WEEK 11: Next year here for Falcons, Senators

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Several Cincinnati Taft football players exclaimed “We’ll see ya next year” following the 70-14 loss to Clinton-Massie in a 2015 regional quarterfinal game at Frank Irelan Field.

Next year’s here.

And the two teams will meet again in Adams Township in the Region 16 quarterfinal round 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Senators seem to be a bit more prepared for a playoff matchup with the Falcons this time around.

“Overall I think they’re a better team than they were last year,” CM head coach Dan McSurley said. “They’re an improved ballclub. We just have to worry about us and our main concern is trying to improve and build on our team from week to week and try to peak when we need to peak.”

Last year, Taft was 7-2 going into the game with the Falcons but the two losses were blowouts to Badin and Wyoming.

This year, the Senators are 8-2 but the losses were close ones to a pair of unbeaten, playoff teams — 10-7 to Wyoming and 33-28 at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.

The Taft offense is led by quarterback Deshawn Lawrence, a 5-10, 180-pound junior. He has passed for 1,175 yards and 16 touchdowns while running for 163 yards and three scores.

His favorite target is Chrissean Stringer, a 6-3, 195-pound sophomore who has 12 TD receptions among his 35 catches.

“They’re fast and they hit hard,” said Massie’s Devon O’Bryon, who plays quarterback, safety and punt snapper. “When they catch you sleeping, they’ll go up top on you.”

On the ground, Ormani Zanders, a 5-10, 185-pound senior, has rushed for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns on 103 attempts. In all, four Senators have scored at least five touchdowns on the ground.

On defense, D’Meko Pryor is a 5-10, 220-pound linebacker who led the team with 76 solo tackles. Donta Carter, a 5-10, 245-pound defensive tackle, led the Senators with 10 quarterback sacks.

The 2015 game was close early. Massie led 7-6 midway through the first quarter. Then Davey Tunon took over.

Tunon rushed for a school record 371 yards and six touchdowns against the Senators. The Falcons scored 49 unanswered points to end the first half and led 56-7 at halftime. Massie had a yardage advantage of 582 to 278 in last year’s playoff rout.

Lawrence did pass for a pair of touchdown passes in the game, one of which went to Stringer in the fourth quarter.

FALCON NOTEBOOK

• Presale tickets are available for purchase at the central office at Clinton-Massie. Sale times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday. All tickets are $8 presale and $9 at the gate the day of the game. Schools keep a percentage of presale tickets only. Anyone 6 or older will be charged the regular admission rate.

• Reserve seating will be honored at FIF, athletic director Cindy Running said. Also, season and league passes will not be honored.

• Gates will open at 6 p.m. at Clinton-Massie. There will be a $3 charge for parking.

• Air horns and noisemakers that require electric or power of other sorts are not allowed at the game.

• Banners and signs are permitted, provided they are not personal, negative, unsporting or vulgar. Parades with signs or banners are not permitted.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_FB11_cm_coleotackle-1.jpg

Clinton-Massie defeated Cincinnati Taft 70-14 in a Region 16 quarterfinal match last season at Frank Irelan Field. In the photo are Clinton-Massie’s Jackson Grigsby, 51, and Jake Garrison, 50, and Taft’s Nykwaun Presswood, 7.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_FB11_cm_grigsby_garrison-1.jpgClinton-Massie defeated Cincinnati Taft 70-14 in a Region 16 quarterfinal match last season at Frank Irelan Field. In the photo are Clinton-Massie’s Jackson Grigsby, 51, and Jake Garrison, 50, and Taft’s Nykwaun Presswood, 7. News Journal File

By Mark Huber

[email protected]

WHAT: Region 16 quarterfinal

WHO: Taft (8-2) at Clinton-Massie (9-1)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Frank Irelan Field

WHY: The winner advances to a Region 16 semifinal game against either Archbishop Alter (10-0) or Cincinnati Indian Hill (9-1) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at a site TBA.

Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports

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