Indians run over Rockets

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians have been a passing team this season.

Facing the Rockets on Friday, FRHS kept the ball mostly on the ground.

The Fort Recovery High School football team produced its most effective rushing game of the season, churning out 223 yards en route to a 24-7 homecoming victory over Anna.

The Indians (2-2), who had a previous high of 115 yards on the ground this season, averaged 6.6 yards per carry and ran for all three of their touchdowns. They salted the game away by starting the fourth quarter with seven consecutive runs, capped by a 5-yard Gavin Thobe touchdown.

Derek Jutte did the bulk of the rushing damage for the Tribe, carrying the ball 18 times for 148 yards. That included a 9-yard TD run early in the second quarter that gave Fort Recovery a 14-0 lead.

Quarterback Clay Schmitz had the other touchdown on the opening drive when he couldn’t find a receiver, rolled to his left and continued cruising to the end zone for a 9-yard score.

Anna was able to close the gap to 14-7 on a Kohlten Carey quarterback sneak midway through the second quarter but never got any closer. A Cobe Wendel 31-yard field goal pushed the Indians’ lead to 10 in the third quarter before Thobe’s TD put the game away in the fourth.

Schmitz followed Jutte with 36 yards on the ground. He was also 6-of-13 passing for 90 yards.

Riley Hiser added 30 rushing yards on just four carries.

The Rockets (1-3) managed just 152 yards of total offense. Carey gained 58 of those on his 21 carries.

Thobe led the Tribe’s strong defensive effort with 13 tackles, including three for a loss. Kendrik Wendel added 11 tackles.

Fort Recovery will play its second-to-last regular season game before Ohio’s modified all-in tournament Friday when they visit Versailles.