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Harrison snaps EC’s 22-game winning streak

Harrison defeats East Central, 35-28 (photo by Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)

HARRISON, Oh. – The 47th edition of the Harrison Wildcats-East Central Trojans border war rivalry might have been one of the most thrilling in the longtime series.

East Central, the two-time defending Indiana Class 4A state champions and ranked #10 in the area, came into Friday night’s contest with the Wildcats riding a 22-game winning streak – the longest in the Greater Cincinnati/Tri-State area, and saw that winning streak come to an end in a 35-28 nail-biter at the hands of their Ohio rivals just roughly 14 miles down I-74.

PHOTOS: East Central at Harrison

The Trojans got on the board early, with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nolan Maple to take an early 7-0 lead. But the Wildcats struck back quickly, with senior quarterback Dickie Engel hitting halfback Preston Flick for a 71-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at 7-7, and to show that the Wildcats were not going away in this latest edition of the rivalry. Harrison had lost its previous five games against EC and was outscored by a total of 184-34.

East Central halfback Ryan Minges, who was instrumental in the Trojans’ week one victory over Lawrenceburg, ran for two touchdowns, and teammate Alex Kuhn running for another, but the Wildcats kept pace through an Engel touchdown pass to junior Cooper Rotert, a rushing TD by Engel, and a rushing touchdown by halfback Cole Koops – who would rush 25 times for 134 yards on the night – which led to a 28-28 deadlock late in the fourth quarter. An EC fumble and Harrison recovery led to Engel throwing a 27-yard score to wideout Josh Addelsperger, with less than a minute left in regulation, to take the lead and win 35-28.

Harrison now leads the all-time series against East Central, 24-22-1.

SCORING BY QUARTERS
East Central 14-7-0-7-28
Harrison  7-6-8-14-35

SCORING PLAYS
EC: Nolan Maple 1 run (Leland Kahny kick)
H: Preston Flick 71 pass from Dickie Engel (David Baldock kick)
EC: Ryan Minges 4 run (Kahny kick)
H: Cooper Rotert 12 pass from Engel (kick failed)
EC: Minges 6 run (Kahny kick)
H: Cole Koops 5 run (Rotert pass)
EC: Alex Kuhn 4 run (Kahny kick)
H: Engel 4 run (Baldock kick)
H: Josh Addelsperger 27 pass from Engel (Baldock kick)

RECORDS: East Central (1-1); Harrison (2-0)
UP NEXT: East Central visits Moeller (2-0); Harrison hosts Indian Hll (2-0)

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