INDIANS ROLL … Backup quarterback Kahle Albright takes off on a scramble in the second half of a 49-12 win over Fairview. (PHOTO BY FORREST R. CHURCH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Nate Calvin
(August 18, 2023) WAUSEON – The Indians scored on their first seven possessions and dominated defensively holding the Apaches to just 121 yards of total offense and forcing two turnovers to cruise to a 49-12 opening night win.
Things started a bit slowly for Wauseon as a penalty negated a big return on the opening kickoff on a holding penalty on their first play from scrimmage put them in a hole at their own 11-yard line.
Wauseon quickly turned things around as quarterback Trey Parsons connected with Wyatt Smith on a 38-yard pass play and three plays later Ryan Friend scampered 37 yards around the left end for a touchdown and a 7-0 Wauseon lead.
After a Fairview three and out on their first possession of the night, the Indians engineered an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped off by Austin Kovar’s three-yar TD run up the middle to make it 14-0.
The Apaches coughed it up on the first play of their next possession with Kahle Albright recovering the fumble.
The Indians capitalized quickly with Parsons hitting Rodriguez in the end zone for a 27-yd strike to stretch the lead to 21-0.
It was another three and out for Fairview but this time the punt was partially blocked by Kovar to set Wauseon up at the Fairview 32.
After a pair of first down runs by Friend, Kovar scored the final touchdown of the quarter for Wauseon on a one yard plunge up the middle to make it 28-0.
Fairview’s next drive would again end in a turnover as Albright would pickoff a William Zeedyk pass to give Wauseon the ball back again in Apache territory.
Following a couple false start infractions, Parsons would go to the air and find a wide-open Smith down the left sideline for his second TD pass of the half to make it 35-0.
While the Wauseon defense continued to shutdown Fairview, Wauseon added two more scores before halftime with Kovar scoring on a seven-yard run and Parsons going 25 yards to Rodriguez to make it 49-0.
The Apaches were able to score a couple touchdowns during the second half, which was played with a running clock, thanks to an eight-yard touchdown pass by Zeedyk and a one-yard scoring run by Drayden Grinnell-Dennis.
“I thought we pretty efficient, we were able to get some nice runs and sprinkle in passes when we need them”, commented head coach Shawn Moore.
“I thought we did a nice job tonight with having several kids getting under the “Friday Night Lights” for the first time.”
The Indians featured a balanced offensive attack with Parsons throwing for 223 yards and three touchdowns while the Tribe rushed for 132 yards as a team, led by 109 yards from Friend.
UP NEXT: August 25 – Wauseon (1-0) at Bellevue (0-1) 7pm
FHS WHS
First Downs 7 15
Rushing Yards 69 132
Passing Yards 52 223
Total Yards 121 355
Passing 10-13 12-24-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties 3-29 10-68
WAUSEON 28 21 0 0 – 49
FAIRVIEW 0 0 6 6 – 12
W – Friend 37-yd TD run (Rodriguez kick)
W – Kovar 4-yd TD run (Rodriguez kick)
W – Rodrguez 27-yd pass from Parsons (Rodriguez kick)
W – Kovar 2-yd TD run (Rodriguez kick)
W – Smith 53-yd TD pass from Parsons (Rodriguez)
W – Kovar 7-yd TD run (Rodriguez kick)
W – Rodriguez 25-yd TD pass from Parsons (Thourot kick)
F – Olinger 8-yd TD pass from Zeedyk (pass failed)
F – Grinnell-Dennis 1-yd TD run (pass failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Wauseon – Friend 13-109; Kovar 5-21; PASSING: Wauseon – Parsons 10-12-3; RECEIVING: Wauseon – Smith 2-93; Rodriguez 4-74; Davis 2-41; Fairview – none reported
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com