TAAC: Defensive stand carries Eagles past Bombers

10/9/2010

Toledo Christian won in dramatic fashion to stay unbeaten in the TAAC Friday night, using a goal-line stand in the closing seconds to hold off the Edon Bombers at Perrysburg's Steinecker Stadium.

The Eagles (5-2, 3-0) scored the winning points on Nick Rightnowar's third touchdown pass of the game, a three-yarder to Sam Ivan with 6:27 left. Rightnowar was 20-of-22 passing for 235 yards, including scoring strikes of 5 and 13 yards to Zach Brumbaugh in the first and third quarters. Eagles running back Graham Miller carried 15 times for 76 yards, and David Westmeyer had five receptions for 131 yards.

Edon (4-3, 2-2) earned a first-and-goal at the TC 7 in the closing minute and was stopped short on four plays. An Eagles penlty on fourth down gave the Bombers one last chance from the 1, but Shannon Geren (32 carries, 149 yards) was stopped with 37 seconds remaining, and Toledo Christian ran out the clock after an Edon unsportsmanlike conduct penalty took the Eagles out to their 16.

WEST UNITY — Ottawa Hills and Hilltop had a battle of field goals in the first half — a 27-yard kick by Michael Geiger gave the Green Bears a 3-0 first quarter lead until Austin Aschenfelter hit a field goal from 39 yards to tie the game for Hilltop (3-4, 2-2) in the second period.

Quinton Nofziger, who gained 140 yards in 22 carries scored a touchdown on a two-yard run in the third quarter to give Hilltop the lead, and Aschenfelter added a final touchdown for the winners in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run.

Hilltop had 276 yards rushing and 40 passing for 316 total; Ottawa Hills (2-5, 0-3) had 249 total yards on 195 rushing and 54 passing. Will Longthorne carried 12 times for 115 yards for the Green Bears. Hilltop forced five Ottawa Hills turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions.

At Northwood, Michael Prothero powered in for two touchdowns while rushing for 80 yards as the Rangers remained undefeated in league play.

Zach Bermejo opened the scoring for Northwood (5-2, 3-0) with a four-yard run, then Justin Rohrs picked off an errant Danbury pass and returned it 22 yards for a score. Jake Pressley and John Romstadt also reached paydirt for the Rangers.

Northwood quarterback Erik Russell was 9 of 13 for 131 yards, and Zach Wielinski caught four balls for 73 yards.

Danbury (1-5, 0-3) got on the board in the fourth quarter when Lucas Kennedy hauled in an 11-yard scoring pass from Zach Kalinoski.