Tons of fumbles hurt Fort Recovery vs. Panthers (09/04/04)

FORT RECOVERY — If you expect to win football games, you have to have the ball. Fort Recovery gave the ball away far to often Friday.

The Indians fumbled the ball eight times, losing four of them, in a 28-6 loss to the Parkway Panthers.

Fort Recovery (1-1) outgained the Panthers by 100 yards in total offense (273-173), had five more first downs (13-8) and had one of the best passing games in recent memory. But none of it mattered with the ball continually rolling on the ground.

Already leading 21-6 because of three Nick Reigel touchdowns, Andy Long put the game out of reach in the third quarter on another botched play. He picked up a blocked punt and returned it for the final touchdown of the game with 6:31 to go in the third quarter.

Parkway (1-1) led the entire way, starting with a 16-yard touchdown run by Reigel in the first quarter. He increased the lead to 14-0 with a 10-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Reigel put his final tally on the board about two minutes before Long’s return, running in from eight yards out. Brandon Bowen kicked extra points on all four Panther touchdowns.

The Indians’ lone score came with 4:49 to play in the first half when Mark Willmann ran the ball into the end zone from one yard out.

Willmann was excellent through the air, completing 15-of-31 passes for 219 yards. Tyler Wuebker was on the receiving end of many of those passes, finishing with eight receptions for 45 yards.

Dusty Guggenbiller grabbed six passes for 60 yards.

However, the running game never got going and the fumbles never stopped coming.

Greg Faller was the top rusher — and the only Tribe rusher i double digits — as he took the ball 11 times for 37 yards.

Fort Recovery will try to rebound Friday when they visit Minster at 7:30 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]