Tribe rallies after delay

FORT RECOVERY — Clay Schmitz only carried the ball seven times Friday night.

His sixth put the Indians ahead.

His seventh sealed the win.

Schmitz had a 7-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left on the clock, then, after an interception with 17 seconds remaining, the Fort Recovery quarterback took a knee to seal a come-from-behind victory for the Indian football team over Valley View at Barrenbrugge Athletic Park.

The game finished early Saturday morning as a lightning delay of more than two hours halted play late in the third quarter.

A 50-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game put Valley View (1-1) out front 7-0. But three consecutive scores by Fort Recovery (2-0) gave the Tribe a 20-7 lead.

Derek Jutte punched it in from the 5-yard line to tie the score. Jacob Acheson had a 14-yard TD run to give FRHS the lead, and Schmitz threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Thobe to make it 20-7.

Valley View cut the deficit to 20-14 before half, and on its first drive of the third quarter went ahead by one on a Cade Cradlebaugh 5-yard TD run.

Following the delay, Fort Recovery, which opens Midwest Athletic Conference play Friday at Minster (2-0), was pinned deep in its zone and gave up a safety to trail 23-20 early in the fourth quarter.

After Schmitz’s go-ahead score, Owen Sheridan picked off a Cradlebaugh pass and returned it six yards to the Valley View 36. 

Cradlebaugh led all rushers with 86 yards on 28 carries. He also threw for 114 yards as he completed six of his 13 pass attempts.

Jutte led the Indians with 48 yards rushing. Schmitz was 9-of-16 for 186 yards.

Sheridan’s 17 tackles were tops on the team, and Owen Schoen had 12 stops.