Sports
Fort Frye goes to the Region 19 finals after defensive win against Columbus Academy
By: Jackie VanHoose
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BEVERLY, Ohio (WOUB) – The Columbus Academy Vikings took a drive down south for the Region 19 semifinals as they took on the Fort Frye Cadets. After a hard defensive battle, the Cadets protected their home turf and their spot in the playoffs with a 19-7 win.
Fort Frye would receive the kickoff to start but would fumble on their first drive, allowing Columbus Academy to start on the 16-yard line. The Vikings quarterback Michael Tishkoff would make good use of their first drive with a pass to wide receiver Charlie Pizzotti, who would run 65 yards for the first down to get them on Fort Frye’s side of the field.
While the ball would end up in the endzone, it would end up getting called back and on the next down, the Cadets would pick the ball off and get all the way to the 49 yard line before being stopped. Fort Frye would come up short in that drive, leaving the first quarter scoreless as defense was truly taking over the show and would for the remainder of the game.
The second quarter began with a Columbus Academy turnover and Fort Frye chose to capitalize. Running back Wyatt Ebb would get his hands on the ball and push through multiple Viking defenders to get the Cadets to the fourth yard line, leaving a great position for fellow running back Gavin Rauch to punch in the first touchdown of the game. There would be consistent turnovers in a hard defensive battle for the rest of the half, leaving the score at 7-0 Fort Frye as the teams entered the locker room.
The Vikings started the second half with the ball but had a third and out. Not satisfied with that, wide receiver LJ Ashford would catch his own team’s punt, once again giving them an opportunity. The hope given to them in that possession were quickly dashed, however, as Cadet safety Adyric Wynn intercepted the ball on that drive and Rauch would once again launch himself across the field for 61 yards. That drive ended in a missed field goal attempt, and another turnover by the Vikings would end the third quarter.
It took until the end of the game for these teams to bring on that offensive performance, but it was clear that it was here as the quarter began with another Wynn interception. The Cadets’ fullback Tytan Walker would take this chance to run it up the middle and put Fort Frye up 13-0. Without missing a beat, the Vikings’ ball would then be intercepted by running back Kylor Beardsley, allowing for another Walker touchdown.
Up 19-0 with less than half the quarter left, Columbus Academy wasn’t about to give up, and fullback Ethan Buckey finally found the endzone for the Vikings to put them on the board. Columbus Academy would attempt an onside kick to give themselves a fighting chance with four minutes left, but it would be caught by Fort Frye, and they’d run out the clock to win 19-7.
Columbus Academy’s season ends here with a record of 8-4, having left an incredible defensive performance on the field to cement a good year. Fort Frye advances to the Region 19 final next week against Ironton at a neutral site for a chance at the championship.