Passing, turnovers doom the Indians

URBANA, Ohio — On their home field in their season opener, the Indians were able to run their way past a non-conference rival.

On the road in week two, they were punished by their opponent’s aerial attack and a couple of turnovers.

Fort Recovery High School’s football team gave up 258 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns on turnovers Friday night as they struggled to a 43-6 loss to the Urbana Hillclimbers.

The Indians (1-1), who were coming off of a win over Wayne Trace, were down by just seven at the end of the first quarter before Grady Lantz hit Brayden Cain for a 47-yard scoring pass 2:18 into the second. It was the first of their three TD connections.

But before the passing game was able to strike again, Urbana (2-0) got in the end zone twice on turnovers. The first came when Cain intercepted an Ethan Hartnagel pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown with 2:55 left in the first half. Just 1:12 later, Julian Davis blocked a Hartnagel punt and D’Marcus Bean recovered the ball and took it for a TD and a 29-0 lead heading into halftime.

Lantz and Cain put the game away, connecting on touchdown passes of 68 and 58 yards in the third quarter. Their four passing connections resulted in 206 yards and three touchdowns. (Lance was an efficient 9-of-11 for 258 yards.)

Five players ran the ball for 82 yards for the Hillclimbers, with Gio Torres picking up a team-high 24 yards on four attempts.

Fort Recovery got its only points midway through the final period when Hartnagel crossed the goal line on a 1-yard run.

The Indians gained just 163 total yards, 134 of which came in the running game. Reece Wendel ran 18 times for 77 yards, and Hartnagel carried eight times for 42 yards.

Caden Grisez and Wendel each completed two passes, with Gavin Evers recording the longest reception of 16 yards.

Reece Wendel and Coby Schmitz were the defensive leaders for Fort Recovery with four tackles apiece.

Life won’t get any easier for the Tribe next week as it opens Midwest Athletic Conference play by hosting perennial powerhouse Coldwater (2-0). The Cavaliers beat Clinton-Massie 31-15 Friday night after topping Valley View 38-0 in their season opener.