Page 8 - Dresden Buzz 11-29-24

PAGE 8 | SPORTS NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 12, 2024
West Muskingum Football fell in the Division V Region 19 Semi-

final game to Wheelersburg by Matthew Dotson

termission must have
been on point as West
commanded the third
quarter with a 19-point
scoring streak. The
Dragons were able to
squeeze out one touch-
down but that would
be their only one for
the game as the Torna-
does tacked on one for
the road in the fourth
quarter to take the
victory and keep their
place in the bracket at
33 – 7.
In the OHSAA
Division V, Region 19
Semifinal game held
at Athens High Schools
SPORTS on Friday, November
Joe Burrow Stadium
15th, the Tornadoes
were pushing right out
of the gate as the first
to hit the scoreboard
on a 1-yard touchdown
dive-in play by Carter
Winland to take a 7 – 0
lead with just 4:28 left
on the clock in the first
quarter.
The Pirates
made their move early
in the second quarter
as they bounced back
from the West M touch-
down to make a 13-
West Muskingum’s quarterback Jake Anton handing the ball off to Carter Winland. Matthew Dotson play drive for the goal
line where Elijah Brown would punch
The West Muskingum Tornadoes had it in for a two-yard touchdown but they
a rough start to their football season missed the extra point and still trailed
dropping two games early on, but they the Tornadoes by a score of 7 – 6. Af-
really picked up steam after a very tight ter a failed drive, West Muskingum had
three-point loss to New Lexington. Ev- to punt to Wheelersburg but the punt
ery game after that saw the Tornadoes went askew and the Pirates got the ball
dominating their opponents they beat on the 44-yard line which put them in a
Morgan 42 – 0 at the end of September good position for a short drive to allow
and then came back the next week to Braylon Rucker to make a touchdown
take down Crooksville 41 – 0. In mid and with the two-point conversion pass
October Maysville fell to the Tornadoes they jumped up to a 14 – 7 lead over the
to the tune of 43 – 0 followed by Coshoc- Tornadoes. As the half neared its end
ton at 44 – 0. The toughest opponent the Pirates were just minutes away from
they faced in weeks was when they trav- another touchdown but they were held
eled to Byesville to take on the Meadow- up by the Tornadoes’ defense. Carter
brook Colts but the Colts still couldn’t Smith blocked a field goal attempt by
keep up and the Tornadoes took a 56 the Pirates to keep the game at a one-
– 28 victory in their final regular season touchdown difference heading into half-
game. time.
When West Muskingum hit the play- Just minutes into the third quarter,
offs, they first faced Africentric Early Col- Brown found the endzone again with a
lege on their home field and although short touchdown run and the following
the two teams were equally matched at PAT to take a 21-7 lead over the Torna-
the start, some quick footwork and good does that they held throughout the re-
executions of plays led to a 20 – 12 mainder of the period.
point advantage at halftime. After the Inside the fourth quarter, the Torna-
half, the Tornadoes grabbed two more does came back to life as Jake Anton
touchdowns in the third quarter but then found Carter Smith for a 26-yard pass
were stunted in the final minutes of the play for paydirt dropping their deficit
game by the Nubians’ defenses, but that to 21 – 14 with just over nine minutes
didn’t matter in the end as the Africen- left in the game. West M was not able
tric team was not able to cover the defi- to continue their comeback push as a
cit and they fell to West M 34 – 26. failed snap on a punt went into the en-
Hoping that they were in the play- dzone giving the Pirates a safety which
offs for the long haul West Muskingum they followed abruptly with Ison Em-
moved on to play the Fairland Dragons mett’s 11-yard touchdown to finalize the
in Proctorville. Both teams came to score at 30 – 14 ending the Tornadoes’
a draw in the first quarter of play with playoff run and catapulting the Pirates
the defensive squads doing their jobs into the Regional Finals game against
and keeping the game even at 0 points. Ironton where they fell to the Tigers 55 –
Just before halftime, the Tornadoes 0 to end their own run.
pulled out a touchdown to be the first
on the board and the leader going into
the break. The pep talk during the in-