Fort Frye handles business in playoff opener
By: Eli Baxter
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BEVERLY, Ohio (WOUB) — The Fort Frye Cadets began their playoff campaign at home against the Piketon Redstreaks. Fort Frye took the win in dominant fashion, 37-0, to advance to next week’s regional semi-finals.
The Cadets quickly got an early 7-0 lead after their first drive ended in a short touchdown run by Gavin Rauch. Piketon quickly was shut down on their first drive. The punted back to the Cadets after a three-and-out. Fort Frye would once again capitalize on the short field possession and score once more. This time in the air, Grady Hesson found Wyatt Erb for a 15-yard passing touchdown. The Cadets would tack on an additional two-points after a successful two-point conversion attempt.
In the second quarter, it was more of the same. 15 more points scored by the home team with an addition of two big defensive plays by Fort Frye. Kylor Beardsly would begin the defensive highlights with a huge punchout causing a fumble and giving the ball back to the Cadets. They may not have capitalized on that possession, but it halted a long drive by the Redstreaks.
Near the end of the half, Rauch would find the end zone again this time on a punch in from one yard out. Next Redstreaks possession ended in an interception by Cadet’s cornerback Clayton Tullius. This would set up yet another Erb touchdown, this time on the ground. Tullius would get points of his own on the ensuing two-point conversion, giving Fort Frye a 30-point lead heading into the break.
Hesson would end the scoring for the night with a short-scoring pass to Sam Bricker for the 37th point of the night. Fort Frye’s Head Coach Eric Huck credited the dominant win to the team’s energy heading into the matchup.
“I thought our guys were really ready to play,” Coach Huck said. “They were ready to play, and it meant a lot to them to be back on this field [Fort Frye Cadet Stadium] in the playoffs.”
The Cadets will host the Columbus Academy Vikings in next week’s game. The Vikings defeated Worthington Christian in their last outing, 23-21. Columbus Academy ended their season 7-3 and second in the Central Buckeye Conference.