By Drew Terhall

Dailyadvocate.com

NEW MADISON — The Patriots fought from behind all game long as they couldn’t catch up with the experienced Preble Shawnee football team. Tri-Village lost 42-25 at home in their WOAC opener on August 30.

Head coach Matt Hopkins said he was disappointed in the start. He gave all the credit to Preble Shawnee for coming out and playing a great game.

“They (Preble Shawnee) were the better team tonight. They took it to us. But, I’m proud of my guys for how we fought back and we finished. Can’t dig a hole. You can tell it’s a senior laden team and they’re athletic. They played really well tonight,” Hopkins said.

The Arrows scored on their first possession of the game as junior Brody Morton scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to go up 7-0. They had chances to add more points on the board, but two rushing touchdowns by Morton were called back on holding penalties.

The Tri-Village offense couldn’t get anything going. They went through the first quarter without picking up a first down. The opportunity to tie the game was there, they couldn’t take advantage of the Arrows’ mistakes.

Preble Shawnee was backed up to their own six-yard line in the second quarter. On third and long, Tri-Village got an interception but was called for pass interference. With a more manageable third down, Morton hit senior Isaac Blankenship on a screen pass for the first down.

Later in that drive, Morton hit senior Reece Smith for a screen pass. Smith took it 13 yards for the touchdown as Preble Shawnee went up 14-0.

Tri-Village got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Trey Sagester found senior Lane Bierly for a 28-yard reception to give the team their first first down of the game.

With 48.7 seconds left in the first half, Sagester scored on a quarterback sneak from one yard out to go into halftime only down 14-7. A few rushing touchdowns called back and some missed deep passes by Morton left the door open for the Patriots.

But like in the first half, Tri-Village couldn’t cash in on the Arrows’ mistakes. Bierly picked off Morton and gave the offense the ball in Arrows territory.

A bad snap turned a third one from the 2-yard line to a fourth and 31 from the 32-yard line. After the Patriots failed to convert the fourth down, Morton ran for a 49-yard touchdown. This time, there were no flags and Preble Shawnee took a 21-7 lead.

The Patriots got into an offensive groove after that series. The team started to spread the ball out through the air and started to move it down the field. Tri-Village couldn’t find much success with the run game. Hopkins said he wasn’t happy with the run game and that’s something they have to fix.

Even with playing with one arm tied behind their backs, the offense moved the ball as Sagester started to use his feet. With Sagester gaining rushing yards and throwing on the run, they started to score some points.

Sagester found sophomore Griffin Richards for a 19-yard touchdown pass in response of the Arrows’ last touchdown. After a failed point after attempt, Tri-Village was down 21-13.

Later in the third quarter, Sagester hit a wide open sophomore Teddy Miller for a 33-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, Tri-Village made it a 21-19 game with 1:46 left in the third quarter.

Hopkins said he was happy with how Sagester did, especially in that second half. He still wants to see the team keep improving as the season goes on.

“I thought Trey did a better job in the second half seeing some things and making plays with his feet. That’s what we got to do. We’ll adjust with what our opponent gives us,” Hopkins said. “That’s a first year kid taking snaps at quarterback. He’s seeing things really, really well at this point. We got to continue to grow.”

The Arrows responded with a score of their own. Morton rushed for a six-yard touchdown and Preble Shawnee extended their lead to 28-19.

The Patriots got back on the board with another Sagester to Richards touchdown, this time from 12 yards out. After another failed two-point conversion, Tri-Village was down 28-25.

Tri-Village couldn’t get the offense and the defense playing at the same level. When the offense was struggling, the defense was picking up the slack. When the offense was humming, the defense couldn’t get that one stop they needed.

Hopkins said this is a young team and it’s expected that they have to learn how to compete at this level.

“These are the growing pains. It is what it is. I just told these guys, we got two roads we can go down. We can go into the tank and that’s the easy way to do it. Or we can get back after it Monday,” Hopkins said.

One minute after Tri-Village scored, Preble Shawnee drove down the field and scored on a four-yard touchdown run from Blankenship.

The Patriots were driving down the field trying to make it a one-score game. Down to the seven-yard line, Sagester was picked off. The Arrows got the ball back with 3:54 left in the game.

They drained the clock as they marched down the field and scored. Senior Lane Lovely scored on a four-yard run to give the Arrows the 42-25 victory.

The loss puts the Patriots at 1-1 on the season with an 0-1 WOAC record. Two seasons ago, they were in this same spot coming off a home loss to Preble Shawnee. They ended up splitting the WOAC title with Ansonia that season.

Hopkins said they have to move on as a team. No one is going to feel sorry for them as they continue on with their season. With the unpredictability of the WOAC, the Patriots are still playing for a league crown.

“You never know in this league. Ansonia is still lurking. I’m sure they weren’t real thrilled with their loss in week one. They’re going to get back after it and fire it up. We’re going to find out what kind of team we are,” Hopkins said.

Tri-Village will host Twin Valley South on September 6 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Contact Daily Advocate sports editor Drew Terhall at [email protected].