Turnovers doom Indians

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians had more rushing yards.

They had more passing yards.

They dominated time of possession.

The turnover column sent them to 0-2.

Fort Recovery High School’s football team turned the ball over four times Friday night as it lost its home opener 28-20 to the Urbana Hillclimbers.

Urbana’s first points of the game came one play after an interception. Another pick kept the Indians from the end zone late in the first half when they could have stepped in front for a lead at the intermission. And the home team also gave the ball away on two fumbles.

Fort Recovery (0-2), which had not dropped its first two games of the season since 2005, trailed 14-12 at halftime and then gave up a 3-yard scoring run to Austin Hill less than four minutes into the third quarter to fall behind by two scores. The Hillclimbers (2-0), who stomped Belmont 76-0 in their opener, added another Hill touchdown with 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the win. (The final points of the game came on Troy Homan’s 16-yard pass to Reece Guggenbiller with 51 seconds left.)

The Indians’ loss came dispute out-gaining Urbana 358-251. They also held the ball for nearly 29 minutes compared to just 19:28 for the Hillclimbers.

Urbana spread out its offense, with Austin Hill running nine times for 55 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Will Donahoe ran five times for 48 yards, including a 53-yard scramble for a TD in the second quarter, and D’Marcus Bean carried eight times for 42 yards. Donahoe completed 11 passes for 112 yards and a 10-yard TD to Grady Lantz, who caught six passes for 60 yards.

Troy Homan led FRHS with 100 yards on 20 rushing attempts while also going 13-of-27 through the air for 155 yards. He had a 5-yard TD run in the first quarter while Reece Wendel (nine carries, 60 yards) added a 44-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Fort Recovery will open Midwest Athletic Conference play next week as it travels Friday to Coldwater.