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April Garrett | News Journal Photo
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April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
April Garrett | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Elizabeth Clark | News Journal Photo
Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
BLANCHESTER — For Blanchester football coach Justin Schmitz and Clinton-Massie football coach Dan McSurley, Friday’s renewal of the storied Cider Keg rivalry at Barbour Memorial Field was a good thing.
McSurley and Falcons were easy winners, 56-15, with the offense, defense and special teams on solid ground.
“We got what we wanted out of this one,” McSurley said. “This was about being good in all three phases. Real happy to come out with a W(in).”
For Schmitz, despite being on the losing side, simply playing Clinton-Massie was a good thing for his Wildcats (0-4).
“It made me sick when I got here (as head coach) and Clinton-Massie was not on our schedule,” said Schmitz, a BHS graduate who played for the Cider Keg. “This was a tough loss to a great team. Our kids played hard. The gave it all they had.
“On paper, they’re not giving us much of a shot to win this but this (the success of Massie) is what we want to be.”
The Falcons (2-2) have won 12 straight games against the Wildcats and own a 36-18 series lead.
Clinton-Massie ran for 278 yards and 6 touchdowns on 25 attempts in the first half. McSurley put the second- and third-string in the game in the second half.
“We had the opportunity to rest some kids in the second half,” McSurley said. “It’s been a brutal four weeks. There’s a lot of stress involved when you play the schedule we play.”
And it doesn’t get any easier for Clinton-Massie with unbeaten Harrison coming to Frank Irelan Field this coming Friday.
“They’re looking like they could be a dominant (Div. II) team out of Cincinnati,” the coach said. “They’re talking 10-0. We’ve got ‘em three years in a row. We have to put everything in to this week. We have to set the tone for our season. If we can get these guys, we’re off and running like we want to be.”
Falcon fullback Eli Muterspaw ran just five times in the first half but gained 136 yards and scored two touchdowns.
With the exception of a couple of kneel downs to end the first half, Clinton-Massie scored on all six of its offensive possessions in the first half.
In addition, Brady Russell returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first quarter.
Blanchester had 101 yards of offense in the first half, 47 on the ground and 54 through the air.
Final numbers had Massie with 358 rushing yards on 38 attempts to go along with 12 yards passing. Blanchester had 157 yards on the ground and 119 through the air, though 110 on the ground and 65 in the air came in the second half.
“We’re improving our kicking game, made some improvements in that,” said McSurley. “Defensively I think we gave up one play all night. Offensively proficient. We had five or six different running backs score. If we can get this thing going, get some guys back healthy, we’re going to be a tough out. If we can keep kids healthy and get guys back, we have a shot at doing some things.”
Schmitz said for his team needed to play much better to stay with the Falcons.
”We played a lot of undisciplined football and that’s what it (the final score) looks like when you face a disciplined offense,” Schmitz said. “They are an undersized Massie team but that might be the fastest Massie team I’ve seen.”
SUMMARY
Sept 13, 2024
@Barbour Memorial Field
Falcons 56, Wildcats 15
CM^28^21^7^0^^56
B^0^3^0^12^^15
First Quarter
CM- Peyton Warren 16 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 8:32
CM-Ty Clutter 5 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 3:34
CM-Eli Muterspaw 50 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 1:52
CM-Brady Russell 62 yard punt return (Jack Thamann PAT) 0:00
Second Quarter
CM-Kaden Zantene 24 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 9:43
B-Elijah McVey 30 yard field goal 7:27
CM-Logan Chesser 4 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 6:32
CM-Eli Muterspaw 22 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 2:33
Third Quarter
CM-Bret Gray 9 yard run (Jack Thamann PAT) 2:00
Fourth Quarter
B-Kaden Cromer 22 yard run (Conversion failed) 8:50
B-Zack Musselman 52 yard pass from Sammy Roush (No attempt) 0:00
STATISTICS
TEAM
MASSIE: 21 first downs, 370 total yards (358 rush, 12 pass), 6-57 penalties, 0-0 fumbles lost
BLAN: 8 first downs, 276 total yards (157 rush, 119 pass), 4-21 penalties, 1-1 fumbles lost
INDIVIDUAL
RUSHING: CM (38-358) Logan Chesser 9-57, Peyton Warren 5-43, Kaden Zantene 5-42, Eli Muterspaw 5-136, Ty Clutter 1-5, Bret Gray 6-30, Mason Martini 3-26, Carson Long 2-2, Jack Elkins 1-17, CJ Sheldon 1-5; BLAN (26-157) Caleb Sears 12-87, Isaiah Abbott 4-4, Zack Musselman 3-11, Brayden Behymer 3-(-8), Sammy Roush 2-45, Collin Woodall 2-18
PASSING: CM (1-4-0, 12 yards) Kaden Zantene 1-3-0, 12 yards; Baron Phipps 0-1-0; BLAN (7-22-0, 119 yards) Brayden Behymer 6-19-0, 67 yards; Sammy Roush 1-3-0, 52 yards, 1 TD
RECEIVING: CM (1-12) Tristen Trampler 1-12; BLAN (7-119) Sammy Roush 2-22, Caleb Sears 1-6, Zack Musselman 3-75, Samuel McEntire 1-16
TACKLES: CM Brady Grady 1 Nolan Phipps 2.5 Cooper Carmack 1 Carson Long 1 Brady Russell 1 Finnegan Denehy 1 Andrew Smith 1.5 Mason Martini 1.5 Baron Phipps 2 Ty Martin 2.5 Cash Mounce 1.5 Jack Elkins 3 Ty Clutter 4.5 Hunter Monds 4.5 Tristen Trampler 1.5 Carson Thompson 1 Brady Dillon 3 Ryan Anderson 1
