Kira Kidd | News Journal Photo
BLANCHESTER — Justin Schmitz fought back tears.
His Blanchester Wildcats had just defeated the Goshen Warriors 22-8 in the King of the Road battle at Barbour Memorial Field.
The game also could be called the George Rise Bowl as the legendary coach was at the helm of both teams.
Rise coached Schmitz while he was at BHS. Schmitz admitted this was an emotional week. Rise, who passed away in 2020, meant so much to the Wildcat players, Schmitz among them, and the current BHS coach wanted to honor his mentor.
So he instructed offensive coordinator Austin Knight to make the gameplan something Rise would be proud to watch.
Knight dialed up 43 running plays and just five passes as the Wildcats offensive line controlled the game on the ground to the tune of 257 yards.
Sammy Roush ran for 60 yards and had two fumble recoveries. Caleb Sears had an interception while running for 69 yards. Isaiah Abbott powered his way to 76 yards on the ground.
Zack Musselman took the steam out of the Warriors with a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
SUMMARY
Sept 20, 2024
@Barbour Memorial Field
Wildcats 22, Warriors 8
SCORING
B^6^0^8^8^^22
G^0^2^0^6^^8
FIRST QUARTER
B-Kaden Cromer 26 yard run (PAT Blocked) 3:35
SECOND QUARTER
G-Safety, ball snapped out of end zone 0:55
THIRD QUARTER
B-Zack Musselman 90 yard interception return (Sammy Roush pass to Caleb Sears) 2:10
FOURTH QUARTER
B-Isaiah Abbott 11 yard run (Brayden Behymer pass to Sammy Roush) 10:48
G-Camden Telinda 2 yard run (PAT Blocked) 8:12
STATISTICS
TEAM
Goshen: 10 first downs, 33-138 rushing, 5-20-2 passing 36 yards, 2-20 penalties, 2-2 fumbles lost; Blanchester: 15 first downs, 43-257 rushing, 4-5-1 passing 16 yards, 4-2 fumbles lost, 4-19 penalties
INDIVIDUAL
RUSHING
Goshen (33-138) Camden Telinda 27-106, Gage Croley 1-9, River Gambrell 3-0, Jomar Berg 1-3, Lucas Perkins 1-10
Blanchester (43-257) Sammy Roush 7-60, Ayden Basham 8-19, Kaden Cromer 3-32, Caleb Sears 13-69, Isaiah Abbott 11-76, Brayden Behymer 1-0
PASSING
Goshen (5-20-2) Camden Telinda 5-20-2, 36 yards
Blanchester (4-5-1) Behymer 3-3-0 12 yards, Roush 1-2-1 4 yards
RECEIVING
Goshen (5-36) Brody Flynn 1-6, Aiden Thompson 2-12, Jomar Berg 1-11, Lucas Perkins 1-7
Blanchester (4-16) Sammy Roush 1-3, Zack Musselman 1-7, Bryce Burris 1-2, Caleb Sears 1-4
INTERCEPTIONS
Blanchester: Caleb Sears 1, Zack Musselman 1
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Blanchester: Sammy Roush 2
