2009 Week #7 in the ITCL
"Rebels Hold On For Win at Range"
North Lima - It wasn't quite the same as the previous few seasons, but the South Range Raiders showed a lot of pride in their game with Crestview before bowing to the first place Rebels 31-28. The Rebels used other weapons beside Carter Hill as they scored three touchdown in the second half to beat the Raiders.
The game would begin with the Raiders seizing the early momentum by scoring first on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Vince Miller to James Nell at the 3:01 mark of the first quarter. The Rebels would then cut into the lead with a Tristan Reynolds 27-yard field goal making it 7-3 Raiders.
Then a track meet broke out. The Raiders would score on the third play of they're next possession on a Miller to Nell 68-yard touchdown pass down the center of the field. Crestview would answer right back with a 4-yard touchdown run by Adam Britton to make the score 14-10 Raiders with 4:48 left in the half. On the night Britton rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Crestview would take the lead midway through the third quarter when they would drive 73-yards on just seven plays culminating in a Britton 35-yard run. The Rebels would have a chance to score again quickly when they intercepted a Raider pass at the South Range 27-yard line, but the Raiders defense came up with a big stop to get the ball back on downs.
Crestview would score again early in the fourth quarter when Carter Hill would run around right end from 2-yards out to push the Rebels advantage to 24-14. However, South Range would not go away as they would match the score with a 7 play drive of 59-yards. Floyd Kenney would plunge in from 1-yard out with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Crestview would answer right back as they drove 82-yards on only 5-plays with Hill hitting Adam Coppock on a 10-yard pass. The score would put the Rebels up 31-21 with 5:39 left in the game.
The Rebels had a chance to run out the clock but a fumble with just 1:43 gave the Raiders the ball at their own 37. On the next play, Miller would hit Nell again over the middle. Nell would break a tackle and ramble 63-yards for a touchdown to cut the Rebel lead to 31-28. On the night Miller would be 8 of 13 passing for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns.
An on-side kick would bounce around and a big pile would gather at the fifty yard line. Crestview would come up with the ball and run out the clock for the victroy. Carter Hill would end the night with 11 of 16 passing for 193 yards passing and 1 touchdown.
The Crestview Rebels survived a scare form South Range before they were able to pull out a hard fought 31-28 win. Ironically that is the same score that they beat South Range last year. United may have shocked many when they beat the first place Mineral Ridge Rams 11-10 in a thrilling contest in Hanoverton. The lost leaves the Rebel in first place by themselves.
The McDonald Blue Devils rolled past Sebring 42-0, while Western Reserve destroyed arch-rival Jackson-Milton 60-8 to set up a first place showdown between these two foes. The Wellsville Tigers came up with a great effort to knock off the previously first place team Leetonia 18-0, leaving McDonald and Reserve tied for first place.
Columbiana got revenge on the Springfield Tigers as they survived a tremendous game by winning 13-7. While East Palestine got back to their winning ways by beating Lisbon 41-7, and Lowellville made it three wins in a row when they downed the Southern Indians 20-7. The win puts the Rockets tied for second place in the ITCL Lower Tier.
Next week should be yet another great one in this 2009 season. A leader in the Lower Tier will be decided, and playoff positions should become clearer. Make sure to check ITCLFootball.net for our coverage!