Fort Recovery falls in opener (08/27/05)

ANSONIA, Ohio — Michael Trobridge ran for three Fort Recovery touchdowns on breakaway charges of 17, 24, and 32 yards Friday night.

But it wasn’t enough for a win as the Indians headed back to town on the wrong side of a 33-19 score.

Trobridge racked up 112 yards for the lion’s share of the Indians’ 169 rushing yards. Ansonia rushed for 163 yards, with 100 of those coming from the aptly-named Tyler Runner.

Ansonia drew first blood on the fourth play of the game when a 16-yard pass by Alan Wombolt to Lee Kozak made its way to the end zone. Eric Beisner’s kick was good, putting Ansonia up 7-0.

Fort Recovery and Trobridge answered back with 9:08 left in the second quarter, scoring on a 24-yard run. Jordan Staugler’s PAT kick was good to tie things up at 7-7.

But the tie didn’t last for long. Ansonia answered with a 14-play drive that culminated in a 3-yard TD run by Beisner. Paul McCleskey’s kick was no good, making the score 13-7 with 4:03 on the clock in the second quarter.

Trobridge, however, was not to be out done. This time, with 2:27 on the clock in the second, he scored on a 32-yard scamper. Fort Recovery had a chance to take the lead for the first time all night, but Jordan Staugler’s kick was no good, making it 13-13.

If the half had ended there, the Indians might have been able to re-group in the locker room. But three plays later, with 1:34 on the clock, Wombolt hit Runner with a pass good for 63 yards and a demoralizing go-ahead touchdown.

When the see-saw finally stopped at the half, it was Ansonia 19, Fort Recovery 13.

After a scoreless third quarter, Wombolt and Runner decided to offer their version of a summer re-run: Another 63-yard pass play for another touchdown.

Wombolt tried the 2-point conversion but came up short, making it 25-13.

Runner wasn’t finished either, adding a 90-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 31-13. And this time, the 2-point conversion try by McCleskey was good, to give Ansonia a 31-13 lead.

The Indians, however, refused to give up. Trobridge had one more touchdown in him, scoring on a 17-yard run in the final minutes.

Team totals showed Wombolt completing 9-of-15 passes, a 60-percent average, for 189 yards, while Fort Recovery’s Toby Metzger completed 13-of-31 attempts, a 41.9 percent average, for 174 yards.[[In-content Ad]]