Athens stays perfect after a beatdown in Pomeroy
By: Seth Lee
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POMEROY, Ohio (WOUB) — The Meigs Marauders (4-2, 2-1) hosted the Athens Bulldogs (6-1, 2-0) in a top-of-the-TVC-Ohio matchup. The Bulldogs dominated the Marauders from the start and won 35-7.
Meigs is coming off a tough loss against TVC-Ohio frontrunner Nelsonville-York last week, 42-0. Athens, on the other hand, is riding a four-game win streak, most recently beating Warren 40-7.
Meigs elected to receive and immediately drive downfield, behind the legs of Owen Tracy and Gunnar Cleland, and eat up ten minutes. The Bulldog defense would stand tall with a goal-line stand, forcing a fourth-and-23 and stumping the Marauder offense.
Athens would struggle on offense, throwing a pick on their second play of the game. Tracy would end the Bulldog drive, giving Meigs the ball back on the 45.
The Bulldogs would fight back with an interception of their own, as Zion Mujibi would take the top off a Cleland pass to give Athens the ball back.
The rest of the first quarter would end tied at zero after both teams were forced to punt on back-to-back drives.
Luke Pero and the Athens Bulldogs get the game started in the second quarter with a goal-line carry to put Athens up 7-0.
The Bulldogs’ momentum continued rolling with a 48-yard QB keeper from Briar Thomas to extend the lead to 14-0 after a failed fourth-down attempt from Meigs gave Athens preferable field position.
Meigs would not sit idly as Cleland would find Griffin Hudson on a deep ball to set up Tracy on a 19-yard TD reception to cut the lead to one score.
Athens put their foot down with a Tyrig Cunningham jet sweep from the one-yard line with just 24 seconds left in the half to put the Bulldogs back up 14, 21-7.
Meigs would try a deep ball and fail as Cunningham would seal the half on an interception at midfield.
The third quarter was full of smashmouth football. The Marauders could not stop Thomas, as he pushed in another QB keeper to add to the Bulldog lead, 28-7 with just three minutes left in the quarter.
Meigs would continue to stay silent after multiple drives ending to no avail. Another Cunningham touchdown put this game to rest from 36 yards out, before Jack Fisher would intercept Cleland to officially end the game. Athens wins 35-7
Athens will ride their momentum against Wellston in The Plains on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. While Meigs will host Minford next week in the middle of a three-week homestretch for the Marauders.