Tigers overpower Shermans for first win 
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Friday night the "blue-collar" McClain Tigers showed their tough and rugged character against the Unioto Shermans with a tough ground attack and rugged defensive effort that set the tone for a 21-7 non-league win at Unioto High School.
The Tigers used their running game to take advantage of the Unioto defense in the air with Camron Cooper throwing for two touchdown passes and running for one in the 14-point victory for McClain. Cooper finished 3-of-7 passing for 35 yards and led the Tigers in rushing with 56 yards on 14 carries.
McClain's win comes one week following a 50-yard offensive performance, but in the new week, McClain coach Randy Closson said his team rallied around and picked up each other.
For the game, MHS totaled 224 yards on offense (189 yards rushing) and allowed 221 yards (188 yards of rushing) on defense.
Following the game, Closson looked at his team in the huddle and told his players they had a gutsy performance and they made the plays when they needed to make them. He also told his players they came back and showed their character this week.
"Our kids responded well after last week … we struggled early offensively, but the o-line dug in and established itself," Closson said. "Our defense had a heck of a game, and Unioto posed a lot of challenges with their offense."
Against Unioto (1-1), the character showed, but before the Tigers could score, they had to wait for the lights at the home of the Shermans to come back on, which took around 20 minutes after they went out for an unknown reason during the first quarter.
Once the lights of Friday warmed back up, the Tigers' overall play heated up as well, scoring twice in second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
The first MHS touchdown came when Cooper found Thomas Schrader with an 8-yard dump pass in the end zone over the middle of the Shermans' defense with 7:30 left in the second quarter on a third-and-8 play.
The 47-yard scoring drive began with Clayton Burgess pounding the ball for eight yards, followed by a 2-yard scamper by Dillon East. Cooper took the ball down the Unioto sideline for 24 yards, followed by another run by Cooper, and then a 2-yard run by East set up the pass for the score. Luis Rivas' extra-point kick was good for the 7-0 lead.
After forcing the Shermans to punt, the Tigers regained possession of the ball with 5:30 left in the second quarter, and with 2:12 remaining in the half they were in the end zone with a 14-point lead. The second-quarter scoring stopped a five-quarter scoreless streak to open the regular season.
In the second scoring drive, which went 44 yards on seven plays, the Tigers opened with runs from Burgess, Cooper and East. The drive ended with Cooper throwing a perfect ball to the end zone, into the hands of a running Goble for the touchdown. Rivas converted the PAT for the 14-point first-half lead.
East finished the game with 51 yards rushing on eight carries; Burgess had 17 carries for 45 yards; and Goble had five rushes for 37 yards.
The final MHS score came with 4:00 left in regulation when Cooper got behind his offensive line and pounded his way to the end zone for a 1-yard score on second-and-goal.
That scoring drive was initially set up when Burgess recovered a fumble on the UHS 45-yard line with 7:48 left in the game, as UHS was driving downfield on a third-and-3 play. In the drive, East had two 6-yard carries, Goble had a 16-yard run and Burgess carried the ball for 13 yards on a second-and-7 situation.
"Camron threw the ball well, and he also did a good job of running the football," Closson said.
Unioto's lone score came in the opening drive of the third quarter when they engineered a 14-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Storm Cottrill breaking two tackles for a 12-yard run to the end zone with 5:16 left in the quarter. The PAT made it 14-7 in favor of the Tigers at the time.
Jansen Grim led all rushers with 111 yards on 23 carries. Cottrill finished with 54 yards rushing and 33 yards passing (3-of-10). Vanderpool had all three catches for the 33 yards.
"This was just a great effort and great job by the team," Closson said. "The kids rebounded well, and again, played with a lot of character."
The Tigers are 1-1 overall this season and will host the 0-2 East Clinton Astros in Week 3 at McClain Field. EC lost to Adena, 35-12 in Week 2.
