Pick ends Fort Recovery’s comeback hopes

FORT RECOVERY — For the second time in as many weeks on Friday, the Indians had the ball in the final moments of the fourth quarter and trailed by less than a touchdown.

Just like it had the week before to the Minster Wildcats, an interception ended any hopes of a comeback.

Nolan Bornhorst picked off a Clay Schmitz pass with 37 seconds left on the clock Friday as the Fort Recovery High School football team remained winless in the Midwest Athletic Conference with a 19-15 loss to the New Bremen Cardinals.

It was the first win for the Cardinals (3-1, 1-1 MAC) over the Indians (2-2, 1-1 MAC) since 2012.

Bornhorst, who rushed for 109 yards and threw for 164 more, connected with Bryce Blickle for a 30-yard touchdown and after a Ryan Bertke extra point the Cardinals were out front 19-15 with 1:49 remaining.

Fort Recovery’s potential game-winning drive started at its own 30, and Schmitz completed a pass to Regan Martin to get the Tribe to the Cardinal 45.

A penalty and a sack pushed the Indians back 10 yards, and two plays later Barnhorst picked off Schmitz to seal New Bremen’s win.

Bornhorst totaled 136 yards on the ground and 164 through the air, including the TD pass to Blickle. Ryan Bertke was 4-of-5 on field goal attempts.

Bertke kicks put New Bremen ahead 9-0 before Schmitz threw a 21-yard touchdown to Clayton Pearson in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 9-7.

Fort Recovery nabbed a 15-12 advantage on a Schmitz pass to Gavin Thobe with five minutes remaining in the third for the touchdown. Schmitz, who was 12-of-25 for 205 yards, threw to Robby LeFevre for the 2-point conversion.

The Indians managed just 15 yards total on the ground, despite Jacob Acheson’s 19 yards.

Fort Recovery hosts Division VI No. 1 Coldwater on Friday.