Sports
Waterford Loses Chance to Stop Fort Frye
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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For one half, at least, it seemed like Waterford was finally going to be able to end their nine-year long losing streak to rival Fort Frye.
At halftime, the Wildcats (2-1, 1-0) led 19-16 after a strong first half, but eventually fell to the Cadets by a score of 23-19 on Friday night at Waterford High School.
Waterford came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders. In the first quarter alone, the Wildcat defense forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and forced the Cadets into a turnover on downs.
The Wildcats offense also did their part in the opening quarter. Braden Bellville took an option pitch around the left side for a 24-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to give Waterford a 6-0 lead. Six plays later, after recovering a Fort Frye fumble deep in Cadet territory, Peyten Stephens found a leaping Cody Harris in the endzone on 4th and 10 to give the Wildcats a lead 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After a few empty drives from both teams to start the second, Fort Frye finally found the endzone. Tyler Bradford rumbled in for 12 yards out and, after a successful two point conversion, cut the Waterford lead to 13-8 with just over seven minutes to play in the second quarter.
With two minutes to play in the first half, Waterford extended its lead back to double digits by way of a 55-yard connection from Peyten to Bellville. After missing the PAT, the Wildcats held a 19-8 lead.
Fort Frye found success in their two-minute offense to close the first half, driving 70 yards in one minute and twenty-four seconds to score its second touchdown of the game.
Tate Engel hit Braden Heninger on the near sideline, who made a couple Wildcats miss on the way to a 55-yard touchdown. Another successful two-point conversion cut the Waterford lead to just three, 19-16, going into the half.
With seven minutes to play in the third quarter, Fort Frye took its first lead when Bradford scored his second rushing touchdown of the night from nine yards out. The Cadets went up 23-19 and that score stuck until the final whistle.
Waterford was led on offense by Bellville, who finished the night with 133 all-purpose yards, 87 on the ground and 55 in the air, along with scoring twice.
Waterford plays host to Trimble next week in a matchup of TVC-Hocking powers.