Ground attack helps Tartans power their way past Bobcats

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Left, middle, right. Right, middle, left.

Known for their run-heavy game plan, the East Tartans relied exclusively to their ground attack and muscled their way to a 44-14 win over the Green Bobcats in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday night.

The plan worked all night as the Tartans ran the ball 48 times and rolled up 249 yards on the ground and that attack paced by Leon McKinney with 19 carries for 126 yards to go along and a pair of rushing scores, and Lindon Williams with 63 yards and three touchdowns.

"That's a good pick-me-up for the kids and just everybody," Tartans coach East Adam Bailey. "Our kids growing up playing pee-wee and junior high together and play each other for years. Their kids and ours grow up around each other and knowing that makes it a very competitive rivalry for us."

Bailey was also quick to express his thankfulness for getting back some key backs to utilize.

"I thought getting back a couple kids back that hadn't played in a while was big. Lindon (Williams) hasn't played since week one really and Jimmy (McGraw) hasn't played for about 16 months. So having seniors back are just different. They bigger and stronger."

In the early going, it looks as if this one would turn into a shootout, as both teams traded a volley of scores.

Williams would score to cap off East's opening drive with a 4-yard run less than three minutes into the game.

Green (1-8, 0-4 SOC-1) would answer with a quick 7-play drive that saw Gabe Blevins complete his first 3 passes of the game to jump start the offense. Then Preston Bradley took a handoff on a jet sweep and found a cut back lane to score from 6-yards out. Blevins would hit Bradley on a swing pass for the conversion play to even the score at 8-all.

Like their counterparts, the Tartans (2-7, 1-3) would score in 7 plays as well. Getting big chunk run plays from McKinney for 18 yards and Tanner Baughman for 16 to help move the chains.

Williams would punch in from 7 yards out on the final play of the drive and then Jimmy McGraw ran in on the two-point play to put the Tartans back up 16-8 with 2:18 remaining in the first.

Green would take their ensuing possession and march down the field in just five plays this time, with Blevins scrambling down the home sideline and beating everyone to the pylon for a 24-yard touchdown run. The two-point pass would fail and East would hang on to a 16-14 lead just under a minute into the second frame.

The Bobcats' would come up with a huge fourth down stop when they stuffed Williams short on a 4th-and-1 play and proceed to drive to the East 11 on their ensuing possession.

However, the Bobcats wouldn't be able to convert and their fourth down pass would fall incomplete, giving the ball back to the Tartans.

East would put together a methodical drive, with big chunks of yards coming from McKinney and Williams who did much of the damage on the drive. However, they only managed to move to the Green 33 with 43 seconds left before halftime.

Out of a timeout, Williams lined up in a wildcat and took the direct snap to his right, found a crease just into the second level and raced the 33-yards to pay dirt to add to East's lead. Tanner Baughman ran in the two-point conversion to extend their lead to 24-14 at the break.

Green's defense would force a three-and-out to begin the half, but just couldn't capitalize on the chance.

Liam McGuire would complete four passes on the drive, including a 30-yard pitch-and-catch to Luke Kimbler to push the Bobcats deep into East territory, but Green would be faced with a 4th-and-9 from the Tartan 18.

But the fourth down pass would be off the mark and the Tartans would take over and begin the wear down on Green's defense.

East would turn the stop into points 11 plays and 82 yards later when McKinney plunged his way in from 3 yards out for the score and also converted the extra point run to make it 32-14 just three seconds into the final quarter.

"That was part of the plan tonight to feed (Leon) the ball. We felt he was the biggest and strongest kid on the field and we've used him periodically this year," said Bailey. "But I thought up front out kids did great. I know at one point, they were bringing 8 and 9 guys at us. But we some made adjustments and fixed some mistakes from the first half and it worked out well for us."

The Tartans would recover a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff wipe any hopes of the Bobcats trying to answer with a potential comeback.

Baughman would finish off the drive with a 20-yard keeper to make it 38-14 and McKinney would score his final touchdown run with a barreling 8-yard run to set the final score.

After suffering the ups and downs of the season, Bailey was proud to see his teams' resolve and stay together to earn a win.

"I'm real proud of the kids. Things could've gone a lot different way for us this season. By now, they could've been doing other things. Not choosing to play football and do other things. So it was great for the ones that have hung in there and stuck together to make this happen night."

The loss overshadowed a big night from Blevins, who finished with 95 yards on the ground and completed 7 of 10 passes for 77 yards. Blevins also caught one pass for 12 yards.

Luke Kimber had four catches for 93 yards — both game highs — to lead the Bobcat receiving corps.

Green will wrap up the regular season next Friday on the road against Eastern Pike. The Tartans will head to Portsmouth to play Notre Dame in their final game at Spartan Stadium.

East 16 8 0 20 = 44

Green 8 6 0 0 = 14

First Quarter

East — Lindon Williams 4 run (Williams run), 9:11.

Gre — Preston Bradley 6 run (Gabe Blevins pass to Bradley), 5:18.

East — Lindon Williams 4 run (Jimmy McGraw run), 2:18.

Second Quarter

Gre — Gabe Blevins 24 run (pass failed), 11:06.

East — Lindon Williams 33 run (Tanner Baughman run), 0:35.

Fourth Quarter

East — Leon McKinney 3 run (McKinney run), 11:57.

East — Tanner Baughman 20 run (pass failed), 8:08.

East — Leon McKinney 8 run (run failed), 3:21.

———

East Green

First downs 18 12

Rushes-yards 48-249 12-114

Passing yards 0 171

Total yards 249 285

Cmp-Att-Int 0-0-0 16-28-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 3-1

Penalties-yards 0-0 10-95

Punts-average 1-19.0 0-0.0

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—East: Tanner Baughman 5-43 TD, Jimmy McGraw 8-61, Lindon Williams 16-63 TD, Leon McKinney 19-126 2-TD; Green: Gabe Blevins 7-95 TD, Preston Bradley 5-19 TD.

PASSING—East: None; Green: Gabe Blevins 7-10-0 77, Liam McGuire 9-18-0 94.

RECEIVING—East: None; Green: Noah McMackin 2-15, Gabe Blevins 1-12, Kaleb Mutter 2-3, Luke Kimbler 4-93, Elijah Evans 3-13, Preston Bradley 2-13.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.