By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
St. Marys scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to break open a close game
and hand Calhoun a 42-20 homecoming loss Friday night.
For three quarters the game was a see-saw affair with only the Red Devils
inability to convert extra point attempts allowing St. Marys to hold a
slight lead.
But with the Blue Devils on top by four 24-20 (thanks to two Calhoun missed
extra point attempts) the wheels began to come off the wagon for the Red
Devils as penalties and turnovers - a lost fumble and an intercepted pass -
killed any offensive momentum and allowed the Blue Devils to control things.
St. Marys had two long touchdown passes - 31 yards to David Gray and 26
yards to Johnny Riggs - and a 40 yard run by Cole White in the fourth to
break the game open. Ironically the Blue Devils failed on all three extra
point conversion attempts.
St. Marys, 2-4, actually jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter.
The Blue Devils got on the board first when defensive end Justin Nichols
scooped up a blocked Calhoun punt and rambled 24 yards for a touchdown. J.D.
Arnett hit White for the conversion to make it 8-0.
St. Marys made it 16-0 with time running out in the first when Arnett bulled
his way in on a four-yard quarterback keeper. He also added the extra
points.
Then Calhoun's offense caught fire behind the inspired field direction of
Logan Moore.
First Moore teamed up with Kirkland Allen for a couple of good gains - one
for 21 yards and another for 45 - before scoring on a nine-yard run. The
missed conversion left the score at 16-6.
Then, taking advantage of one of three fumbles St. Marys lost in the second
quarter, Calhoun moved down for another touchdown with Cory Metz going in
from seven yards out. Again the failure to convert left the Red Devils on
the short end of the stick 16-12 at halftime.
In the third quarter St. Marys got on the board rather quickly following
stopping Calhoun's first second half offensive thrust as Gray scored on a
five yard run. Barnett hit Austin Bayless for the conversion and St. Marys
was double-up on Calhoun 24-12.
But the Red Devils had plenty of fight and came back quickly as Moore again
scored the touchdown from a yard out. He also added the conversion to keep
Calhoun close but that was as close as the Red Devils were to get en route
to dropping to 1-6 on the season.
Overall Moore had a good game with two rushing touchdowns and 70 yards on 10
carries. He also was seven of 18 passing for 134 yards. His favorite target
was Allen who had three receptions for 81 yards. Nathan Cosgrove added 33 on
two catches while Austin Satterfield added 20 yards on his two catches.
Metz led Calhoun rushers with 87 yards on 13 carries despite not carrying
the ball in the fourth quarter. Cosgrove had nine yards on five carries but
did have a 77 yard touchdown run called back by a penalty.
Calhoun's offense showed some sparks with 16 first downs and 300 yards total
offense. However three lost fumbles, a pass interception and nine penalties
for 65 yards (including one that nullified a touchdown) negated some of the
offensive spark.
Calhoun returns to action on the road at Buffalo next Friday night.
| 
