The River Pilots used a solid ground game and a devastating defense to claim a 20-0 shutout against Fort Frye Aug. 26.

The Pilots’ junior fullback, Nick Asturi, accounted for 82-yards on 17 attempts and a pair of one-yard touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior tailback Austin McConn rushed for 77-yards on 10 carries to lead the River offense. The Pilot defense held the explosive Cadets to zero total yards and no first downs in the first half.

Both teams exchanged punts in the first period and the Pilots went on a six-play, 60-yard drive to start the second stanza before striking gold on a three-yard TD scamper by quarterback Cody Caldwell. Freshman Colton Wright split the uprights on the conversion kick for a 7-0 Pilot lead in the second period of play.

After holding the Cadets once more, the Pilots set out on an 11-play, 50-yard drive that was capped off by an Asturi one-yard goal. With another kick sailing between the uprights, River held a 14- lead at the break.

Neither team scored in the third, but the Pilots tallied another Asturi one-yard touchdown with eight minutes remaining to give them a 20-0 advantage. The Pilot defense held off a late Cadet surge at their own goal line to preserve the shutout.

The Pilots racked up 186-yards on 41 carries, with McConn and Asturi doing most of the damage. Jonathan Stewart and Caldwell added 21 and 18 yards, respectively, on the ground, while Jordan Sapp contributed eight yards on three totes. Caldwell completed three passes for 38 yards, 24 of them to Dallas Necessary and 14 yards to Garth Richter.

Defensively, Stewart paced the River Pilots with 11 tackles, three that went for loss of yardage and dropped the Cadet quarterback for a sack.

Joe Dotson and McConn both added six tackles, while Logan Sapp, Bret Rosen and Evan Eggleston each recorded five tackles. Sapp also recovered a fumble, while Stewart caused one. The Pilots had over 10 tackles that went for loss of yardage.

The Pilots are home against Newcommerstown Friday, Sept. 2, beginning at 7:30 p.m.