Unioto falls in first round for second-straight season
By: Jack Zwiezinski
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WOUB) – The Unioto Shermans hosted the West Holmes Knights in the first round of playoff matchups.
The Knights took the ball to start the game and started to march down the field and into Sherman territory. The Knights made it to the Shermans’ 10-yard line before quarterback Morgan Smith scrambled out of the pocket and weaved his way past the Unioto defense to put the Knights on the board. 7-0 West Holmes.
The Shermans got fired up as they got the ball back and quickly made it into the Knights side of the field before Unioto running back Cody Braden took the ball on the 39-yard line and punched it in on the second play of the drive. Unioto and West Holmes were tied 7-7 halfway through the first quarter.
On the next drive, West Holmes started swiftly marching down the gridiron. Knight Morgan Smith handed the ball off to Brock Gallion who outsped the Unioto defense with a 42-yard rushing touchdown. West Holmes took the lead again 14-7.
Unioto jumped into action, crossing the field on a timer as the first quarter was coming to an end. The Shermans managed to line up on the 5-yard line before the quarter ended, but they kept the momentum and Cody Braden punched it in for his second touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to tie it up 14-14.
West Holmes was given the ball again and Knight wide receiver Lynn Cline took the ball and was tripped. Cline barely got his hands across the endzone and put his team back up 21-14.
Unioto was not ready to go home yet, as Isaac Coy lined up as quarterback and snapped the ball. Coy was avoiding pressure and needed to get the ball off, launching it up for Sherman receiver Blake Hoops, who managed to get his hands on the ball while surrounded by three defenders to put them in the Knights’ territory.
The Shermans followed up the huge pass with a quick handoff to Cody Braden who got in for his third touchdown of the night, and Unioto’s third. Unioto and West Holmes were tied 21-21 at halftime.
The second half of the game shifted to defense, with one touchdown scored in the entire second half. The West Holmes Knights managed to overtake the Unioto Shermans, winning 28-21.