Sports
Recap: Athens Light Up The Scoreboard, Defeat Granville 65-14 [Slideshow & Video]
By: Sean Neidig
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Once the playoffs roll around, the stakes get higher, the teams are better and the games should be closer – but don’t tell that to the Athens Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (11-0) did what they do best and steamrolled the Granville Blue Aces (8-3), 65-14 at home.
The red-hot Athens offense could not be cooled despite the frigid temperatures and scored more than 60 points for the sixth time this season, once again fueled by seniors Joe Burrow and Trae Williams. Coming into this game, Granville had only allowed more than 20 points three times this season.
Williams had five rushing touchdowns on the night and 266 yards, 209 of which came in the first half. Burrow led an Athens aerial attack that was unstoppable, passing for 285 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, Athens had 650 offensive yards.
Junior Zacciah Saltzman was Burrow’s leading man, bringing in seven receptions for 115 yards. Heath Wiseman caught two scores and Ryan Luehrman hauled in another.
Burrow opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, a 16-yard strike to Ryan Luehrman in the back middle of the end zone.
Williams ran his first score from one yard out on Athens’ second possession and got his second on Athens’ third possession, from 10 yards. On the ensuing kickoff, the Granville return man fumbled and the Bulldogs recovered the ball in the end zone to put Athens up 27-0.
Granville had six turnovers on the night, including four interceptions by quarterback Kyle Zies. The Blue Aces didn’t get on the board until 30 seconds into the second quarter, when running back Jett Nye ran in a touchdown from eight yards out. Nye also caught a 28 yard score with 21 seconds left until halftime for Granville’s only points of the night.
The Bulldogs went into halftime leading 48-14 and Burrow attempted only five passes after the break, as Athens ran the ball to keep the clock rolling.
The Bulldogs take on the No. 1 seed Tri-Valley Scotties (11-0) next Friday at 7:30 p.m.