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Colerain claims 19th straight GMC crown

Colerain QB Deante Smith-Moore (photo by Nick Ellis/TriStateFootball.com)

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Colerain Cardinals clinched at least a share of its 19th straight Greater Miami Conference title and its 74th consecutive victory inside the conference as they knocked off the Fairfield Indians 55-27 in this week’s U.S. Marines Battle of the Gridiron Series matchup.

Fairfield at Colerain was the most anticipated game of the year in the GMC. Colerain came into the game undefeated and Fairfield was hoping to ruin their Senior Night and pull off the upset to give them their first GMC loss since 2008.

Turnovers played a major factor right out of the gate as Fairfield fumbled just two plays into the game, giving Colerain the ball in the red zone. The next play was a 17-yard, end around for a touchdown from Syncere Jones. Colerain was able to force another fumble in the first quarter, this time on punt coverage which would set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown for Ivan Pace Jr.

After trailing Colerain 13-0 heading into the second quarter, Fairfield’s Jeff Tyus, was able to drive the offense down the field and get into the end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. That cut the deficit to six points.

However, Colerain wasted no time answering the Fairfield touchdown as Deante Smith-Moore threw a 14-yard TD pass to Elijah Ford to give the Cardinals a commanding 27-7 lead with 0:32 seconds left before half.

Fairfield had a chance to cut the lead to 17, but missed a field goal as time expired.

The third quarter was a full momentum swing in favor of the Indians. Colerain received the ball to start the second half and turned the ball over on downs as they got stopped on fourth and one deep in their own territory.

Fairfield was able to capitalize on great field position and finished the drive off with a 5-yard TD run by Jutahn McClain. Colerain got to the red zone before a series of penalties had them facing a 3rd-and-35 situation that they weren’t able to convert.

Colerain elected to punt and after a costly penalty by Fairfield was able to pin the Indians at the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Jutahn McClain gashed the defense for a 95-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to just six points. It longest TD run in program history surpassing a 89-yard rushing touchdown by Rodney Cadle vs. Greenville in 1968.

After that drive from Fairfield, it was all Colerain for the rest of the game as Ivan Pace Jr. was able to get three of the four remaining rushing touchdowns for the team combining for 86 yards.

J.J. Davis added the fourth score with a 54-yard touchdown for Colerain to start the fourth quarter.

Jutahn McClain squeezed free for a 13-yard touchdown run with 00:52 seconds left in the game.

Both teams combined for 958 total offensive yards with 831 of those yards coming on the ground. Deante Smith-Moore had 208 rushing yards with a rushing and passing touchdown.

Ivan Pace Jr. had 180 yards on the ground with four total rushing touchdowns. JJ Davis and Syncere Jones were also able to add to that rushing touchdown list.

McClain finished with 29 carries for 275 yards and three touchdowns in the defeat. He now has a school-record 30 rushing touchdowns on the season.

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Fairfield 0-7-14-6-27
Colerain 13-14-7-21-55

SCORING PLAYS
COL: S.Jones 17-yard run (C.Mangold kick)
COL: I.Pace Jr. 1-yard run (C.Mangold kick failed)
FAI: J.Tyus 1-yard run (E.Phillips kick)
COL: D.Smith-Moore 3-yard run (C.Mangold kick)
COL: E.Ford 14-yard pass from D.Smith-Moore(C.Mangold kick)
FAI: J.McClain 5-yard run (E.Phillips kick)
FAI: J.McClain 95-yard run (E.Phillips kick)
COL: I.Pace Jr. 3-yard run (C.Mangold kick)
COL: JJ Davis 54-yard run (C.Mangold kick)
COL: I.Pace Jr. 37-yard run (C.Mangold kick)

RECORDS: Fairfield 7-2; Colerain 9-0
UP NEXT: Fairfield vs. Mason (7-2); Colerain at Lakota West (4-5)

*Image from @TheTCub1

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