Ohio Football

Sunday, September 9, 2012

EDGEWOOD 22, BADIN 21

By Don Manning | SWOC Beat Writer

Matt Barger scored two times to help lift Edgewood past Badin.

A game that on paper looked to be a close game, ended just that way, with a single point deciding the outcome. However, it did not start off in that fashion.

The Badin Rams (2-1) jumped out in front of the Edgewood Cougars (3-0) 21-0 in what seemed to be a bashing by the Rams.

Badin was on the board first after the Cougars first drive ended in a three-and-out and on fourth down Austin Rieman came off the right side and blocked Zach Griffin's punt, that blocked kick was picked up by Jacob Schweinefuss and returned 15 yards for the first Ram touchdown. The Rams were off and running.

The Cougars were able to move the ball on their second possession, but that ended in a fumble. Again, Badin would capitalize on the Edgewood mistake as Rieman took the pitch, broke several tackles and 65 yards later found himself in the endzone and put the his team up 14-0. Rieman would go onto to finish with 208 yards rushing and two TD's.

The Edgewood fans had little to cheer about and found their team trailing 21-0. That changed when AJ Pieratt returned the kickoff that followed Rieman's second touchdown 83 yards for the Cougars’ first touchdown. That was the spark Edgewood needed and from there the game was never the same. The half ended with the Rams leading the Cougars 21-7.

The Edgewood offense came out in the second half determined to move the ball and move the ball they did; they took the opening kickoff down to the 1-yard line where it was first and goal. Matt Barger ran the ball for what appeared to be the second Edgewood touchdown, but the officials saw it another way and spotted the ball just inches from the goalline. On the next play the Cougars fumbled and Badin recovered on the 1-yard line.

What happened on the next play changed the game as Barger and a host of other Cougars would tackle Micheal Davis in the endzone for a safety making the score 21-9.

On the ensuing drive following the free kick, Edgewood again took the ball right at the Rams and drove 57 yards capping the drive off with a 4-yard touchdown by Barger. Barger was the difference maker in the second half as he rushed for 200 of his 259 yards in the second half and scored one touchdown.

Edgewood would go onto score the final touchdown of the game as Pieratt would score his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard rush and after the Griffin kick Edgewood led by one 22-21. David Jones was able to keep this drive going when on third down and six, he was able to break a couple of tackles and reach out to get a first down keeping the drive and the Cougars hopes alive.

In the second half Edgewood’s defense was spectacular, led by Brett Tucker, Austin Farler, Austin Rodgers and Mason Back and several others the Cougars held Badin to just 50 yards of offense in the second half.

Edgewood travels to Wilmington (3-0) for their first conference game and a battle of unbeatens. To win this game the Cougars will have to hold onto the ball, as they will not always overcome fumbling five times in a single contest and find themselves winners.

Badin will again be on the road facing a tough opponnet in the Fenwick Falcons (2-1). The Rams will need to regroup this week and put a tough loss behind them. They are a great team that plays hard and if they take it to the Falcons like they did to Edgewood in the first half they will put their team in a position to win.

Don Manning is his second season of covering high school football for TSF. He serves as our Southwest Ohio Conference beat writer. If you are interested in covering your team, please CONTACT US.