Vs. Tri-Valley (10/24)
The John Glenn Lil’ Muskies walked into a charged atmosphere at Tri-Valley on Friday night, October 24th, hoping to spoil the Scotties’ bid for another Muskingum Valley League Big School championship. Despite flashes of resilience and a late touchdown drive, the Lil’ Muskies couldn’t overcome a wave of defensive turnovers, falling 42-7 to the defending champions.
It was a tough night on both sides of the ball, but John Glenn’s effort, particularly in the second half, reflected a team that refused to quit even as the scoreboard tilted heavily toward Tri-Valley.
The game opened evenly, with both defenses forcing punts and the first quarter clock grinding down scoreless. But a critical mistake late in the quarter swung the momentum. Tri-Valley’s senior defensive back Ryan Lamonica jumped a pass and returned it for a touchdown, the first of two pick-sixes on the night. From there, the Scotties’ offense found its stride, while John Glenn struggled to establish a rhythm. Despite solid protection from the offensive line and several good completions from quarterback Owen Edwards, the Lil’ Muskies couldn’t convert drives into points before halftime. Meanwhile, Tri-Valley’s freshman running back Leevi Wade broke a 78-yard run, and Lamonica added another interception return for a score, giving the hosts a commanding lead by intermission.
In the second half, the defense tightened, forcing the Scotties into longer drives and limiting the big-play damage that had hurt them early. Linebacker Cam Davis led the defensive push with multiple tackles for loss, while Aiden Tysinger and Eli Ferguson helped bottle up Tri-Valley’s rushing attack late in the third quarter. With the clock winding down in the fourth, the offense finally broke through. Edwards connected with sophomore receiver Jensen Parry on a quick slant that turned into a 25-yard touchdown, the highlight of the night for the visiting sideline. The score sparked energy from the John Glenn bench and traveling fans, even though the final decision was in, and the Scotties took the 42 – 7 win.
Vs. Philo (10/17)
Friday night in New Concord, the John Glenn Lil’ Muskies took the field at home, hoping to build momentum in the MVL, but the visiting Philo Electrics came away with a decisive 31-13 win, dealing John Glenn a tough conference setback. The Lil’ Muskies entered the game with a 4-4 record and were looking to make a statement at home. According to the preview, John Glenn had just bounced back with a convincing win and was seeking to carry that into conference play.
Early on, John Glenn showed flashes of promise, energized by the home crowd, the offense looked to establish a groove, and the defense hoped to clamp down. But Philo struck first and often, taking advantage of opportunities that the Lil’ Muskies couldn’t quite answer. The visitors built up a lead and kept the pressure on both sides of the ball. By halftime, the Electrics had built enough separation that John Glenn faced an uphill climb. The Muskies’ defense fought hard but struggled to stop Philo’s offense when it mattered. Offensively, John Glenn did manage to get into the end zone, but it came too late and too seldom to shift the momentum. And the Electrics went home with the win.
