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Zane Trace quarterback Ben Nichols (2), left, is brought down by the Piketon defense during their game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]

Piketon Scores 20 Unanswered, Survives This Season’s Biggest Challenge Yet

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PIKETON, Ohio (WOUB) — The undefeated Redstreaks of Piketon faced their first true adversity of the season as they hosted the one-loss Zane Trace Pioneers on Friday night.

Out of the gate, it was all Pioneers. Quarterback Ben Nichols marched the Zane Trace offense all the way down the field on the ground for a touchdown to cap off an assertive first drive. To make matters worse for Piketon, Zane Trace then recovered the ensuing muffed kickoff by Piketon.

With possession deep in Redstreaks territory, the Pioneers were able to quickly convert on the ground to make it a 14-0 game without Piketon even running an offensive play.

This was the first adversity Piketon has faced all season. After outscoring their first three opponents by 78 points, being down two scores was unfamiliar territory for the Redstreaks.

In their first offensive drive, the Redstreaks were able to capitalize through the air, finishing the drive with a 20-yard lob from quarterback Levi Gullion to John Burton, putting the Redstreaks on the board. After an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt, the Pioneer lead was cut to one possession.

Gullion went on to play with impressive composure for the rest of the first half, leading the Redstreak offense to two more touchdowns, combining for 20 unanswered points. But, as time ran out, the Pioneers were able to get into field goal range and convert the kick to make it 20-17 game going into halftime.

Zane Trace’s Carter Hill (24) tackles Piketon’s Levi Gullion (2, center) during a football game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Piketon’s Camren Loar (16) signs the number four after he and his team extended Piketon's undefeated streak to 4-0 by defeating Zane Trace 28-24 at their home field in Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. Loar intercepted a pass in the last seconds of the game, nearly ending the game with a touchdown attempt that fell a few yards short. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
The Piketon Redstreaks enter their home field at Piketon, Ohio for their game against the Zane Trace Pioneers, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Redstreaks beat the Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Zane Trace’s Blake Philips (4) falls as Piketon’s Braiden Dunham grabs his foot during a football game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Zane Trace’s Nalin Robinson (80) congratulates his teammate Daniel Barnhart (44) for scoring a touchdown against Piketon during a football game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Piketon’s Cameron Loar (16) drops a pass and fumbles the ball, allowing the Zane Trace to take possession of the ball during a football game in Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Piketon’s Leevi Stanley (7) grabs Zane Trace’s Daniel Barnhart (44) and trips him during a football game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Piketon’s Camren Loar (16) intercepts a pass in the last seconds of the game against Zane Trace at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. Loar fell a few yards short of running a touchdown off of his catch, but Piketon Redstreaks still beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]
Piketon’s Jayden Thacker(44) rushes past Zane Trace’s Carter Hill (24) for Piketon’s second touchdown of the game at Piketon, Ohio, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Piketon Redstreaks beat the Zane Trace Pioneers 28-24, continuing their 4-0 undefeated streak. [Jintak Han | WOUB]

Neither of these teams displayed an ounce of quit throughout the second half of this conference battle. Zane Trace was able to capitalize on a tipped interception and recover a Piketon fumble to retake the lead 24-20 at the end of the third quarter.

Gullion continued to be the story of the night — he was able to make it happen with both his arm and his feet. With 10 minutes to play, he marched the Redstreaks into the end zone with a 5-yard run to retake the lead.

As the clock wound down and the Pioneers threatened to score, Piketon linebacker Camren Loar sealed the deal for the Redstreaks picking off Ben Nichols as time expired.

With yet another heartbreaking loss, Zane Trace falls to .500 on the season. They will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Chillicothe to play Huntington.

As for Piketon, the undefeated dream remains alive. With this win, Piketon secured the No. 8 spot in Div. V for this season’s first AP Ohio football poll. Gullion and the rest of the Redstreak squad look to keep the magic going as they travel to Chillicothe to play Unioto next Friday.