EBER — It was a renewal of a long-time rivalry between teams who were twice in the same league (the old South Central Ohio League) and the 21st century SCOL when the Hurricane of Wilmington High School made the trip over to Miami Trace High School to take on the Panthers in Week 2 of the high school football season.
On a warm, humid night, old acquaintances were again on display in this back and forth, barn-burner of a game.
In the end, it was a field goals difference as Wilmington returned to Clinton County with a 24-21 victory.
Wilmington, now 2-0 on the season, will host Mount Healthy next week.
“Our boys are just relentless,” Wilmington head coach Ryan Evans said. “They never stop. We have an underdog mentality, we always have. We came in here as an underdog and that’s just the mindset that our young men have.
“They finished the game and that’s big for me,” Evans said.
“We have Mount Healthy next week,” Evans said. “They’re a good football team. They have a really good quarterback and some really good receivers.
“We were in a tight ball game with them last year and we’re looking forward to it being another one,” Evans said.
Wilmington lost at Mount Healthy last season, 13-10.
Miami Trace goes to 1-1 and will host Logan Elm next Friday.
“We have a young team and we know that,” Miami Trace head coach Jerry Williams said. “We’re very talented and we understand that. But, we’ve got to use that talent and our momentum to execute and we didn’t.”
Miami Trace had the first possession of the game, but the Panthers turned the ball over on a fumble after a completed pass, giving the Hurricane the ball at the Miami Trace 37. Wilmington scored on a 15-yard run, but that play was negated by a holding call on the Hurricane.
The Hurricane soon made one stick on an 11-yard pass play from Aiden Price to Michael Brown Jr. The extra-point kick by Jon Custis gave the Hurricane a 7-0 lead at the 6:48 mark of the first quarter.
On their next possession, Miami Trace relied quite a bit on Asher LeBeau to carry the load. This series culminated in an 11-yard touchdown run by Evan Colegrove and with the kick by Ian Mavis, the game was tied with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, on Wilmington’s third possession, it was once again Price to Brown Jr. for the score, this time covering 24 yards. Custis’ boot gave the ‘Cane a 14-7 lead with 4:51 until the half.
Like it had before, Miami Trace responded. Colegrove returned the kickoff 45 yards and that helped set the Panthers up to tie the game on a 1-yard plunge by Julian Baker. Mavis’ kick was true with 2:32 remaining.
In no way to be outdone, Eli Stewart put Wilmington in fine shape with a 76-yard kick return, from the goal line to the Miami Trace 24.
In what was a terrific show of defensive fortitude, the Panthers bent, but did not yield a score. One Wilmington pass attempt into the end zone was batted away by Miami Trace’s Jake Manbevers.
Wilmington did move the ball to the Miami Trace 1 with 26 seconds to go in the half. Wilmington utilized its time outs, but the resistance of the Panthers kept the visitors out of the end zone and it was 14-14 at the half.
Wilmington got the ball to start the second half. A personal foul penalty set the Hurricane up at its own 10. With a few quick passes in the flat, Wilmington moved up field. Both teams had two penalties during this lengthy series.
Stalling at the 15 of Miami Trace, Custis came on and connected for a 32-yard field goal at the 6:31 mark of the third quarter. That would prove to make all the difference in the final outcome.
Miami Trace kept grinding away and took the lead on when Trey Robinette connected with Cody Gibbs for the touchdown at 2:07 of the third to make it 21-17.
Wilmington was right back in business after another long kick return by Stewart gave the ‘Cane the ball at the Panthers’ 27.
From there it wasn’t long before Caydn Denniston scored on a 1-yard run and the kick put the score at 24-21, in favor of the Hurricane. That came with 42 seconds to play in the third quarter.
That proved to be the final score of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Wilmington wasn’t able to score but took valuable time off the clock. The Hurricane defense forced a punt on one Trace drive but the Panthers got the ball back with 2:12 remaining. Brown Jr. again made his presence felt with an interception at the Miami Trace 13.
WHS was unable to capitalize as a field goal attempt was tipped and fell short. The Panthers had 21 seconds left but were unable to complete a pass in the final series.
