Indians slip to loss at Parkway (08/30/03)

ROCKFORD, Ohio — Fort Recovery just simply could not hold onto the slippery ball, and one of those such miscues cost them a chance at victory Friday night.

The Indian football team fell to the Parkway Panthers 14-8, with one of the home team’s touchdowns coming on a fumble return.

The first half went scoreless in the muddy, wet conditions, and more than halfway into the third period the scoreboard remained empty. Then came perhaps the game’s biggest play as the Panthers’ Barry Peel returned one of Fort Recovery’s six fumbles for the first touchdown of the game.

The Indians lost just two of the fumbles, but the Peel return was costly.

Six minutes later — with just 8:48 to go in the contest — Parkway increased the advantage to 14-0 with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jacob Long.

Greg Faller gave the Indians a chance just moments later with a 55-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive, but that was all the scoring the Tribe could muster despite putting up superior offensive numbers.

The Tribe came away with 221 total yards, while Parkway managed just 176, almost all of which came on the ground.

Fort Recovery picked up 182 rushing yards, while Mark Willmann and Dusty Guggenbiller added 39 yards through the air as they combined to go 4-of-6 passing. Guggenbiller was on the receiving end of two of Willmann’s completions to finish as the team’s top receiver with 23 yards.

Faller was the team’s leading rusher with 29 carries for 111 yards, half of which came on his fourth-quarter score.

The Indians (1-1) will play at home for the first time this season when they host Minster Friday at 7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]