The Chillicothe Cavaliers scored 20 unanswered points to break a 3-3 tie and win their third straight FAC game. The win sets up a chance to share the FAC crown next Friday with a win over 9-0 Jackson.
.
Coach Doug Pryor mentioned perserverence, sticking together, and handling adversity when describing the Cavs win and how Chillicothe was 1-5 several weeks ago, only to now have a chance to share a league title.
.
Adversity came early at Miami Trace when the yellow flag repeatedly came out to take away big plays and good field position. Neither team could establish any momentum with 13 total first half penalties.
.
The first half ended with the Cavs up 3-0 on a 31 yard Jacob Coffland field goal. The Panthers only first half chance ended when the Cavs Jaden McNish blocked a 29 yard MT field goal attempt .
.
The third quarter turned out to be the game as both teams got untracked. It was 3 big Cavalier plays and Coffland’s foot that provided the Cavalier win.
.
The Panthers rode the big right arm of quarterback Dalton Mayer and immediately drove inside the Cavs 15. Justin Shoemaker hit a 36 yard field goal when the drive stalled and the Panthers evened the score at 3-3.
.
The Cavaliers retook the lead with a 79 yard drive that only took two and a half minutes. A big 48 yard pass from Kam Smith to Tyron Scales put the Cavaliers up 10-3. After MT went three and out, Xavier Doss returned the punt 50 yards and with a Panther penalty, started a drive at the MT 13.
.
Coffland nailed his second field goal from 25 yards out to put the Cavs up 13-3, still in the third quarter. Mayer drove the Panthers quickly into Cavs territory, but maybe the biggest of big plays took place.
.
Mayer slightly overthrew his receiver down the middle, and safety Joel Barnes picked off the pigskin at the 4 yard line. Barnes ran to the sideline, avoided a Panther tackler, and the turned on the jets up the Cavs sideline for 96 yards to the house. Coffland’s kick made it 20-3 still in the third period.
.
Coffland added his third field goal with 6:36 left in the game to provide the final score of 23-3.
.
Total yardage was nearly even at 300 yards each. The Panthers ran more plays and easily led in time of possession. The difference came with the Cavaliers recovering two Panther fumbles and the big Barnes interception.
.
Quarterback Kam Smith led the Cavs in rushing and added the TD pass to Scales.
.
The win moves the Cavaliers to (4-5) overall and (3-1) in the FAC. It sets up what looked improbable a few weeks ago. A chance to share the FAC with Jackson with an upset next Friday over the (9-0) Ironmen.