Sports
Philo Holds Off West Muskingum 20-6
< < Back toThe West Muskingum Tornados battled hard with the Philo Electrics on Friday, but left Duncan Falls empty-handed as the Electrics walked away with the 20-6 victory
Both offenses showed off their strengths on the ground. The Electrics (1-0) started off the game moving down the field quickly, mixing it up with a series of runs and short passes. Junior quarterback Cody Wickham put Philo on the board early with a 21-yard rush into the end zone with 7:57 left in the first quarter. Wickham finished the game with 15 rushes for 41 yards. The Electrics showed the initial power, but then the Tornados showed it right back.
West Muskingum’s (0-1) Tyler Gibson scampered for 59 yards, putting the Tornados in the red zone. A few plays later Mirgon called his own number and punched it in from one-yard out with 4:26 left in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked, leaving Philo with a 7-6 lead.
Later in the second quarter, the Philo offense put a solid drive together all the way down to West Muskingum’s 14-yard line with 3:23 left in the half. However, the Tornados’ defense stalled the drive and prevented a score.
But on their next possession, the Electrics worked their way back to the end zone with a 12yard pass from Wickham to Dakota McElfresh that bumped the score to 14-6 with 23.7 seconds left in the half.
On West Muskingum’s first possession, Philo’s Nathan Baker intercepted a pass from Mirgon, putting the Electrics at the West Muskingum 29-yard line with 10:30 left in the third quarter. Philo could not convert on fourth and four putting the ball back in West Muskingum’s hands, but not for long.
Wickham delivered a pounding tackle to West Muskingum’s Seth Mirgon forcing a fumble that was recovered by Philo’s Drake Dozer at the West M 8-yard line. Mirgon had to be assisted off the field after the tackle.
When play resumed Philo’s Wyatt Harrop took the handoff from Wickham to the house for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter, pushing the score to the final of 20-6.
Philo travels to Licking Valley (0-1) next Friday at 7 p.m., and West Muskingum takes on MVL-opponent Sheridan (1-0) at home at 7:30 p.m.
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