FRHS unable to keep pace with Rockets

ANNA, Ohio — The Indians were clicking on offense.

They gained 396 total yards, scored four touchdowns and got big games from Troy Homan and Reece Guggenbiller.

It just wasn’t enough to stop the Rockets from taking off.

After picking up its first win a week ago, the Fort Recovery High School football team fell to the Anna Rockets 35-25 Friday night.

The Rockets (4-5, 3-4 Midwest Athletic Conference) faced first-and-20 with less than 1:40 left in the first half. Alex Shappie wasn’t bothered by the time, leading Anna down the field. Shappie passed for 47 yards on the drive before capping it off with an 11-yard rush to put Anna up 21-12 with only 35 seconds left in the half.

The Rockets carried the momentum into the second half when they received the ball first and took six plays to extend their lead to 28-12.

A third consecutive touchdown near the start of the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for the Indians (1-8, 1-6 MAC) as they could only manage two scores before time expired.

Reece Guggenbiller exploded for nine catches and 148 yards to lead all receivers. He also scored a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining in the game.

Troy Homan threw the touchdown to Guggenbiller as well as one to Caden Grisez in the second quarter and running in one of his own in the fourth. He finished with 200 yards in the air and 68 on the ground.

Reece Wendel scored the first touchdown for the Tribe with 9:48 remaining in the second quarter.

Anna running back Zach Osborn was the only player to score two touchdowns. His first was a 4-yard carry late in the first quarter while the other went for 6 yards in the third. He also was responsible for Anna’s score in the fourth when he threw a 15-yard pass to Trey Heitkamp.

The Rockets’ first score was a five-yard pass from Shappie to Clay Cummins at 4:29 in the first.

According to unofficial data from JoeEitel.com, the Indians have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They will close the regular season at home Friday against St. Henry.