’Cane avenges ’14 loss, 38-14

0

EBER — Wilmington avenged last season’s loss to Miami Trace Friday night by defeating the Panthers 38-14 in South Central Ohio League action in Fayette Co.

Last season, Miami Trace defeated Wilmington 20-13, likely knocking the Hurricane out of the playoffs.

This time around, the Panthers were overmatched.

The win puts Wilmington at 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the SCOL, the same marks as Clinton-Massie. The two Clinton County rivals will square off Friday night at Alumni Field.

The Panthers fall to 2-3 in the SCOL, 2-6 overall.

Miami Trace held Wilmington to a quick three and out on the opening possession of the game for the Hurricane.

On their first possession, the Panthers moved the ball out to near midfield where the first turnover occurred. The fumble was recovered by Wilmington’s Austin Thompson on the Miami Trace 43.

Wilmington drove the ball down field and soon was knocking on the door. Quarterback Matt Creditt carried the ball from the 4, but fumbled into the end zone. Brady McCune fell on the loose ball for the touchdown and Brady Henry’s kick made it 7-0 with 4:44 to play in the initial period.

One of the highlights of the first quarter for the Panthers came when junior punter Blake Pittser faked a punt and completed a pass to keep the drive alive. The play went for a very long gain, but much of that yardage was taken away on a Panther penalty.

Later in the possession, Austin Lovett’s pass was blocked by a Wilmington player and intercepted by Porter Pagett at the WHS 47.

This set up Wilmington’s second score of the night, coming with 9:56 to play in the second quarter on a 4-yard run by Marlyn Frisco. Henry’s kick made it 14-0, Hurricane.

The Panthers had their third turnover in as many possessions, a fumble recovered by Wilmington at the Miami Trace 37.

On the very next play, Matt Creditt completed a 37-yard pass to Dylan Beaugard for a touchdown to make it 21-0.

Later on the half, Beaugard fielded a Miami Trace punt inside his own 5 and broke several attempted tackles on his way to what appeared to be a 95-yard touchdown. That scored was negated by an illegal block by Wilmington.

Wilmington did not score on this possession leaving the score 21-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Creditt scored on a 23-yard run. Henry’s kick made it 28-0. Later in the third quarter, Henry converted a 40-yard field goal to give Wilmington a 31-0 lead.

There was a nice run by Miami Trace’s Baley Allen, good for 58 yards, but soon the Panthers suffered their fourth turnover of the game.

The Panthers responded with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by sophomore Brady Wallace. Pittser’s kick made it 31-7 with two minutes to play in the third quarter.

Wilmington had the answer for that score with a touchdown pass from Creditt to Tony Merritt, capping a 7-play, 46-yard drive late in the third.

Miami Trace suffered its fifth turnover of the game on a lost fumble in the fourth quarter.

The only score of the fourth quarter, however, was a 72-yard pass from Lovett to Wallace with 1:30 to play in the game. With Pittser’s kick, that made what would be the final score, 38-14.

SUMMARY

Oct 16, 2015

@Panther Field

Wilmington 38 Miami Trace 14

MT 00.00.07.07…..14

WL 14.07.17.00…..38

First quarter

W-McCune fumble recovery in end zone (Henry PAT) 4:44

W-Frisco 4 yard run (Henry PAT) 9:56

Second quarter

W-Beaugard 37 pass from Creditt (Henry PAT)

Third quarter

W-Creditt 23 yard run (Henry PAT) 9:07

W-Henry 40 yard field goal

MT-Wallace 90 yard kickoff return (Pittser PAT) 2:00

W-Merritt pass from Creditt (Henry PAT)

Fourth quarter

MT-Wallace 72 yard pass from Lovett (Pittser PAT) 1:30

Wilmington’s Matt Creditt (right) passes during Friday night’s win over Miami Trace at Panther Field in Eber.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/10/web1_FB8_wilm_creditt_RH.jpgWilmington’s Matt Creditt (right) passes during Friday night’s win over Miami Trace at Panther Field in Eber. Chris Hopps | Civitas Media

By Chris Hoppes

[email protected]

Reach Chris Hoppes at 740-335-3611, ext. 1104 or on Twitter @choppes1

No posts to display