Tigers overcome adversity for 4th quarter win over Adena (with extended game notes)

      Those were the words of McClain head coach Randy Closson said to his team as they battled injuries, fought back from trailing, and finished their game in the final minutes with a fumble recovery to defeat the Adena Warriors, 20-15 in week one of high school football.

      The Tigers (1-0) ground out a winning performance with tough defense, a smash-mouth running attack, and a will to win that wasn't going to be denied Friday night at Bostic Field in Frankfort.

      In fact, after giving up the lead in the fourth quarter, the Tigers gritted their teeth and overcame all the adversity they were challenged with in the preseason and during their season opener.

      "Adena is a tough team, they were tough," Closson said. "Give credit to our coaching staff. We came in banged up. We had our starting quarterback on crutches and our full back with a cast on his arm. But, our coaches and our team never quit.

      "We are an option team, but we had to have a different game plan, and the kids did great."

      Speaking of options, the main option on the McClain offense Friday was No. 13, Zach Matracia.

      The senior slot player ran for 201 rushing yards on 19 carries.

      But it was the way he helped carry his team on their final scoring drive to offset the Warriors' go-ahead score with 5:40 left in the fourth that put the Tigers on top.

      After gaining a first down early in the drive, Matracia then rushed for 8 yards, followed by a 4-yard tear in which the senior carried three Adena players on the third-and-2 play for a first down.

      After a couple short gains and a 5-yard penalty for illegal motion on fourth-and-2 at the AHS 36 yard line, Matracia and the Tigers used a bit of trickery to get the first down.

      With the game on the line with just over 2:00 left on the scoreboard, sophomore QB Jordan Goble pitched the ball to Matracia in the backfield, with the senior rushing to the corner, stopping, and rocketing the ball to an open and leaping Jacob Dillon for a 19-yard completion, adding life to the Tigers' chance for the comeback win.

      After the only Tigers' passing attempt of the game, Matracia took the ball back to the ground with runs of 3 and 8 yards to put the ball on the 9-yard line with just over 1:00 remaining.

      With the ball nine yards away from pay dirt, Matracia took the ball on a pitch toward the Adena sideline, darted to the corner and lunged into the corner of the end zone of six points for the eventual game-winning score.

      Following the play after taking a few moments to catch his breath, Matracia raised his arm in the air to the McClain sideline.

      "Zach has taken a serious leadership role," Closson said. "He's such a great presence on offense and defense."

      Though the Tigers regained the lead, failing to convert the 2-point conversion, they left Adena 1:03 on the clock.

      AHS (0-1) started the drive on their own 25-yard line and a 9-yard completion to senior Collin Detty. It was the McClain defense who slammed the door shut on the Warriors, with an aggressive tackle on AHS QB Kirk Yates and a fumble recovery by McClain senior defensive lineman Thorne Hester.

      "Our defense was outstanding," Closson said. "We knew they were our heart and soul, and hats off to all of the defensive players and to John Penwell for the great game planning."

      Though the game had an exciting finish, its opening moments went to Adena, with the Tigers having two holding penalties and a fumble in their opening drive.

      With MHS punting from near the end zone, the Warriors started their second offensive drive from the 50-yard line.

      It took just one play for the Warriors to score with a QB keeper play action run by Yates up the Adena side line, with two blockers in front leading the way, for a 6-0 first quarter lead.

      The Tigers fought for their first, but not their last, time of the game with a four-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a 79-yard TD run through the middle of the Warrior defense by Matracia all the way to the end zone. Luis Rivas kicked the extra point for the 7-6 McClain lead.

      The Tigers defense held up, even after the Warriors returned a kickoff 55 yards, by forcing a turnover on downs when Matracia tackled the Adena ball carrier on a fourth-and-2 play.

      The Tigers took their first lead of the game with, yet again, another play by the defense. This time it was a leaping Jared Loftis who intercepted the ball, with a cast on one arm, near the line of scrimmage and raced away for 90 yards and six points. Loftis broke away to the end zone when sophomore Dillon East made a crushing block near the 35 yard line, allowing Loftis to break free, giving MHS a 14-6 lead with no time remaining on the clock in the opening quarter.

      AHS cut the MHS lead to five points with a 30-yard field goal by Yates, after MHS fumbled the ball on a mishandled snap. The field goal came with 1:58 left in the third quarter.

      Adena regained the lead by one point (15-14) with 5:40 left in the fourth quarter when junior Reid Hutchison broke away for 47 yards for the touchdown.

      MHS starting quarterback Goble, who was third on the depth chart in the preseason, didn't attempt a pass but had five rushes for 41 yards. Loftis finished with five rushes for 28 yards for MHS.

      Adena was led by Hutchison on the ground with 94 yards on 15 carries. Yates had five carries for 57 yards. Yates also passed for 78 yards, going 7 of 13.

      "I am proud of this team," Closson said. "We needed to finish, and we grew up a lot tonight."

      McClain will be the host team the next four weeks, as they host the Unioto Shermans next week at McClain Field.

      NOTES: Matracia had runs of 38 and 24 yards during a drive in the third quarter … This was McClain's second straight win over Adena (46-20 in 2009) … MHS unofficially had five offensive penalties (four holding) … MHS didn't attempt a pass until the fourth quarter … Both teams combined for 14 pass attempts … The Tigers' defense stopped the Warriors' offense on a fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs … Adena's Jacob Bowdle had a fumble recovery in the 3rd quarter with 4:53 left ... McClain senior Brandon Darlington forced a fumble ... Clayton Burgess had positive rushing yards for MHS ... Also playing tough in the trenches on both offense and defense for the Tigers were: Brandon Davis, Aron Hamilton, Derek Karnes, T.J. Cox, John Caskey, James Mann, Joe Barnhart, Preston Wagner, Josh Barnett and at linebacker Brandon Houston.