By Dan Ramey follow on facebook, Instagram and twitter @DanRameyRadio
“We need to get Branden’s passing game goin’” Ron Hinton said Tuesday during the taping of his weekly TV show, “The Cavalier Coaches Corner”. In a 56-0 rout of McClain Friday, the passing game was near perfect.
Branden Maughmer completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards and three TDs to six different receivers. He also had two scoring runs of 37 and 40 yards each.
The Cavs worked with a short field for most of the night beginning four of their drives in McClain territory. Peyton Shoemaker returned an interception to the Tigers’ 30. Maughmer followed with a 19 yard TD pass to J’Qwan Harris.
Maughmer capped the next possession on a 37 yard run for a 14-0 lead. Harris returned a punt to the McClain 32. Maughmer found Will Roderick on a 15 yard pass and Chillicothe (5-2/2-0) was ahead 21-0 and getting the ball back to start the 2nd quarter.
About the only possession that didn’t work for the Cavs was when McClain forced a Matt Detty field goal, but the kicked sailed wide left from 37 yards out. Conner Mathis scored on a 12 yard run and Maughmer sent a strike to Simon Roderick before the half to give Chillicothe a 35-0 lead at the break.
Just 1:52 into the second half, Maughmer ran 40 yards for a score and Adrian Beverly delivered a 29 yard pass to Simon Roderick for his second TD and a 49-0 lead. Joey Wright finished off the scoring with a 5 yard run at 9:09 in the 4th quarter.
Chillicothe out gained McClain 415-118 with 256 yards on the ground. Maughmer had 141 of those yards on just 6 carries. Harris had three punt returns for 94 yards
McClain’s top performer was Tanner Tite with 40 yards rushing.
With the win, the Cavaliers wrapped up six consecutive weeks at home. They’ll head to Miami Trace (1-6/1-1) for Week 8. McClain (0-7/0-2) returns to Greenfield to host Washington CH (3-4/1-1).
Miami Trace fell to Jackson (6-1/2-0) 48-28 while Hillsboro (5-2/1-1) outlasted the Blue Lions 41-34.
FAC Standings through 10/6/17
Jackson 2-0, 6-1
Chillicothe 2-0, 5-2
Hillsboro 1-1, 5-2
Washington CH 1-1, 3-4
Miami Trace 1-1, 1-6
McClain 0-2, 0-7