FRHS two points short

NEW BREMEN, Ohio — After dropping the last four games, the Indians had to hit the road to face a ranked opponent.

They nearly matched the Cardinals, scoring two touchdowns and gaining 43 more yards of offense. But a pair of failed 2-point attempts kept the Indians from breaking through.

The Division VII No. 5 New Bremen Cardinals escaped with a 14-12 win over Fort Recovery High School’s football team on Friday night.

Fort Recovery (1-5, 0-4 Midwest Athletic Conference) had the ball for more than 75% of the game, running a total of 65 plays for 220 yards. While the Indians’ offense ate up the clock, New Bremen (4-2, 2-2 MAC) moved down field quickly when it had the ball, totalling 177 yards on only 35 plays.

The Cardinals punched FRHS early, as they only needed three plays to score. Rogan Muether — he finished the game with a team-high 99 rushing yards — ripped off a 56-yard carry to score 1 minute, 24 seconds, into the game.

The Indians answered right back with a touchdown of their own on the next drive.

After 12-plays ran, 61-yards covered and 6:11-long drive, Reece Wendel crossed the plane of the end zone on a 1-yard rush for the score. Wendel led the Fort Recovery offense with 124 rushing yards, but couldn’t pound the ball in for the 2-point attempt.

New Bremen entered the intermission with a 14-6 lead after Gavin Dickie completed a 57-yard TD pass to Grant Dickie with 30 seconds remaining.

FRHS found the end zone a second time at the 1:21 mark in the third quarter when Caden Grisez found Gavin Evers for a 5-yard TD pass.

Again, Wendel was stopped short of the goal on the 2-point attempt.

While both of the Indians’ 2-point attempts came up short, the Cardinals secured the extra points with kicks from Aidan Eastham.

The Indians remain winless in the MAC and will have to face No. 1 Marion Local on Friday before a matchup with Parkway, another team still searching for a MAC victory.