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MOUNT VERNON -- A long touchdown run, two flubbed punt attempts and an
interception resulted in 28 Columbus Bishop Watterson points and helped
the Golden Eagles break a 7-7 tie and defeat the Lexington Minutemen
35-7 Friday in the Division II Region 7 semifinals at Yellow Jacket
Stadium in Mount Vernon. The Watterson (9-3) third quarter made all the difference in what turned out to be a very evenly-played game, despite the Lexington mistakes. The Minutemen controlled the game clock through the first three quarters, holding the ball for 21 of the first 36 minutes and held a 247-241 edge in total offense through three periods. But those mistakes killed what chances the Minutemen had. Watterson broke the tie on their first play of the second half when Lerron Moore sprinted through the Lex defense 70 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. The Eagles then scored twice on mistakes on consecutive drives by the Lexington punt team. A low snap on the first punt attempt forced Lex punter Ben Ziegelhofer’s knee to the ground at the Lex 28, and the Eagles’ Moore scored three plays later from 17 yards out. On Lexington’s next possession, Ziegelhofer dropped the snap and fell to the ground at Minutemen’s 39 while trying to get rid of the ball. Watterson again capitalized four plays after when Bryan Sullivan carried the ball around the right side 27 yards for the score and a 28-7 lead. Sullivan would cap the scoring two Lexington possessions after that, picking off a Kurt Eichorn pass at the Minuteman 40 and returning it down the left sideline for a TD and a 35-7 lead with 13 seconds left in the third quarter. Lexington’s lone score came in its opening drive as the Minutemen took the ball 84 yards in just under five minutes. Eichorn carried the ball near the end zone on the final play of the drive but fumbled reaching for the goal line. Ziegelhofer recovered the ball in the end zone, though, and Bryan Arkwrights’ kick gave the Minutemen a 7-0 lead. Watterson would tie the game in the second quarter, however, driving 80 yards on 10 plays. Moore finished the drive with a two-yard run. Moore closed with a game-high 182 yards rushing on 19 carries and three touchdowns. Dan DeLucia completed all four passes he threw for 32 yards, but did not throw a pass in the second half. Brandon Wilson caught two DeLucia aerials for 23 yards. Drew Fisher topped the Lexington running game with 84 yards on 11 carries while Eichorn carried 12 times for 74 yards. Eichorn completed 8-of-17 passes for 64 yards, but was intercepted twice in the third quarter. Brian Smith caught five of the eight Eichorn completions for 44 yards. Watterson will next fact New Carlisle Tecumseh, a 16-13 winner over Columbus Beechcroft, next Friday for the Region 7 title. Lexington, making their first playoff appearance, bows out at 9-3. SCORE BY QUARTERS Lexington...........7.....0.....0.....0............7 Watterson..........0.....7...28.....0..........35 SCORING SUMMARY FIRST QUARTER L-Ben Ziegelhofer fumble recovery in end zone (Bryan Arkwright kick), 7:08. (13 plays, 84 yards, TOP 4:52) SECOND QUARTER W-Lerron Moore 2 run (Josh Davis kick), 8:16. (10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:11) THIRD QUARTER W-Lerron Moore 70 run (Josh Davis kick), 11:41. (1 play, 70 yards, TOP 0:19) W-Lerron Moore 17 run (Josh Davis kick), 6:22. (3 plays, 28 yards, TOP 0:58) W-Bryan Sullivan 27 run (Josh Davis kick), 3:02. (4 plays, 39 yards, TOP 1:42) W-Bryan Sullivan 40 interception return (Josh Davis kick), :13. TEAM STATISTICS............LEX.......WATT First Downs..............................15..............16 Rushes-Yards....................42-188......45-274 Passing Yards...........................64..............32 Comp-Att-Int....................8-17-2.........4-5-1 Total Offense..........................252............306 Punts-Avg..........................3-32.0.......1-41.0 Fumbles-Lost..........................5-0............0-0 Penalties-Yards.....................5-39..........3-25 Time of Possession...............23:27........24:33 RUSHING: Lexington-Drew Fisher 11-84, Kurt Eichorn 12-74, Derrick Diglaw 13-47, Adam Roberts 1-1, Ben Ziegelhofer 4-minus 4, Team 1-minus 14. Watterson-Lerron Moore 19-182, Bryan Sullivan 5-47, Stuart Griffin 6-31, J.J. Koterba 5-14, Wes Gilliland 2-6, Corey Wilson 3-6, Kevin Meredith 2-1, Adam Mitchell 1-minus 2, Martin Hopkins 1-minus 2, Dan DeLucia 1-minus 9. PASSING: Lexington-Kurt Eichorn 8-17-2-64. Watterson-Dan DeLucia 4-4-0-32, Joe Brehm 0-1-1-0. RECEIVING: Lexington-Brian Smith 5-44, Drew Fisher 2-14, Tyler Simmering 1-6. Watterson-Brandon Wilson 2-23, B.Cottrell 1-5, Mike Niklos 1-4. INTERCEPTIONS: Lexington-Kurt Eichorn 1-0. Watterson-Bryan Sullivan 1-40, Matt Szaraz 1-15. clecinosu |