EBER — The Miami Trace Panthers bounced back quite nicely from a loss last week at London to post a 35-3 win over the visiting McClain Tigers Friday night.

It was Homecoming, 2008, and queen Amy Frost and her court presided over a solid Panther victory.

Miami Trace is now 2-2 in the SCOL and 4-4 overall. The Panthers host Hillsboro next week for Senior Night.

McClain falls to 1-4 in the SCOL, 2-6 overall. The Tigers have another tough challenge ahead next week when they bus up to Plain City to take on the now 7-1 Jonathan Alder Pioneers. Alder lost to Delaware Hayes Friday night, 21-14.

“McClain presents so many weapons,” Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard said. “(Brian Pitzer’s) a good quarterback. It looked like at one point he got banged up out there, but when he steps into his throws, he can put the ball on the money.

“We got some pressure on him tonight,” Bernard said. “It’s hard for a quarterback to be throwing off his back foot. Luckily, we were able to (pressure Pitzer) a little bit.

“Offensively, I thought we did a nice job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” Bernard said. “We ran the ball well and threw the ball extremely well.” Tom Armstrong and Grant Jones both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark Friday for the Panthers.

“Our passing game was clicking tonight, as well,” Bernard said.

“I thought Greenfield played a good football game,” Bernard said. “We got some turnovers at critical times and we were able to come away with the victory. That was a nice win for our kids.”

“We tried to be balanced offensively, run it, throw it, spread (the defense) out and find some seams inside,” McClain head coach Randy Closson said. “It just seemed like, early with our running game, we were just a block away from hitting a hole and getting a big run. The Trace defense did a nice job of making the plays and containing our offense.

“When we did move the ball, as we did some tonight, and got down into scoring range, we had a couple of turnovers inside the five-yard line,” Closson said. “We can’t do those kinds of things and beat a good team.

“Trace’s defense stepped up tonight and controlled us and controlled the ball game,” Closson said.

At Panther Stadium Friday night, the Panthers got the scoring underway with a one-yard touchdown run by senior Ryan Garland. His twin brother, Brett, kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead at the 9:31 mark of the first quarter.

That score was set up by a 42-yard pass from senior quarterback Caleb Redding to senior Jake Clay.

After an exchange of punts, McClain had a booming 45-yard field goal by senior Adam Hollar with 3:44 to play in the first quarter. It proved to be the only points the Tigers would muster on this cool, clear Oct. 10 evening in Fayette County.

The Panthers fumbled on their next possession, the only turnover of the game by Miami Trace. It was caused by junior Logan Wise and recovered by senior Adam Cokonougher with 2:36 to play in the first quarter.

A roughing the passer penalty on the Tigers set up a 27-yard touchdown run by Panther junior Grant Jones, bursting up the middle of the McClain defense and reaching paydirt with 8:22 remaining until the half. Garland’s kick upped the count to 14-3, Panthers.

McClain’s next drive had the look of a potential scoring threat as they went from their own 16-yard line down to Miami Trace’s 30.

However, senior Trevor Milstead picked off Tiger senior quarterback Brian Pitzer at the three-yard line with 6:24 to play in the half.

Again the teams exchanged punts and it appeared it might remain 14-3 at the break.

But the Panthers had other ideas as they took over first and 10 and their own 49-yard line with 1:24 left until halftime.

Four plays later and Redding connected with Clay again, this time for a 29-yard touchdown that found Clay virtually alone to make the catch and take it over the goal line for a 20-3 tally. Garland’s kick was true, making it 21-3 with just 39 seconds to play in the half.

The Panthers have been concerned, according to head coach Mike Bernard, about coming out somewhat less than 100 percent in the third quarter in recent games.

Friday night, though they did not score in the third quarter, the Panther defense was keyed up against McClain’s spread offense, determined to keep the Tigers from the end zone.

With 6:47 to play in the third quarter, McClain set up shop at their own 16-yard line.

Nearly stalling out, Cameron Coleman executed a successful fake punt, running for the first down on fourth and one at the 37.

A personal foul on the Panthers helped the Tigers move the ball deeper into Miami Trace territory.

On a third and seven at the Panther 27, Pitzer hit Jon Johnson for a first down at the 19.

The very next play, however, was a Pitzer pass that was intercepted by senior Alex Marting at the Panther four-yard line, again denying the Purple and Gold.

The Panthers in essence put the game away by mounting a 96-yard drive, 12-play drive, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Redding to Ryan Garland with 8:28 left in the game. Brett Garland’s kick made it 28-3, Panthers.

It seemed from this point that might be all the scoring, but senior Tom Armstrong capped the Homecoming victory with a 21-yard touchdown run and Garland’s kick made what proved to be the final, 35-3. That score came with 3:41 left in the game.

“We’re beat up right now,” Closson said. “We don’t have very good depth. Our quarterback (Pitzer) got rolled in a pile. We were just kind of out of sync all night. Trace jumped around quite a bit out there defensively and threw a lot of different fronts at us and caused us some issues.

“This series of games with Clinton-Massie last week, Trace tonight and Jonathan Alder next week, that’s a stretch of some very physical football games,” Closson said. “We’re going to have to get ourselves healthy in the coming week and get ready for another tough game up at Jonathan Alder.”

Bernard looked ahead to next week’s opponent.

“It’s Senior Night and Hillsboro is coming in,” Bernard said. “That’s always special, no matter who you’re opponent is. These young men who are seniors have invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears into our program and it’ll be nice to honor them next week.”

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