TriStateFootball.com

Roundup: Dayton – Week 7

Some may call it parity, others may say it is mediocrity, we just think it is amazingly fun football. Close calls and nail-biters were the highlights of Friday night’s action. The schedule was littered with contests pitting teams who were trying to distance themselves from their peers. The one’s who were fortunate enough to do so, did it with heroic plays and monumental efforts.

Conference rivalries were fierce and battles for playoff berths were bone-jarring as everyone was out to make their cases for 2016 supremacy. It was not an evening for the faint of heart. Blood, sweat, tears, fears, desire and desperation fueled the on-field play and will continue to do so over the final three tilts.

Here is a look at Week 7 in the Miami Valley:

Wayne LB DeWayne Morris (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

Wayne LB DeWayne Morris (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

Making it look McKee-asy: Wayne (6-0-1, 2-0) quarterback Rashad McKee put on a show in the Warriors 59-7 bombardment of GWOC National East foe, Beavercreek (4-3, 1-1). He threw four, first quarter touchdowns as Wayne built a 34-0 lead by the end of the stanza. The sophomore finished the evening going 10-11 for 227 yards with the four scoring tosses. The young McKee has put his name in the discussion for All-District consideration. McKee has completed 76.2% of his pass for 1,287 yards with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions for the undefeated Warriors.

Pick Six sensations: Five teams in Greater Western Ohio Conference have returned at least two interceptions for touchdowns this season. Wayne (DeWayne Morris – 2), Piqua (Ben Schmiesing – 2) and Sidney each have three pick sixes while Trotwood-Madison and Springfield have two. League members have 17 interceptions returns for scores through seven games.

Just the Kovacs: A thriller at Careflight Field saw home team Springboro (5-2, 1-0) execute a gutsy two-point conversion with just two seconds left to beat Miamisburg (5-2, 0-1) in the GWOC National West opener. Panthers senior quarterback Brody Mahle hit classmate Nick Kovacs on a four-yard touchdown toss and then again on the two-point attempt in a finish that will be talked about for years to come. Kovacs, a Toledo commit finished the game with 14 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He has had 100 receiving yards or more four times in the last five weeks and 11 receptions or more three times in the last four tilts.

Terrific D in Trotwood: Through seven weeks the Trotwood-Madison defense has given up just 34 points. No team has scored more than 10 points on the Rams. To compound the problems for their foes Trotwood-Madison has scored 10 unconventional touchdowns on returns this season – four punt returns, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a kickoff return.

Taylor-made for QB: Three weeks ago Springfield (5-2, 1-0) head coach Maurice Douglas decided to move his star tight end, Leonard Taylor to quarterback and now the dividends are starting to pay off. The Wildcats won their second straight tilt with the junior under center, staving off Northmont (3-4, 0-1), 35-29 on Friday night. The 6-foot-6, 240 pound Taylor has plenty going for him at the position with his size, a cannon for an arm and an opposition that isn’t real enthused about having to bring him to the ground. He has thrown for more than 100 yards in each of the last two weeks with three touchdown passes.

Carlisle RB Ridge Reed  (Tangela Taylor DBA - TLT Action Photos)

Carlisle RB Ridge Reed (Tangela Taylor DBA – TLT Action Photos)

Reed-ing the news at Carlisle: After a pair of three-point losses to start the season Carlisle (5-2, 4-0) has reeled off five straight wins. The Indians have ridden the coattails of running back Ridge Reed during the streak. In Friday night’s win over Madison Senior (4-3, 1-2), Carlisle amassed 311 yards of total offense, all on the ground. Reed accounted for 265 of those yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. It put Reed over 1,000-yard mark for the year (1,088) and for the third time in his career. It was also the fifth time the last six games that he has ran for 140 yards or better.

Eagles leave the nest: Looking down and out at 1-3 Chaminade Julienne (4-3, 2-1) has rebounded to win three in a row. Everyone has been contributing during the streak. Quarterback Ryan Peltier has thrown for 502 yards and ran for 155 more. Jac’Quell Freeman (360), Darian Jones (293), Jonathan Bell (194) and Isaiah Haywood (140) have combined for 987 all-purpose yards over the last three outings.

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