra point conversion kicks sailed between the goal posts.

After the second half kick, the Panthers snared a 84-yard pitch, and catch for a Lincoln touchdown to make things interesting. Plus they converted a two-point run to shrink the Eagles’ advantage to 26-14.

But, that was all the scoring the Big Blue defense would allow as the defense buckled their helmets and went right back to work.

Keller scored his third touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run and Jackson sealed the deal on a 20-yard touchdown scamper in the third period, completed by two Fox point after kicks.

The Blue Eagles’ second unit offense did their part as Tim Shreve tallied two more Magnolia touchdowns in the fourth to put the exclamation point to a hard-fought game.

Again the Eagles didn’t have to throw, but when they did Fox was on the money. He completed 5-9 passes to Blatt, Derek Fruner, Keller, and Matt Sapp for 105 yards passing and a touchdown. On the ground, Jackson totaled 118 yards and two touchdowns. That gives him 1,479 yards in his career, so far, moving him into eighth place in the rushing statistics compiled since 1975. With this week’s tally he passed standouts Pat Dawson and Paul Grandstaff.

Besides Jackson’s heroics, Keller picked up 61 yards and three TDs on only nine carries, while Shreve tacked on 30-yards and two touchdowns on five totes. Fruner, Billy O’Neil, Ryan Richmond, and Zach Arrick each added positive yardage for the Blue Eagles.

On the defensive side of the ball, Matthew Riggs came up big with 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss of yardage, and a quarterback sack. Zach Neff chipped in with eight tackles, including one tackle for loss of yardage, and two quarterback sacks. Keller was just as tough on defense. He had two solo tackles and assisted on six more. “Hitman” Davey Howell added seven tackles, including two for loss of yardage, and added a quarterback sack. Jackson also fared well on defense too. He helped plant seven Panthers to the turf, while Sam Shepherd and Seth Pay each added five tackles.

It doesn’t get any easier for Magnolia. They tangle with the talented Barnesville Shamrocks in Barnesville Friday night, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Paden City 29,

Bellaire St. John 12

Playing at Bridgeport High School against St. Johns Central on Friday night, the Paden City Wildcats racked up their fourth win of the season with the 29-12 win.

“We didn’t play all that well in the first half,” said Brent Croasmun, head coach of the Wildcats. “We had a couple of touchdowns called back and kind of struggled, but finally pulled ourselves together and got the win.”

Paden City’s Taylor Still scored first in the game, putting six points on the scoreboard on a 26-yard run. Malakai Anderson kicked the extra point, putting the ‘Cats in the lead by seven.

St. Johns scored six quick points but missed the extra point kick, still in the first quarter.

Neither team scored in the second, but in the third St. Johns went ahead by a TD.

Paden City added three more touchdowns in the game, easily taking the win, 29-12.

“Keith Hardbarger did a good job for us carrying the ball in this game. He was able to run up the middle and get some yards. And Taylor Still also had a good game.”

Still was the leading rusher for the Wildcats with 143 yards on 21 rushes. Hardbarger had 16 carries for 78 yards; and Anderson had 77 yards on 20 carries.

Anderson threw seven passes in the game, connecting on three for 51 yards and one interception.

Josh Bennett was the leading receiver for Paden City, with 27 yards on one catch. Mitchell Stewart caught a five-yard pass and Still caught a 19-yard touchdown pass.

Defensively, Jamie Billiter had eight tackles for Paden City and three quarterback sacks. Still had eight tackles, one for a loss; Anderson, eight tackles and one fumble recovery; Stewart recovered a fumble; Michael Greathouse caused a fumble and had seven tackles; and Silas Davis sacked the quarterback once.

Paden City will play host to the Beallsville Blue Devils on Friday.

Hundred 18,

Gilmer County 54

Hundred lost one of their best linemen in the first period and was down to 14 players when another player went down to an injury, but still played its best offensive game of the year. However, with the loss of many key players and some still nursing injuries, the Hornets couldn’t get it done in the second half against Gilmer County and fell, 54-18.

The Hornets used three different quarterbacks during the game, but still managed to stay within striking distance at 14-6 with a touchdown by Zach “Sunshine” Phillips, who bullied his way over the goal line from one yard out in the second period.

However, the second half wasn’t as effective as the first, but Hundred still managed to score two more touchdowns before the day was over. The next TD was a pass from junior quarterback Tyrell Watson to Logan McDiffitt. Watson put the pass out of the reach of the Gilmer defenders. It was just enough for McDiffitt to snag it in the flat and he scampered 45-yards for the Hornets’ second TD.

The final Hundred touchdown was all Phillips. Taking his turn at quarterback late in the fourth period, he engineered a 80-yard touchdown drive by himself. He took the handoff on quarterback slants six different times before ending up in the end zone from 24-yards for the Hornets’ final tally.

Phillips had a career-high 159-yards and a touchdown, while Chris Varner and Zach Watson netted 55-yards between them. Tyrell Watson threw for 146 yards and one touchdown, while Dylan Murphy tossed the pigskin for 30 yards and Phillips added 24 for the Hornets.

With the Hornets leading tackler, Roger Stalnaker, out indefinitely from an injury suffered in the first period, the defensive unit didn’t have any double-digit tacklers in the game. But, Phillips, Zach Watson, and Roy Yoho each recorded eight tackles. Phillips and Murphy each had a quarterback sack, while Jerrico Parks added two sacks, knocked down several Gilmer passes, and had five tackles. Phillips also batted down four extra point conversion attempts. McDiffitt and Tyrell Watson both had interceptions for Hundred.

“Phillips, McDiffitt, and Parks each stepped up and did a good job on defense, as well as on offense,” said Hornet Head Coach Rex Rush. “Phillips ran over people and wouldn’t be denied, while McDiffitt caught everything that came his way.”

Hundred will entertain Morgantown Trinity to town Oct. 23 with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

River 16,

Shenandoah 14

The downpour of rain, and the muddy field conditions didn’t seem to faze the River Football Team in Shenandoah County Friday, Oct. 16, as they were hitting on all cylinders as they outlasted their hosts, 16-14, for their first victory of the season.

Early in the game the stage was set. The Pilots’ senior quarterback, Dylan Potts, was hungry for a win and played that way throughout. He moved the Pilots with his arm and his legs and had them knocking on the Zeps’ door. Potts answered it himself with an 18-yard touchdown run to give the visitors a 7-0 lead after a Tanner Wright successful conversion kick in the opening period.

Shenandoah struck back in the second period of play with a 15-yard pass play and knotted the score at seven in the second period.

The Pilots struck gold once more, this time it was a 17-yard pitch and catch from Potts to Devann Potts, however the sure-footed Wright missed the extra point kick for a 13-6 River lead heading into intermission. Neither team scored in the third period, but the never-say-die Pilots field goal kicker drilled a 23-yard kick through the uprights for a nine point lead in the fourth period of play.

The Zeps tallied another touchdown later, but the Wright kick, was enough to give the underdog Pilots their first win of the season.

River moved the chains 10 times, and rushed for 82 yards. Dylan Potts rushed for 72 yards while tossing 111 yards through the air, with Tyler Jeffers and Devann Potts hauling in 99 of the yards.

River will try to notch their second consecutive win against Buckeye Trail at Flannery Field this Friday night at 7:30 p.m.