Zane Trace triumphs over Piketon in nail-biting victory
By: TJ Sweeney
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WOUB) – The Piketon Redstreaks (3-2) travel to Chillicothe to take on the Zane Trace Pioneers (2-3). The Pioneers take the SVL matchup 23-20 and grab their second conference win of the year.
The first quarter was filled with defensive stops, both Piketon and Zane Trace went scoreless, however this would change as soon as the second quarter started.
Zane Trace were the first to put together a scoring drive. Running back Brice Johnson rushes for 32 yards as he converts the crucial 4th down. Johnson finishes what he started and battles into the endzone for a one-yard touchdown for the first score of the game.
Piketon respond in a timely manner; they start this drive off on their own 25-yard line. Running back Buddy Wilson rushes for 10 yards and the Pioneers committed a foul to give the Redstreaks an additional 15 yards, which put them at midfield. The Redstreaks worked their way down the field and eventually find themselves on the 1-yard line. Quarterback Luke Gullion fought his way into the endzone for an easy six points.
Zane Trace received the kickoff and ran it out to their own 30-yard line. Running back Silas Stewart started this drive off with an explosive 29-yard rush. Quarterback Gunnar Mcullough saw that and decided he could do one better. Mcullough rushes for 30 yards before being taken down at the 1-yard line. Johnson completes the job and gets his and the teams second touchdown of the game. The Pioneers spread the love throughout the drive, and it paid off as they went ahead by seven.
Piketon look at the scoreboard and realize they have some work to do. They start this drive on their own 34-yard line. Wilson finds tight end Zack Hannah for a 21-yard reception. Later, Wilson connects with receiver Jayce Johnson for 22 yards. To cap off the drive, Wilson throws a four-yard touchdown to receiver Mason Thacker and the Redstreaks tie this game up at 13 a piece with 29 seconds left in the first half.
But Zane Trace wasn’t done. They marched down the field and where Judah Hanks kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to put the Pioneers up by three.
The first quarter was filled with defensive stops and the second was filled with scoring. The third quarter would bring a completely different theme. Minutes into the second half, Piketon was driving and Gullion threw it, and his receiver bats it up, linebacker Hudson Williams finds the ball and intercepts it at Piketon’s 35-yard line.
McCullough ran for 20 yards to get his team in the red zone. However, on the next play, McCullough fumbles and Piketon takeover at their own 15-yard line.
Piketon drive down the field but ultimately face the same demise as they fumble, and Zane Trace takes over at midfield. Johnson utilizes the field position and rushes for 13 yards. Later in the drive he stumbles forward to convert on 4th down. Stewart fought into the endzone from 2 yards out puts his team ahead by two scores to make it 23-13.
Zane Trace and Piketon then played a little back and forth as both teams turn the ball over.
Zane Trace received the punt at the Piketon 41-yard line. Right away, Johnson took it to the house, but a flag on the play brought it back. A few plays later, Johnson was on the run again, but this time Zack Hannah ripped it out of his hands and ran it to midfield.
Piketon built off it and Guillon ran another touchdown in from one yard out to bring his team within three with five minutes left.
Zane Trace received the kickoff, but the Redstreaks were using the momentum to force the Pioneers to punt. The Redstreaks started this game-deciding drive off at their own 28-yard line. A flag on the first play moved them to the 45-yard line. Guillon kepy Piketon’s hopes alive as he scrambled on 4th and nine to convert. Ultimately, the Redstreaks efforts were to no avail as they turned it over on the next set of downs.
Zane Trace possessed for the final minute of the game and won this SVL game 23-20. Zane Trace will host Huntington next week and Piketon will host Unioto for the third week of conference play.