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XENIA — Any time a Xenia runner gains 240 yards and scores three touchdowns, that’s gotta be a good night for the Buccaneers. Right?

Not on this night.

Sincere Wells may have rolled to three scores and rushed for those career-best 240 yards, but he was out-gained by Sidney’s Isaiah Bowser, who had 324 yards and four touchdowns.

And the game had barely gone a minute into the fourth quarter!

At that time, Sidney (4-0) was in command over Xenia (0-4) by a 49-21 score, but most of the fourth quarter had yet to be played.

A big bruising character on the Super Mario Brothers video games is a thorny-shelled dude named Bowser. Well, Sidney’s Bowser has a helmet and shoulder pads for a shell. No thorns, but he sure can bowl over would-be defenders.

Bowser unofficially had 147 yards gained on the ground and an opening touchdown run for the Yellow Jackets … at halftime. He gained another 177 yards just in the third quarter.

Bowser entered the game leading the GWOC in rushing with 830 yards, and that total was in three games. Beavercreek’s Kaden Wenger is second in the conference with a four-game total of 805.

But for all the bruising Bowser runs, Xenia managed to stay with the undefeated Yellow Jackets through the first half.

The Buccaneers responded to Bowser’s opening TD score with a six-play, 52-yard scoring drive. Sincere Wells broke through the Sidney defensive line for a 27-yard TD. Hayden Falvey’s extra point made it all even at 7-all.

Ratez Roberts hauled in a 55-yard pass from Ryan Dunham for a go-ahead score on Sidney’s very next play from scrimmage after the Bucs’ score, then Bowser had another touchdown run, this time from 11-yards out, to put Sidney in control. Hallie Truesdale nailed all three of her first- half extra point tries and the Jackets were in command, 21-7

Xenia bounced back again, however.

This time, Corey Burnette took a pitchout from quarterback Christian Severt. Burnette then tight-roped along the Sidney sideline and broke in the clear for an 80-yard touchdown run. After a Sidney encroachment penalty on Xenia’s first try at an extra point, Xenia decided to go for a 2-point conversion from the 1-yard line. But the Jackets defense stopped Burnette cold for no score.

Xenia almost scored again on its final drive of the first half.

The Bucs took over the ball with 54.2 seconds to go on their own 38-yard line. Nifty clock management and a few Sidney pass interference penalties enabled Xenia to get down to the Yellow Jacket 23, but the clock expired as Burnette was tackled at the Sidney 15 to end the half.

Both teams return to action on Friday, Sept. 22. Sidney will host West Carrollton in a GWOC crossover game, while Xenia will play at Piqua.

(Partial box score due to deadline.)

Score By Quarters

Sidney 14 7 21 x — 00

Xenia 7 6 8 x — 00

Scoring Plays

S — Isaiah Bowser 9 run (Hallie Truesdale kick)

X — Sincere Wells 27 run (Hayden Falvey kick)

S — Ratez Roberts 55 pass from Ryan Dunham (Truesdale kick)

S — Bowser 11 run (Truesdale kick)

X — Corey Burnette 80 run (run failed)

S — Caleb Harris 27 pass from Dunham (Truesdale kick)

X — Wells 1 run (Wells run)

S — Bowser 46 run (Truesdale kick)

S — Bowser 7 run (Truesdale kick)

(Bowser also scored to start the fourth quarter, with a Truesdale PAT).

Isaiah Bowser drags a bunch of Xenia Buccaneers along for a big gain, during the first half of Friday’s high school football game at Doug Adams Stadium in Xenia. In three quarters of play, Bowser had gained 324 yards and the Sidney Yellow Jackets had a 42-35 lead.
http://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/09/web1_IsaiahBowser_PS.jpgIsaiah Bowser drags a bunch of Xenia Buccaneers along for a big gain, during the first half of Friday’s high school football game at Doug Adams Stadium in Xenia. In three quarters of play, Bowser had gained 324 yards and the Sidney Yellow Jackets had a 42-35 lead. Barb Slone | Greene County News