Last week’s loss motivates Tecumseh in rout of Tippecanoe

Arrows hold Red Devils without a first down until third quarter.

Tecumseh's Wes Henderson (25) signals a touchdown as teammate Kyle Sanning (not pictured) is brought down in the end zone by Tippecanoe defenders Jake Budding (35) and Jakob Schumann (9) during the Arrows' 26-0 win Friday, Oct. 23.

Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic Tecumseh's Wes Henderson (25) signals a touchdown as teammate Kyle Sanning (not pictured) is brought down in the end zone by Tippecanoe defenders Jake Budding (35) and Jakob Schumann (9) during the Arrows' 26-0 win Friday, Oct. 23.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Tippecanoe vs. Tecumseh

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By Jeff Gilbert, Contributing writer Updated 1:45 AM Saturday, October 24, 2009

NEW CARLISLE — If this is what unity looks like for the Tecumseh High School football team, then it’s going to take a lot more than Tippecanoe had Friday, Oct. 23, to get between the Arrows and their desire to win.

The Arrows shook off last week’s bitter defeat to Shawnee and dominated the Red Devils for a 26-0 Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division victory at Spitzer Stadium.

Arrows head coach Kent Massie said last week’s loss, which broke an 18-game regular season winning streak, served as a unifier for his team in what he said was the best week of practice this season.

“We came together, put our foot down and said we have to get better,” Massie said.

The unity showed not only in how well the Arrows played but also in the enthusiasm on the sideline as they built a 13-0 halftime lead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Dustin Holmes and 2-yard score by Kyle Sanning.

“We knew we had to be pumped up for this game,” said junior Mike McKee, who made big plays on defense and contributed to a powerful running game on offense.

Tecumseh (8-1, 3-1) is in a three-way tie for the division lead with Tippecanoe (7-2, 3-1) and Bellefontaine (8-1, 3-1), which beat Shawnee 19-14 on Friday. The Arrows now have an inside track to host a first-round Division II, Region 8 playoff game.

But playoff positioning was not foremost in the minds of the Arrows this past week. Losing the way they did when Shawnee scored twice in the fourth quarter to beat them put big chips on their collective shoulders, and the rival Red Devils paid the price.

Tecumseh did not allow a first down until Tippecanoe’s second possession of the third quarter. The Red Devils gained only 87 yards, had four first downs and punted five times.

Tecumseh’s running attack was mostly straight ahead. Sanning was the workhorse with 154 yards on 25 carries. Zeke Eier made the most of the room his blockers gave him and then made a lot room on his own with 94 yards.

It all started in practice.

“The intensity kicked up, the emotion kicked up and the enthusiasm (kicked up),” Sanning said. “And the coaches kicked it up. It was a tough week, but it was the best week.”

»See a photo gallery from the game online at SpringfieldNewsSun.com

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