Paden City’s Michael Shreves breaks free for yardage against the Cameron Dragons. The Wildcats had no answer for the high-powered Dragons’ attack in a 52-16 defeat on homecoming in Paden City.

The Paden City Wildcats knew going into Friday’s football game with Cameron, the odds were against them. The Dragons came into the contest ranked fifth in the state and boasting a 5-0 record. The Wildcats, however, were hoping to get win number two for the homecoming crowd. It wasn’t to be, as the visitors got out to a quick start and ended with a 52-16 victory.

The visiting Dragons showed complete control over the smaller Wildcats. The Dragons jumped out to an early 12-0 lead after one period and increased it to 32-8 at the half.

Cameron connected for three touchdown passes in the first half and added another two more running, taking an overwhelming lead that the Wildcats couldn’t recover from.

Paden City’s Matt Saxon got the Wildcats on the board with 1:01 left before the break on a 25-yard pass from Alex McCoy, and the ‘Cats’ added the two-point pass conversion when Ryan Cross caught the pass from Saxon, making it 24-8. However, with 10 seconds left in the quarter, Cameron added another score on a 22-yard run. The two-point conversion was good, sending the Dragons into the locker room with a 24 point advantage.

In the second half the Dragons tacked on 20 more points on a six yard pass, a 52-yard punt return and a 49-yard pass play. Paden City got its final eight points when Cross ran in from five yards out, and McCoy added the conversion run.

Kameron McClain crowns Paige Leonard as the 2018 Paden City High School homecoming queen.

“I felt like we played well for a quarter and a half. We scored late in the half and had a little momentum going for us; then like it has been all year, we give up some big plays, and they score and take it right back,” Coach Brent Croasmun said.

“It’s very hard for us to practice and get ready for games, because of injuries and a short roster, but it is what it is. We make a lot of mental mistakes, and that goes back to practices. You can’t do that against good teams,” Coach Croasmun added.

Cameron finished with 198 yards rushing on 17 attempts and two touchdowns, compared to Paden City’s 82 yards on 49 attempts and one touchdown. The Dragons went 11-14 passing for 211 yards and five touchdowns, while Paden City was 7-18 for 57 yards, three interceptions and one touchdown.

Saxon caught three passes for 46 yards to lead the Wildcats, while Michael Shreves led the Wildcats’ rushing attack with nine carries for 45 yards.