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Running game propels Sidney to win

Friday, 26 September 2008

By Ken Barhorst

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Feast or famine.

That’s what coach Dan Cairns said about his Sidney offense after the Jackets exploded for a 42-14 win over Fairborn Friday in high school football action at Sidney Memorial Stadium.

An offense that has struggled in a big way the past two-and-a-half games came alive against the Skyhawks, leading to a surprisingly easy win in Greater Western Ohio Conference crossover action.

The Yellow Jackets rolled up 407 yards on the ground and had two running backs with over 100 yards rushing.

Sidney is now even on the year at 3-3 after snapping a three-game losing streak, and faces a big challenge next Friday night at Trotwood. The Rams upset Piqua Friday night.

The loss drops Fairborn to 1-5 on the season.

“It’s either feast or famine for us on offense,” said Cairns. “It’s like we’ve been saying, it’s just a matter of executing, and we haven’t done that since the second half against Beavercreek. We just told the kids, do what you’re coached, absorb it and listen to it.

“I don’t think Fairborn did anything radical,” he added. “We just adjusted on what they were doing. We had success with our halfbacks early, and they took that away. Then our fullbacks started getting some yards.”

Fairborn coach Roy Thobe knew what his team’s problem was.

“We couldn’t stop the run,” said Thobe. “Sidney is a good running team and they do a good job with misdirection. And we didn’t do what we were supposed to do.”

It didn’t help the Skyhawks that they lost four starters to injuries during the game, including wideout Jordan Houser, running back Mark Swope, who scored the team’s first touchdown, tight end Alex Adams and lineman Tony Havens.

Sidney took the opening drive of the game and set the tone for the rest of the night. The Jackets drove 72 yards in just five plays, with Josh Topp covering the last eight with 10:04 remaining in the opening period. It was his 47-yard run on a first down play that keyed the drive.

The Skyhawks looked like they would answer, though. Swope carried for 13 yards on the first three plays from scrimmage, then quarterback Ryan Cook, who threw for 200 yards on the night, hit Camdon Beverly for 33 yards to the Sidney 40. But three plays later, the Skyhawks had been backed up seven yards and were forced to punt, the big play being a sack by Jacob Lambdin for a seven-yard loss.

Fairborn punted from the Sidney 47 and Jack Foy had to retreat all the way back to his six-yard line.

“We were yelling from the sidelines to let it go (into the endzone),” said Sidney head coach Dan Cairns.

It was a good thing Foy couldn’t hear them. He hauled in the kick, headed left, and turned on the Jets to outrun the Skyhawks to the endzone for a 94-yard return and a 14-0 Sidney lead.

“I thought that was big,” said Cairns. “We got the first score, but they moved the ball well when they got it. I think that punt return really took something out of them.”

To their credit, the Skyhawks came back. They punted on their next series, but with the Jackets driving, Houser picked off a Sidney pass and returned it all the way to midfield.

Cook went to work, completing three passes to three different receivers for 37 yards, the last one putting the ball on the 16. On the next play, Swope shook free and scored to cut the lead to 14-7 on the first play of the second quarter.

But the Sidney running continued to be the difference. The Jackets came right back and drove 61 yards in just six plays, with Foy ripping off runs of 29 and 21 yards to set up Topp’s two-yard run with 9:06 left.

On Fairborn’s next series, Matt Kennedy got the first of his two interceptions on his own 19. The Jackets then went 81 yards in eight plays, and this time the pass was key.

Alex Lochard had only two completions in four attempts, and both were on the final scoring drive of the opening half. Zack Michael caught one for 16 yards, and after five running plays put the ball on the 43, Lochard found Michael wide open for a 43-yard scoring strike and a 28-7 halftime lead.

Foy had 97 yards rushing at the half and would finish with 113 on nine carries. Topp had 73 at the half and went on to 116 yards on 11 carries.

Sidney came close to having four players go over 100 yards in the game. In addition to Topp and Foy, fullback Tevin White had 75 yards and fullback TJ. Golden 65.

Sidney added two more scores in the third quarter, a four-yard run by White and a 41-yard run by Golden, and that completed the scoring.

Fairborn added a score on its final possession of the game, and James Black was a workhorse in the 15-play, 80-yard drive. He carried 11 times for 50 yards, setting up Cook’s one-yard run.

Meanwhile, the Jacket defense gave up some passing yards, but held the Skyhawks to just 68 yards on the ground. And of Fairborn’s 200 passing yards, 146 of them came in the first half.

“The defense did a good job,” said Cairns. “Without watching the films, I know Jacob Lambdin had a good game, and Travis Martin had a good game. That was one of the new wrinkles we put in on defense, for Travis. And I thought he got good pressure. And we were all happy to see Matt Kennedy get two picks. At practice, he can’t catch a cold, so that was great to see.”