Braves go for the TD, end Arrows’ win streak

Tecumseh’s Mike McKee is hit in mid-air by Shawnee’s Nick Hines as he leaps over Shawnee’s Steven Sarven while carrying the ball during Friday’s game at Tecumseh.

Staff photo by Bill Lackey Tecumseh’s Mike McKee is hit in mid-air by Shawnee’s Nick Hines as he leaps over Shawnee’s Steven Sarven while carrying the ball during Friday’s game at Tecumseh.

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer 12:12 AM Saturday, October 17, 2009

NEW CARLISLE — Deep in the Arrows’ territory and trailing by three points, the Shawnee High School football team twice passed up the chance to kick a field goal.

“Have you seen us kick?” head coach Rick Meeks said later. “We are erratic. Our kicking game is very suspect.”

So with the ball on Tecumseh High School’s 2-yard line and 12 seconds left, Shawnee called a running play to the right. Shawnee quarterback Evan Storts and goal line specialist Eric DeWitt ran to the left.

Storts officially got the touchdown to send the Braves to a 14-10 Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division win against the previously unbeaten Arrows on Friday, Oct. 16, at Spitzer Stadium.

“I saw a hole and I went in with it, but we both had a hold of (the football),” Storts said. “(DeWitt) can have it. I don’t care.”

It was Tecumseh’s first regular-season loss since Week 9 of the 2007 season, ending an 18-game streak.

In the News-Sun’s Game of the Week, the Braves (6-2, 2-1 CBC Kenton Trail) shut down a Tecumseh offense that scored 301 points in its first seven games. The Arrows finished with 160 yards from scrimmage.

“We weren’t getting the movement that we needed up front,” Tecumseh head coach Kent Massie said. “We missed some opportunities and didn’t block as well as we could’ve. (The Braves’) defense played well. You have to give credit to them.”

Down 10-0, the Braves began their comeback with a 1-yard DeWitt TD with 6:21 left in the game. Then a Nick Hines interception put the Braves on the Arrows’ 45-yard line with 5:29 left to set up the game-winning score.

Tecumseh (7-1, 2-1 CBC Kenton Trail) scored 10 points in the first half behind 86 rushing yards from Dustin Holmes, an 8-yard score from QB Riley Gault and a 27-yard field goal from Karson Williams.

Shawnee’s win is a major boost for its Division III, Region 12 playoff chances. It was No. 10 in the region before the game.

Tecumseh, No. 5 in the D-II state poll, is still in good position in Region 8 despite the loss.

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