CHILLICOTHE — Clinton-Massie stopped Chillicothe millimeters short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt with no time remaining Friday to escape with a South Central Ohio League 14-13 victory.
“I think they were going to originally line up for the PAT to go into overtime. I think he second-guessed himself and went for two,” CM head coach Dan McSurley said. “We thought the quarterback was going to run the ball. They ran a flood to that side with three receivers.
“Zack Dillow stepped up to make a great play and keep him out of the end zone.”
The Cavaliers (6-2, 4-1) pulled within a point after blocking a Massie punt and recovering on the CM 3 with 1:23 left in the game. Brandon Maughmer hit Seth Barnes with a 4-yard pass on 4th-down and as time expired.
“We really didn’t tell them anything (after the blocked punt). We just let them be poised. They didn’t get rattled. They stood up and made plays,” McSurley said.
Chillicothe had a chance to tie the game a drive earlier but fumbled on 1st-and-goal from a foot away from the end zone. The drive started on the CM 34 after a 7-yard punt.
The Falcons (7-1, 5-0), ranked 11th in the latest Associated Press Division IV poll, also squashed a Chillicothe drive that reached the Massie 18 earlier in the final period.
Chillicothe trailed 14-0 at halftime after Massie turned a pair of Cavalier turnovers into touchdowns. Massie cashed in an interception on Chillicothe’s first drive for a Christian Poynter 2-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter. Chillicothe fumbled the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and Caeleb Carter recovered for the other touchdown.
In the third quarter, it was the Cavaliers’ turn to make Massie pay for a turnover. The Falcons coughed up the ball on their first play of the half. Brandon Maughmer’s quarterback keeper five plays later helped cut Massie’s lead in half. The play before the touchdown, the Cavs fumbled but recovered.
Massie looked poised to answer on its next drive, but it stalled after 16 plays and 7:00 at the Chillicothe 21.
“We struggled moving the ball. They played solid defense. They are a very difficult team to throw on. Their secondary is always solid. It’s tough, especially when you’re a team like us,” McSurley said.
This was the second straight home heartbreaker for Chillicothe at the hands of the Falcons. Two years ago, a Hunter Fentress to Bryce Boyd touchdown pass with seconds left gave Massie a 22-19 victory.
Massie will now take its 57-game South Central Ohio League winning streak into next week’s much-anticipated showdown with Wilmington in a battle of league unbeatens at Frank Irelan Field.
Chillicothe’s only other loss this season was 29-12 to Johnstown-Monroe, ranked No. 1 in the Division IV Associated Press poll this week.
SUMMARY
October 14, 2016
@Chillicothe High School
Clinton-Massie 14 Chillicothe 13
CM 14.00.00.00…..14
CH 00.00.07.06…..13
First quarter
CM-Christian Poynter 2 yard run (Chris Demler kick good) 3:00
CM-Caeleb Carter recovered kickoff in end zone (Chris Demler kick good) 2:47
Second quarter
No scoring
Third quarter
CH-Brandon Maughmer 3 yard run (Cade Williams kick good) 7:41
Fourth quarter
CH-Seth Barnes 2 yard pass from Brandon Maughmer (Conversion failed) 0:00
Team stats
Clinton-Massie: 215 yards rushing 0 yards passing, 215 total yards. Penalties 6-50. Fumbles, lost 2-2. First downs 12
Chillicothe: 145 yards rushing, 111 yards passing, 256 total yards. Penalties 2-15. Fumbles, lost 3-3. First downs 14
Individual stats
Rushing: CM C Poynter 25-121, J Wolf 16-53, D O’Bryon 5-21, Hunt 5-15, Richardson 1-5. CH-Maughmer 24-102, Mathis 8-25, Danzy 1-13, Roderick 2-5
Passing: CM D. O’Bryon 0-1. CH- Maughmer 9-13, 111 yards.
Receiving: CH-Roderick 3-54, Danzy 4-47, Brown 1-8, Barnes 1-2
Defense: Uetrecht 3 solo 5 ast, C. O’Bryon 3 solo, 4 ast, Trampler 3 solo, 3 ast, Collingham 1 solo, 6 ast, Beam 3 solo, 2 ast, Richardson 3 solo, J Wolf 6 ast, Dillow 2 solo 1 ast, Messer 2 solo 1 ast, James 2 solo, D. O’Bryon 2 ast, C. Poynter 1 solo
