Homan leads FRHS in win

ROCKFORD, Ohio — The Panthers marched the field and scored on the opening drive of the game.

It was the only time the Indians trailed on the scoreboard.

A steady diet of Will Homan propelled the Fort Recovery High School football team to a 42-26 victory Friday over the host Parkway Panthers in the Midwest Athletic Conference opener.

Homan, a senior who last season set school records for career and season rushing totals, carried the ball 27 times for 230 yards and five touchdowns, including two each in the second and third quarters. His five scoring runs tied the Tribe record for TDs in a game that he already shared with Jason Pottkotter.

His first score of the night came in the second quarter as he capped a 68-yard drive with a 7-yard TD to give Fort Recovery (2-1, 1-0 MAC) a 13-6 lead before an extra point. After Parkway cut the deficit to two, 14-12, Homan extended the Tribe lead as he reached paydirt later in the quarter on fourth-and-goal from the 2.

In the third quarter he had touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards respectively, and tacked on his final score in the fourth quarter from the 1-yard line.

Fort Recovery, which hosts the Coldwater Cavaliers (1-2, 0-1 MAC) on Friday, lucked out as it fumbled five times, losing four, with only one of which resulting in a touchdown at the other end for Parkway (1-2, 0-1 MAC).

Panther quarterback had 109 yards total yards, including 58 on the ground and 51 through the air. He completed five of his 14 pass attempts with two touchdowns and an interception, and also scored a rushing TD.

Caden May was the lead Parkway rusher as he totaled 97 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. Nick Hawk added 81 yards on 18 carries.

Fort Recovery senior quarterback Cade Wendel completed all eight of his passes for 105 yards. He connected with Andrew Stocker (47 yards) and Riley Pearson (39) three times apiece.

After Baker found Caleb Kinney for a score on the Panthers’ opening drive, their next possession didn’t end so fortunate. Stocker blocked a punt, and Jackson Ontrop grabbed it in the end zone to put the Tribe on the board.

Owen Sheridan and Ethan Schoen led the Indians defensively with 10 tackles each. Trevor Vaughn picked off a Baker pass, and Wendel picked up a Panther fumble.