(PHOTOS BY FORREST R. CHURCH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
HEADED TO THE END ZONE … Edon’s Max Radabaugh takes off down the sideline on a 78-yard connection with Kyler Sapp for Edon’s first touchdown of the night in the third quarter. VIEW 865 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
GAME CLINCHING PLAY … McComb’s Luke Kern goes over the top of intended receiver Eli Dickmann for an interception to secure the Panthers’ 28-14 win at Edon.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
EDON – A turnover on the opening kickoff was a sign of things to come for Edon on Friday night at Leanne Field.
The Bombers would turn it over four more times, with McComb scoring 14 points as a result, on their way to a 28-14 win in the first round of the Division VII Region 26 playoffs.
The opening miscue didn’t cost the Bombers though as McComb returned the favor just three plays later on a bad exchange between quarterback Grady Schroeder and the Panther running back to put Edon back in business at their own 32-yard line.
That drive would end with Edon’s second turnover of the night as Kyler Sapp’s pass on 3rd-and-14 was intercepted by Luke Kern at the McComb 45-yard line.
After going backwards on their next two plays, the Panthers aired it down the sideline to a streaking Haiden Ebright who went 68 yards for the touchdown and a 7-0 McComb lead.
McComb’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs at the Edon 34, but Edon gave the ball back with their third turnover of the opening stanza as Sapp was picked off near midfield.
After a long completion by Schroeder to Ebright to start the drive, the Panthers went to the ground game as after converting a 4th-and-2 with an eight-yard run by Shoop, it was Shoop again on fourth-and-goal at the four-yard line to extend the lead to 14-0.
Edon threatened on their final possession of the first half as they moved to the McComb 20-yard line.
Edon thought they had cracked the end zone on each of the next two plays but a diving attempt at a catch in the end zone by Hayden Dickmann was ruled incomplete and then Sapp’s touchdown pass to Kendol Brigle was wiped out by a holding penalty.
After a holding penalty by both teams, the Bombers were faced with a 4th-and-10 at the 20 where they were stopped to end the 17-play drive and end the half.
Edon forced McComb to put to start the second half, but they fumbled the return for their fourth turnover of the night and give the Panthers the ball at the Edon 34-yard line.
The Bomber defense rose to the occasion as Schroeder was picked off by Brigle inside the 10-yard line to give the Bombers new life.
It took just two plays for the Bombers to convert the turnover into points as Sapp threw across the field to Max Radabaugh who made the catch between two defenders and sprinted down the sideline for the score on the 78-yard play.
After an exchange of punts, McComb answered back with a 10-play 72-yard drive that featured eight carries for 63 yards by Schroeder, with the last nine yards resulting in a touchdown to make it 21-7 with 10:32 left.
Edon needed just three minutes to respond as Sapp hit Cohen Hulbert for 21 yards and then Brigle down the middle of the field for 28 yards to put them at the McComb 12-yard line.
Two plays later it was Sapp to Radabaugh again, this time on a 12-yard scoring pass, to trim the Panthers lead back to seven at 21-14.
Once again though, McComb answered the bell, with the help of a 29-yard pass by Schroeder to Cameron Smith and then it was Schroeder going 32 yards on a draw play to push the lead to 28-14 with 4:34 left in the game.
McComb would then snuff out any thoughts of late game heroics by Edon (9-2) as Sapp was intercepted for the third time on the night, and the second by Kern, to end Edon’s final drive of the night.
Sapp ended the night 10/26 for 185 yards and two scores with Radabaugh leading the receivers with four receptions totaling 97 yards.
Schroeder carried the Panthers’ (8-3) offense with 197 yards passing and 140 yards rushing while Ebright had four receptions for 111 yards.
McCOMB 7 7 0 14 – 28
EDON 0 0 7 7 – 14
M – Ebright 68-yd pass from Schroeder (Kern kick)
M – Shoop 4-yd run (Kern kick)
E – Radabaugh 78-yd pass from Sapp (kick)
M – Schroeder 9-yd run (Kern kick)
E – Radabaugh 12-yd pass from Sapp (kick good)
M – Schroeder 32-yd run (Kern kick)
