Fort Loramie’s Kaleb Bergman (bottom) brings down a Crestview ball carrier as Griffin Mescher gets ready to pounce at Fort Loramie on Friday.
Ryan Harless | Sidney Daily News
FORT LORAMIE – Fort Loramie knocked off the Convoy Crestview Knights 28-21 on Friday at Fort Loramie in a Northwest Conference matchup.
“They made us earn it,” Fort Loramie head coach Spencer Wells said. “They’re really well coached, I was really proud of our guys in the second half.”
Fort Loramie (2-2, 1-0) got on the board early in the game when quarterback Gabe Hart found Carter Eilerman for a 34-yard touchdown reception.
Following a made PAT, Fort Loramie took a 7-0 lead with over 10 minutes to play in the first quarter.
The Knights were forced to punt in their first possession, but Fort Loramie’s special teams made a statement, blocking the punt and giving its offense great field position to start its second drive.
Hart swiftly made good on the special teams assist, throwing a touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage to Maxwell Maurer. A missed PAT gave Fort Loramie a 13-0 lead that it took into halftime.
Crestview got a touchdown early in the third quarter, but Hart negated the score with a touchdown run and a two-point conversion less than a minute later to extend the Fort Loramie lead to 21-7.
“We found a way to run the ball which has been our achilles heel all year,” Wells said. “Defensively we’ve made so much progress and made some huge stops even when they’re put in bad spots.”
Later in the third the Knights added seven on a 12-yard touchdown pass and a converted PAT.
Hart kept control of the offense, getting another short rushing touchdown to open the fourth quarter.
Crestview wouldn’t go down easy, scoring another touchdown to cut the lead to 28-21 and later forcing and recovering a fumble with 1:14 to play in the game.
The Knights were unable to make good on the turnover as Fort Loramie held on to win its first ever NWC game.
“The positive is we got to 2-2 and beat a really good Crestview team despite still not playing our best football,” Wells said. “I think the exciting thing is wondering what it’s going to look like when we clean some things up and get out of our own way a little more.”
With the victory, Fort Loramie moved into a three-way tie for first place in the NWC with Columbus Grove and Lima Central Catholic.
Fort Loramie plays Lima Central Catholic Friday at home at 7 p.m.
Lehman Catholic gets win in the TRC
The Lehman Catholic Cavaliers got their first win in the Three Rivers Conference on Friday when they took down the Milton-Union Bulldogs 35-27 at Milton-Union.
The Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0) trailed early as they trailed the Bulldogs 14-0 before scoring 21 points in the second to take a tie game into the half.
Lehman took the lead late in the third on a 24-yard touchdown pass but missed the PAT for a 27-21 advantage.
Milton-Union looked to respond, but fumbled at midfield which gave the Cavaliers a chance to add eight points at the end of the third quarter.
Lehman gave up another touchdown in the fourth, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Cavaliers held on to the 35-27 lead until time expired.
Lehman takes on Miami East on Friday at 7 p.m. for its second consecutive TRC game.
Anna struggles to get started at Coldwater
The Anna Rockets fell to Coldwater 18-34 in a Midwestern Athletic Conference contest on Friday at Coldwater.
The Rockets (2-2, 0-2) never led in the game, falling behind 0-7 at the end of the first.
Anna had a chance to tie early, but missed a PAT leading to it eventually trailing 6-14 at the half.
After three the Rockets were down 21-6 before being outscored 12-13 in the fourth.
Anna next will play St. Henry at Booster Field in Anna on Friday at 7 p.m.
Reach Sidney Daily News assistant editor Ryan Harless at 937-538-4651, or follow @RyanHarless_ on Twitter
