Indians suffer first setback of season

Berlin Center - Sometimes when it rains, it pours. For the Southern Indians it was not only from the skies, but also in the form of Blue Devil offensive weapons. Just as coach Saling had predicted, the key to the game was to stop Blue Devils quarterback Shane Ewing. Unfortunately for the Indians, Ewing rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another to lead Western Reserve to a 30-21 win over Southern. Ewing would end the night with 75 yards rushing and 208 yards passing.

Reserve wasted no time in jumping to the advantage, as Blue Devils return man Justin Lude took the game opening kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown run. The Devils would try to add to their lead at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter, but a 29-yard field goal would sail wide right to keep the score at 7-0.

Southern would connect on their field goal try early in the second quarter when senior kicker David Ramsey set the school record with a 40-yard boot. The score was set up on a 47-yard pass play from quarterback Mike MCvay to running back Adam Kelly. The field goal would cut the Devils advantage to 7-3. "Give them credit on their defense, they shut us down," Indians coach Saling would remark about the first half.

Then the tide of the game really began to change. Indians quarterback McVay had his pass intercepted at the Reserve 48-yard line by defensive back Paul Arditi. On the next play, Ewing would find his favorite receiver Clayton Hull for a 52-yard touchdown pass play with just 1:31 before the half. The extra point gave the Devils a 14-3 lead going into the locker room. "The defense got confused, we gave up one pass, and we gave up the kickoff," Saling spoke about the first half deficit.

The second half got off to an auspicious start for the Indians when they fumbled the ball on their opening possession at their own 41-yard line. Reserve would drive to the Southern 12-yard line before they were forced to try another field goal attempt. This time the Devils Dave Duncan would connect on a 29-yard boot to increase the advantage to 17-3.

The Indians would not quit, as they would answer with a touchdown on only their second play of the next possession. Bryan Brinker would race 64-yards to score a touchdown, cutting the Devils lead to 17-9. The Indians would come up short on a two-point conversion try. "Double tight, double wing, we went back home. That seemed to work for awhile," Saling commented on the Indians second half offense.

Reserve would open their advantage to 24-9 when Ewing hit two passes for 32-yards and 22-yards to set up a 5-yard touchdown run at the 4:59 mark of the third quarter. However, Southern matched the score with a touchdown of their own. Following a 49-yard run by Nathan Melhorn, Brinker would score his second touchdown. This time it was a 14-yard pass that he wrestled away from the Reserve defensive back. The Indians failed again to convert on a two-point conversion to leave the score at 24-15.

The Devils would put the game away with a 9-play, 65-yard drive that ended with another Ewing touchdown run. This time it was a 14-yard jaunt to push the Devils advantage to 30-15. The extra point was no good at the 9:48 point of the fourth quarter.

Southern would not give up. They put together a 6-play drive of 75-yards ending with a spectacular 49-yard run by Nathan Melhorn. Again, the Indians missed the two-point conversion finishing the scoring at 30-21.

Southern will travel to undefeated Leetonia next Friday. The Indian record is now 3-1, and 0-1 in the ITCL.