Home Notice Box Sports Beavercreek comeback comes up short

Beavercreek comeback comes up short

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MIAMISBURG — If a postseason award was given to a football team for best performance in a losing effort, the Beavercreek Beavers would have clinched it Thursday in Miamisburg.

Down 18 points at halftime, the Beavers were within one score and had all the momentum late in the third quarter before a Miamisburg surge led to a 49-26 defeat Greater Western Ohio Conference action.

OK, that in itself isn’t worthy of much ballyhoo.

But consider ….

— The Beavers had 188 rushing yards, led by Quentin Youngblood’s 88 and Spencer Johnson’s 83.

— It was Beavercreek’s second-highest rushing total this season, second only to the 360 in a 56-23 win over Ponitz.

— The 26 points scored is the second-highest output this season (see Ponitz).

— The Beavers scored on a pair of touchdown passes for the second time (yup, Ponitz). Owen Ranley hauled in both.

— Defensively, the Beavers had an interception and recovered an onside kick, and forced quarterbacks Brock Vaughn and Preston Barr into a lot of scrambling situations. C.J. Crawford was all over the place, recording 12 total tackles, eight solo. Brent Couch had eight tackles, six solo.

“I think our kids fought,” Coach Marcus Colvin said. “I think we ran the ball well tonight. We just didn’t finish.”

One such failure to finish loomed large.

Down 28-17 late in the third quarter after a 15-yard TD pass from Spencer Johnson to Ranly, the Beavers (3-5 overall, 1-4 GWOC) recovered an onside kick and started from the Miamisburg 47. Three Miamisburg penalties and solid running by Johnson allowed the Beavers to get to the Miamisburg six. On a third and goal, Johnson scored on a run, but a holding play negated the score and the Beavers eventually had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Shaun Morse to make the score 28-20 with 3:27 left.

The Beavers attempted a squib kick, which appeared to work as the ball bounced all the way to the 10 where a Viking picked up the ball. Unfortunately for Beavercreek, he ran it all the way to the Beavercreek 38 as a couple coaches screamed for a block in the back penalty. Five plays later the Vikings were up 35-20.

Miamisburg picked off a pass on the next Beavercreek drive, started from the Beaver 19, and scored on the fourth play — a 14-yard TD pass to Jackson McGohan, his fourth of the game. That made the score 42-20 after three.

The Vikings (4-4 overall, 2-3 GWOC) added another score with 3:14 left in the game on a four-yard run by Drew Copsey.

Beavercreek closed the scoring on a perfect 34-yard slant pass from Johnson to Ranly. Riley Rassmussen had a pair of carries for 14 yards to help the Beavers drive.

The Vikings led, 7-0, on a two-yard TD pass to McGohan. After a ‘Creek fumble, McGohan hauled in a 16-yard pass to make it 14-0 with 2:05 left in the first.

Crawford got the Beavers first touchdown on the next drive, scoring on a two-yard run. Miamisburg answered with a 28-yard touchdown catch by McGohan to make it 21-7. After a Beavercreek punt, Vaughn hit Conner Smith with a 28-yard pass to make it 28-7 with 2:08 left.

“84 is a problem,” Colvin said. “We let them convert too many third downs that were manageable. (But) they had to earn some of the touchdowns.”

Beavercreek, which is all but eliminated from playoff consideration, hosts Northmont Friday while the Vikings, who are still in the playoff hunt, are at Springfield.

Owen Ranly (2) looks to get downfield after catching a screen pass late in the first half. Ranly caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the third quarter to bring the Miamisburg lead down to 28-17.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0055-1.jpgOwen Ranly (2) looks to get downfield after catching a screen pass late in the first half. Ranly caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the third quarter to bring the Miamisburg lead down to 28-17.

Quentin Youngblood (1) recovers his helmet after it was taken off during a Miamisburg tackle attempt.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKedited2DSC_0029-1.jpgQuentin Youngblood (1) recovers his helmet after it was taken off during a Miamisburg tackle attempt.

Lennox Baxter (22) fakes a handoff from Spencer Johnson (10).
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0030-1.jpgLennox Baxter (22) fakes a handoff from Spencer Johnson (10).

Knocking the ball away from the Miamisburg receiver is Brent Couch (12).
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0041-1.jpgKnocking the ball away from the Miamisburg receiver is Brent Couch (12).

Jackson McGohan caught four touchdown passes for Miamisburg in the contest. The Vikings led 28-10 at halftime, but Beavercreek scored a touchdown, recovered an onside kick, and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive to bring the lead down to eight before Miamisburg scored the next 21 points to retake control.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0044-1.jpgJackson McGohan caught four touchdown passes for Miamisburg in the contest. The Vikings led 28-10 at halftime, but Beavercreek scored a touchdown, recovered an onside kick, and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive to bring the lead down to eight before Miamisburg scored the next 21 points to retake control.

Spencer Johnson (10) tries to get through the tackle attempt of Miamisburg defenders.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0052-1.jpgSpencer Johnson (10) tries to get through the tackle attempt of Miamisburg defenders.

CJ Crawford drives through the Miamisburg ball carrier to make the tackle in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game. Beavercreek wasn’t able to stop the Vikings’ offense enough on the road in GWOC play as the Beavers fell 49-26.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0116-1.jpgCJ Crawford drives through the Miamisburg ball carrier to make the tackle in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game. Beavercreek wasn’t able to stop the Vikings’ offense enough on the road in GWOC play as the Beavers fell 49-26.

Brent Couch (12) takes down the Miamisburg runner in the second half of Thursday’s game as his teammates run in for support.
https://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/10/web1_CMYKeditedDSC_0069-1.jpgBrent Couch (12) takes down the Miamisburg runner in the second half of Thursday’s game as his teammates run in for support.

By Scott Halasz

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Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.