| By Roger Propst
Calhoun Middle School's record dropped to 2-3 on the season with a 14-0 loss to visiting Braxton Middle at Mt. Zion last Thursday evening.
The game opened with Calhoun receiving the opening kickoff and taking possession at the Calhoun 42-yard line. On the 1st play of the game, quarterback Dylan Mefford hit Caden Arnold on an out pattern on the right side for a nine-yard gain.
Ben Laughlin then carried on four consecutive plays gaining 12 yards before the Red Devils stalled and gave up the ball on downs.
Braxton then began a 14-play drive that stalled at the Calhoun 19 yard-line with Evan Mace stopping the Knight ball carrier on a 4th and 18 play.
The Red Devils gained one first down on its next series, but disaster struck when a bad snap on 4th down allowed punter Corey Metz to be taken down at his own 15-yard line.
Six plays later, Braxton lit up the scoreboard on a 12-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed and the score stood at 6-0 with 2:37 remaining in the 1st half.
After receiving the Knight's kickoff, Calhoun moved for a 1st down at the 49-yard line, but Ben Laughlin fumbled after running for another 1st down as he struggled for additional yards, and Braxton had the ball at its 38.
On the Knights' 1st play from scrimmage, the tailback scampered around the left end and took off for pay dirt, but Calhoun defensive end Caden Arnold ran him down from behind at the Devils' 15-yard line. On the next play, defensive back Evan Mace intercepted at the 5 and Calhoun had dodged a bullet, and the half ended with Braxton leading 6-0.
Braxton took possession of the ball at its 40-yard line after receiving the 2nd half kickoff. On the Knights' first play, the tailback once again sprinted around the right side and headed down the sidelines with a blocker in tow but the play ended with the same result as in the 1st half, Calhoun's Caden Arnold ran down the ball carrier, ran through the blocker and tackled the runner who fumbled the ball into the end zone for a touchback; Calhoun had the ball it its 20-yard line.
The two teams traded possessions with neither team mounting any serious scoring drives until Braxton intercepted a Mefford pass deep in Calhoun territory at the 13-yard line.
Two running plays by the Knights resulted in a touchdown. The two-point conversion run was successful, and the score went to 14-0 with 1:47 remaining in the game.
Calhoun was unable to move the ball after the kickoff, and the final score stood at 14-0.
Calhoun Middle plays Walton Thursday, October 5 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Zion.
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