FULTON COUNTY RIVALRY … Archbold’s Lucas Dominique looks for room to run on a third quarter carry. Dominique rushed for 137 yards on 21 carries in the win. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Nate Calvin
WAUSEON (October 6, 2023) – Three Archbold turnovers in the first quarter presented Wauseon with scoring opportunities as they looked to snap a six-game losing streak against their Fulton County rivals.
The Bluestreak defense responded though each time, keeping Wauseon off the board, and used their physicality to wear down Wauseon and pull away for the 35-14 win at Harmon Field.
Archbold’s first turnover came on just the third play of the game as Chase Miller coughed up the ball after making a catch over the middle to give Wauseon the ball at the Archbold 46.
Wauseon would give the ball back on downs before the Bluestreaks next possession ended with Wauseon linebacker Austin Kovar picking off a Cade Brenner pass to put Wauseon in business at their own 47-yard line.
A holding penalty by Wauseon on first down stalled the drive leading to an Indian punt. Archbold’s third drive of the night would result in points after a personal foul penalty against Wauseon and two carries by Lucas Dominique moved Archbold deep into Wauseon territory.
Facing a fourth-and-eight at the Wauseon 12-yard line, Brenner went to Miller for the first of their three touchdown connections on the night to give Archbold a 7-0 lead.
It took Wauseon less then a minute and just three plays to respond as quarterback Trey Parsons aired it out down the left side of the field to speedy receiver Wyatt Smith on a 62-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.
Archbold’s third turnover of the quarter would give the Indians their best scoring chance of the night.
With the Bluestreaks backed up after a penalty, Kovar came up the middle on a perfectly timed blitz to hit Dominique as soon as he received the handoff from Brenner, knocking the ball free and Ty Davis recovered at the five-yard line.
Once again, the Archbold defense stood their ground, forcing a 24-yard field attempt by Tyso Rodriguez which was blocked to turn Wauseon away again after an Archbold turnover.
Later in the quarter, Archbold took the lead for good with an eight-play, 64-yard march that was kept alive by a Wauseon offsides penalty on fourth down and ended with a 14-yard slant pass from Brenner to Miller for a 14-7 lead.
Wauseon would get one more chance in the first half after Archbold’s fourth turnover of the half, but two Archbold sacks ended the threat and maintained a 14-7 halftime lead for the Streaks despite the turnover problems.
“We made some mistakes early on the offensive side of the ball that put our defense in tough spots, so It was huge for us to hold onto the lead after having turnover issues in the first half”, said Archbold head coach David Dominique following the game.
A three-and-out by Wauseon opened the second half and after a short punt, Archbold was set up at the Wauseon 48-yard line.
Archbold struck quickly with three running plays as Dominique went for 17 yards, Josiah Gomez rumbled for 23, and Jack Hurst punched in from eight yards out from the Wildcat formation to give Archbold a 21-7 advantage.
Another three-play Wauseon scoring drive ensued as Rodriguez broke free down the left side and Parsons found him for a 62-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 21-14 with 8:44 left in the third quarter.
Archbold capped off a six-play, 61-yard drive to start the final frame as Brenner went 32 yards to Hurst on third-and-six for a touchdown to extend the lead to 28-14.
Archbold put the game away on their next possession with another third down touchdown pass as Brenner found Miller for the third time on the night, this one for 22 yards to the back of the end zone, to push the lead to 35-14.
“Very proud of the effort of all our guys tonight. In the second half we got into a rhythm and took care of the ball, which ultimately led to us pulling away”, commented Dominique.
Archbold’s defense carried the night by not only keeping Wauseon from scoring after each of the Bluestreak turnovers, but the Indians were also held to just four yards rushing as team, and outside of the two long touchdown passes by Parsons, had just 124 yards of total offense.
It was a balanced attack on offense for Archbold with 150 yards passing and four touchdowns from Brenner while Archbold ran for 213 yards paced by 137 yards on 21 totes from Dominique.
Parsons finished 16/30 passing for 248 touchdowns and two scores with Rodriguez catching five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
UP NEXT: October 13 – Patrick Henry (7-1, 4-1 NWOAL) at Archbold (7-1, 4-1 NWOAL) 7pm; Bryan (5-3, 3-2 NWOAL) at Wauseon (5-3, 3-2 NWOAL) 7pm.
AHS WHS
First Downs 17 12
Rushing Yards 37-213 22-4
Passing Yards 150 244
Passing 10-17-2 16-30-1
Total Yards 363 248
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties 3-15 12-81
ARCHBOLD 7 7 7 14 – 35
WAUSEON 7 0 7 0 – 14
A – Miller 13-yard pass from Brenner (Rodger kick)
W – Smith 62-yard pass from Parsons (Rodriguez kick)
A – Miller 14-yard pass from Brenner (Rodger kick)
A – Hurst 8-yard run (Rodger kick)
W – Rodriguez 62-yard pass from Parsons (Rodriguez kick)
A – Hurst 32-yard pass from Brenner (Rodger kick)
A – Miller 21-yard pass from Brenner (Rodger kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Archbold – Dominique 21-137; Wauseon – Friend 14-25; PASSING: Archbold – Brenner 10-17-2-150; Wauseon – Parsons 16-30-1-244; RECEIVING: Archbold – Miller 8-113; Wauseon – Rodriguez 5-115, Smith 3-62
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com