Defending state champs race past Tribe

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians recorded a sack on Coldwater’s first offensive play.

The second went for an incompletion.

But the Cavaliers can strike in a hurry.

Coldwater’s third play went for a 53-yard touchdown, the first of its three scoring plays of more than 30 yards, and set the tone for the game that resulted in a 42-6 loss for the Fort Recovery High School football team.

The Indians (2-1, 0-1 Midwest Athletic Conference) had Coldwater facing a third-and-16 on its first drive after opening their first defensive series with a sack by Logan Homan. They put pressure on Cavaliers quarterback Reece Dellinger again, but the senior rolled right, avoided Homan and launched a deep pass as he approached the sideline. Tyler Schwieterman got behind Fort Recovery’s Cale Rammel, hauled in the ball near the 15-yard line and took it the rest of the way to the end zone.

The same pair connected again in the second quarter for a 41-yard touchdown pass for Coldwater (3-0, 1-0), and Dellinger hit Marcel Blasingame for a 34-yard score in the third quarter that put the Cavaliers up 42-0.

Fort Recovery got its only points early in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run by Rammel.

Coldwater, the defending Division VI state champion, out-gained the Indians 338-226, with Dellinger completing seven of his 11 pass attempts for 193 yards and four touchdowns. Schwieterman and Blasingame each had three catches and two touchdowns as they combined for 180 yards receiving.

Riley Hiser led the FRHS offense with 91 yards on 22 carries. Rammel was 9-of-20 passing for 69 yards. Ross Pearson and Caleb Evers each had seven tackles for the Indians.

The Tribe will try to get back on track Friday when they go on the road to take on the Anna Rockets (2-1, 1-0 MAC).