GAME NOTES: McClain's Colston Walters had a fumble recovery in the in the second quarter … In the first quarter, Cole Murray had an interception for UHS … Brandon Davis (MHS) had a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery … MHS totaled three fumbles (recovered two) … Rivas kicked a touchback … MHS forced two turnovers on downs with Goble making a stop and on an incomplete pass … Unioto had 11 first downs (eight rush, three pass) … MHS had nine first downs (all rush).[[In-content Ad]]
The Tigers used their running game to take advantage of the Unioto defense in the air with Camron Cooper throwing for two touchdown passes and running for one in the 14-point victory for McClain. Cooper finished 3-of-7 passing for 35 yards and led the Tigers in rushing with 56 yards on 14 carries.
McClain's win comes one week following a 50-yard offensive performance, but in the new week, McClain coach Randy Closson said his team rallied around and picked up each other.
For the game, MHS totaled 224 yards on offense (189 yards rushing) and allowed 221 yards (188 yards of rushing) on defense.
Following the game, Closson looked at his team in the huddle and told his players they had a gutsy performance and they made the plays when they needed to make them. He also told his players they came back and showed their character this week.
"Our kids responded well after last week … we struggled early offensively, but the o-line dug in and established itself," Closson said. "Our defense had a heck of a game, and Unioto posed a lot of challenges with their offense."
Against Unioto (1-1), the character showed, but before the Tigers could score, they had to wait for the lights at the home of the Shermans to come back on, which took around 20 minutes after they went out for an unknown reason during the first quarter.
Once the lights of Friday warmed back up, the Tigers' overall play heated up as well, scoring twice in second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
The first MHS touchdown came when Cooper found Thomas Schrader with an 8-yard dump pass in the end zone over the middle of the Shermans' defense with 7:30 left in the second quarter on a third-and-8 play.
The 47-yard scoring drive began with Clayton Burgess pounding the ball for eight yards, followed by a 2-yard scamper by Dillon East. Cooper took the ball down the Unioto sideline for 24 yards, followed by another run by Cooper, and then a 2-yard run by East set up the pass for the score. Luis Rivas' extra-point kick was good for the 7-0 lead.
After forcing the Shermans to punt, the Tigers regained possession of the ball with 5:30 left in the second quarter, and with 2:12 remaining in the half they were in the end zone with a 14-point lead. The second-quarter scoring stopped a five-quarter scoreless streak to open the regular season.
In the second scoring drive, which went 44 yards on seven plays, the Tigers opened with runs from Burgess, Cooper and East. The drive ended with Cooper throwing a perfect ball to the end zone, into the hands of a running Goble for the touchdown. Rivas converted the PAT for the 14-point first-half lead.
East finished the game with 51 yards rushing on eight carries; Burgess had 17 carries for 45 yards; and Goble had five rushes for 37 yards.
The final MHS score came with 4:00 left in regulation when Cooper got behind his offensive line and pounded his way to the end zone for a 1-yard score on second-and-goal.
That scoring drive was initially set up when Burgess recovered a fumble on the UHS 45-yard line with 7:48 left in the game, as UHS was driving downfield on a third-and-3 play. In the drive, East had two 6-yard carries, Goble had a 16-yard run and Burgess carried the ball for 13 yards on a second-and-7 situation.
"Camron threw the ball well, and he also did a good job of running the football," Closson said.
Unioto's lone score came in the opening drive of the third quarter when they engineered a 14-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Storm Cottrill breaking two tackles for a 12-yard run to the end zone with 5:16 left in the quarter. The PAT made it 14-7 in favor of the Tigers at the time.
Jansen Grim led all rushers with 111 yards on 23 carries. Cottrill finished with 54 yards rushing and 33 yards passing (3-of-10). Vanderpool had all three catches for the 33 yards.
"This was just a great effort and great job by the team," Closson said. "The kids rebounded well, and again, played with a lot of character."
The Tigers are 1-1 overall this season and will host the 0-2 East Clinton Astros in Week 3 at McClain Field. EC lost to Adena, 35-12 in Week 2.
GAME NOTES: McClain's Colston Walters had a fumble recovery in the in the second quarter … In the first quarter, Cole Murray had an interception for UHS … Brandon Davis (MHS) had a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery … MHS totaled three fumbles (recovered two) … Rivas kicked a touchback … MHS forced two turnovers on downs with Goble making a stop and on an incomplete pass … Unioto had 11 first downs (eight rush, three pass) … MHS had nine first downs (all rush).[[In-content Ad]]