Red Raiders score fast; leads to speedy win over Tigers WATCH THE VIDEO

GREENFIELD — No matter where the London Red Raiders ran or passed the football Friday night at McClain Field, it seemed to be quick, to the point, and for a touchdown. LHS scored three touchdowns and one two-point conversion in their first seven offensive plays en route to a 55-0 shutout win over the host Tigers in each team's South Central Ohio League opener. 

"Our kids played well, and I am proud of how they responded after our loss last week to West Jefferson," London head coach Bill Dennis said. "All week in practice and in the locker room we challenged them, and the kids executed." 

Nothing the Tigers tried could stop the big-play offensive attack by the Red Raiders, with London scoring on the first play from the line of scrimmage. The first touchdown of the game occurred when Dylan Follrod kept the football on a QB keeper, taking the ball on a 61-yard journey for six points. Follrod went right, cut to his left and down the London sideline for the score. The converted PAT by Kyle Fisher made the score 7-0. Follrod finished with six carries for 96 yards. He passed for 77 yards, going 4 of 4. 

That TD turned out to be enough points, as the McClain offense was held to 56 yards rushing between six players and zero touchdowns. McClain's leading rusher was Chris Sellman with 23 yards on five carries. 

But to make sure seven points would be enough, the Red Raider defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense of London went back to their quick scoring. 

On their third play on offense and second of the drive, Follrod found Jared Long (who was one step ahead of his defender) wide-open and in stride with a perfect pass for a 52-yard touchdown with 8:50 left in the opening quarter. The play came with LHS in a twins formation. The PAT was blocked by Jared Loftis, keeping the score at 13-0. 

Once LHS regained the possession of the football for a third time, they went right back to the end zone, this time taking four plays and 61 yards. The score came on a 44-yard touchdown run by Jake Burns, as he blasted his way through the Tigers' defense. Follrod found Fisher in the end zone on a short pass for a two-point conversion and a 21-point lead. 

"The difference (Friday) was their speed," MHS head coach Randy Closson said.
"Their overall speed was faster, and they were faster at every position. They out-worked and out-hustled us. We talked all year about not taking things for granted, and this game is proof of that." 

Burns finished with a game-high 127 yards on 12 carries. Teammate Justin Hoosier had 10 rushes for 79 yards. 

"Give credit to the offensive line," Dennis said. "The scoring wouldn't have happened if not for the kids up front." 

Before Friday's game, the Tigers allowed just 28 points on defense against three teams, but the Red Raiders were still addeing to their lead once the second quarter started. LHS (1-0, 2-2) added 14 points once halftime arrived for a 35-0 lead. 

The fourth LHS score came on London's longest drive of the game. The drive took 11 plays for 95 yards with the drive starting on their own 5-yard line. After a 16-yard run by Hoosier and a 14-yard dash by Burns, the touchdown came with a 45-yard rumble by Burns, on a hitch, as he cut inside, around the corner and down the McClain sideline for six points. The PAT gave LHS a 28-point cushion. 

The final first half score came with 1:56 left with Follrod getting behind his blocker on a QB keeper and running to the corner of the end zone. The PAT made the score 35-0. 

The second half for the Red Raiders went in the same fashion as the start of the game when they scored on their first offensive play when Fisher zig-zagged in numerous directions past the McClain defense, 87 yards to the end zone with 10:19 left in the third. Fisher then kicked the PAT for a 42-point lead. 

When things went bad for the Tigers' offense, it nose-dived. 

On their fourth play, in their second third-quarter drive, the Tigers fumbled on their own 16-yard line, but LHS missed the field goal attempt, giving MHS back the football. 

At the 2:55 mark of the third, Dustin Coffey put LHS up 49 points with a 38-yard score. The final London TD came with 7:19 left in the fourth when DJ Fisher ran for a 3-yard touchdown. DJ Fisher had 21 total yards rushing on six carries. 

"To go 1-0 in the SCOL is everyone's goal," Dennis said. "McClain is a good football team, we just jumped out early and we were well prepared." 

LHS had two onside kicks with at least 30-point lead, including one with a 49-point lead with 2:55 left in the third quarter. Dennis explained what happened with the kicks. 

"Neither one of them were intentional," Dennis said. "We do a thing called 'squib kick' and he's (the kicker) supposed to kick it and it goes and scoots across the grass. That's the thing that just frustrates me to death. Our kids don't do that. When that happens, it looks like we coach that way and we play that way, and we don't. It was just ... our kids covered the kick, but it was supposed to hit and skip, don't give them a chance to return it." 

The loss drops MHS to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the SCOL. LHS is now 1-0 in the SCOL and 2-2 overall. 

"London is a good team, and we weren't ready to play," Closson said. 

MHS will host the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles (0-1, 0-4) next week in their homecoming game. LHS will go on the road to face Jonathan Alder (3-1) in non-league play. 

GAME NOTES: Zach Matracia was held to 13 yards rushing on 10 carries (before the game Matracia had 486 yards rushing) … Joe Barnhart had one reception for 20 yards off a pass by Thomas Schrader … Blake Dennis had a 13-yard reception for LHS … London is 7-1 in their past eight meetings with the Tigers … MHS had five punts in the first half, six straight times until their first turnover in the third quarter … Jordan Goble was 2 of 7 for 23 yards passing … Loftis had two catches for 23 yards … Dillon East rushed for 11 yards … Follrod averaged 16 yards per carry.