By Rob Kiser

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lehman quarterback Kameron Barton had directed the Cavaliers ball control offense to perfection Saturday night at Sidney Memorial Stadium against Columbus Grove.

Ironically, it was a punt by the senior and ensuing fumble recovery by Robbie Baker that would put the nail in the Bulldogs coffin in a 28-13 Lehman win.

While, the punishing running of Kaleb Goins inside, with the quick hits of Max Cartwright and Zac Schmitz on the edge had Columbus Grove off-balance all game, Lehman still led just 21-13 midway through the fourth quarter.

And the Cavaliers found themselves in a fourth-and-five from the Bulldog 33.

Barton lofted a punt towards the Columbus Grove goal line. The last bounce was straight sideways and went out of bounds inside the Bulldogs 1-yard line.

“I thought I had kicked it too hard,” Barton said. “It took some kind of crazy bounce. As it turned out, that was huge.”

That’s because on Columbus Grove’s first play, the ball came loose and Baker recovered it in the end zone. Wade Schroeder’s fourth PAT gave Lehman an insurmountable 28-13 lead with 5:45 remaining.

“I think one of our outside linebackers knocked it loose,” Baker said. “I just saw the ball and dived on it. It is great to be able to make a play like that.”

“Robbie (Baker) is a tough kid,” Lehman coach Dick Roll said. “There is no question about that. We have some kids who are banged up and are going to have to play through it. That was a great punt and a big score at that point in the game.”

Neither team could mount a serious threat in the first quarter.

But a 24-yard pass from Barton to David Spearman late in the quarter helped move the ball deep into Bulldog territory.

On the first play of the second quarter, second and nine from the Columbus Grove 20, the Lehman offensive line sealed the corner and Zac Schmitz scooted into the end zone untouched.

The Bulldogs answered with a 96-yard drive, but the PAT was wide, leaving Lehman in front 7-6.

Lehman would have an answer as well.

The Cavaliers marched 74 yards. The drive started with a 41-yard run by Goins, who would finish with 127 yards on 20 carries.

On a fourth-and-nine from the Bulldogs 20, a halfback pass from Schmitz to Corbin Peltier was good for 11 yards, giving Lehman a first-and-goal.

On third and goal from the four, Goins ran wide for the score and Lehman led 14-6 with 1:33 remaining and the Cavaliers took that lead to the locker room.

The Cavaliers began the second half by pounding Goins at the Bulldogs defense.

A 12-play, 65-yard drive took 5:26 off the clock. The sophomore workhorse carried the ball eight times on the drive for 35 yards and took it in the end zone from one-yard out.

On a drive that began with two seconds remaining in the third quarter, Columbus Grove went 40 yards in seven plays. That was after Lehman stopped them at the Cavalier 12 on downs, but couldn’t move the ball and had to punt.

A diving catch by David Creamer in the back of the end zone and a PAT kick by Luke Kohls got the Bulldogs back within 21-13.

After the kickoff, Schmitz had a 17-yard run and Goins rambled for 23 before the drive stalled.

Which set up Barton’s game-sealing punt and the recovery by Baker.

Lehman finished with 234 yards rushing and the defense did its job, coming up with four turnovers.

The combination leaves Lehman 4-1 headed into Friday’s game at Troy Christian.

Be first to comment this article

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved