Marion Local downs FR (10/09/04)

FORT RECOVERY — If it had been a 100-yard dash the Indians would have been in good shape. But, a football game tends to be more like a marathon.

Fort Recovery opened in a no-huddle offense, grabbing a quick 7-0 lead Friday night. But, the Marion Local Flyers took care of business in the long haul, knocking off the Indians on homecoming night 31-13.

Marion Local (3-4), which defeated then-Division IV No. 2 Versailles last week, took control of the game with a pair of touchdowns in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter.

Leading 17-7, the Flyers got the big strike of the night on a 57-yard pass from Ryan Stucke to Tyler Speelman 59 seconds into the final period. With 6:38 left in the game, Curtis Moeller added a 55-yard touchdown run to puss the lead to 24 points and put the game well out of reach.

Fort Recovery (1-6) did well on its opening drive, going to the no-huddle and taking the ball down the field in four minutes.

The Indians scored the opening touchdown for a 7-0 lead on a 38-yard pass from Mark Willmann to Greg Faller.

But, a 2-yard touchdown run by Jeff Otte with 31 seconds left in the first quarter tied the contest. Marion Local took the lead for good with 42 seconds left in the first half on an Otte 1-yard run.

Dan Fortkamp added a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter before the Flyers’ two big fourth-quarter scores.

Tony Diller added a 1-yard touchdown run in the last minute of the game for Fort Recovery for the final margin.

Marion Local racked up 381 yards of total offense in the game, 261 on the ground, compared to just 123 for the Indians.

Faller carried the ball 11 times for 55 yards. Willmann competed seven passes for 66 yards, two of which went to Faller for 51 of that total.

Tyler Wuebker had four receptions for five yards.

Fort Recovery will return to the road Friday to take on New Bremen at 7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]