Wildcats punchless against Beavercreek

Beavers control clock, game with grinding rushing attack.

Springfield quarterback Derek Williams is sacked by Beavercreek's Alex Moore during Friday night's game at Evans Stadium in Springfield. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Springfield quarterback Derek Williams is sacked by Beavercreek's Alex Moore during Friday night's game at Evans Stadium in Springfield. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer 12:02 AM Saturday, October 15, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Beavercreek fullback Zach Smith didn’t score a touchdown Friday night, but he was able to do the next best thing: Control the clock and control the game as Springfield lost to the Beavers 13-0 at Evans Stadium.

Smith rushed for 229 yards on 36 carries and scored a two-point conversion in the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division win.

The Wildcats countered with two quarterbacks, Derek Williams and Davonte James, to lead their offense. Although both took the team on long drives, they were stalled by near-misses, penalties and negative-yardage plays. Springfield suspended seven players for the game, including starting quarterback Chris Wallace. Williams made his first varsity start.

“(Williams) stepped up for us late this week in practice and got himself ready,” Springfield head coach Adam Taylor said. “That was a tough situation. ... All the stuff that we worked on during the week goes out the window. We had to basically scale back, but Derek did a nice job.”

Beavercreek’s Matthew Ringle started the scoring with a 24-yard field goal on the game’s first drive. The Beavers (5-3, 2-1 GWOC) made it 5-0 on a safety with 4:35 left in the first half.

After forcing a punt to start the second half, Beavercreek drove 54 yards to score the game’s only touchdown with 6:27 left in the third quarter, on an 11-yard run from Justin Weaver.

James and Williams shared time under center in the second half. The Wildcats (2-6, 1-2 GWOC) moved the ball to Beavercreek’s 11-yard line late in the third quarter, but then went backwards on three straight plays and didn’t score.

They had the ball in Beavercreek territory with under four minutes to play, but a sack stalled that drive.

Williams passed for 73 yards, and Onlsow Williams rushed for 52 yards.

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