Cadets hold off Warriors to stay unbeaten in defensive slugfest
By: Noah Cavin
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BEVERLY, Ohio (WOUB)— Defense was the name of the game in the showdown between the Fort Frye Cadets and the visiting Warren Warriors. After a scoreless first half, the Cadets were able to put points on the board in the second half and emerge victorious, winning 16-7.
Fort Frye picked up a first down on their opening drive, but a huge hit from Warren’s Owen Bookman on a third and short forced the Cadets to punt the ball away.
The Warriors’ first possession of the game showed some promise, with quarterback Jacob Sealey running all over the Cadets’ defense and taking the ball into Fort Frye’s territory. The drive was brought to a screeching halt, however, when Fort Frye’s Sebastian Huck intercepted the ball and took it to his own 26-yard line.
Fort Frye was able to move the ball down the field on the ensuing drive, in large part due to wing back Bryndyn Riddle, who seemingly took a handoff every play on said drive. The Cadets marched into Warren’s territory, but a sack from the Warriors’ Owen Thompson gave Fort Frye a second-and-17, and the Cadets got stopped on fourth down.
Sealey continued to run wild for Warren, driving the ball downfield. He later connected with wideout Tanner Pepper on back-to-back plays, picking up two first downs in a row to give the Warriors the ball inside Fort Frye’s 10-yard line. After three unsuccessful plays, Warren found themselves on the 5-yard line on fourth-and-goal. Pepper took a handoff and booked it towards the pylon, but was popped by Fort Frye’s Ayden Holman, stopping the Warriors from scoring, and giving the Cadets the ball on their own 1-yard line.
After yet another impressive showing from Warren’s defense, the Cadets were forced to punt. Fort Frye’s punter, Clay Greuey, booted the ball 60 yards down the field. The Warriors, unable to do anything with their field position, decided to kneel the first half out, sending both teams to the locker room with the score deadlocked 0-0.
Warren came out of the gates swinging in the second half. Big rushing plays from Thompson and Sealey put the Warriors in a scoring position, and after 28 scoreless minutes, Sealey tossed the ball to Pepper, who walked in the end zone, putting Warren up 7-0.
The Cadets quickly responded as Huck fired the ball to Grady Hesson for a 28-yard touchdown, tying the game up at seven points apiece.
The Cadets’ defense came up with a safety early in the fourth quarter, which gave Fort Frye all the momentum in the game.
After a defensive stop, the Cadets once again found the end zone as Clayton Miller ran the ball from two yards out to score. The Cadets extended their lead to nine points, leading 16-7.
The Warriors were unable to put any more points on the board, and Fort Frye was able to hold on, winning 16-7.