FHS defense denies Spartans

LIMA – Friday was pay day for Findlay High's football team. And the Trojans, especially the defense, were more than ready to cash in on what had been a productive week at the mill. "Hey, they see that offense every single day, so they knew what to expect, they knew where to be and they knew what to do when they got there," FHS coach Stefan Adams said after Findlay blanked Lima Senior 43-0. "Our coaches did a great job all week. Coach (Jerrod) Slater. Coach (Todd) Richards. Coach (Matt) Harp. The whole group. They did what they had to do, and I thought our kids were really well prepared." Lima Senior's five-wide spread offense had amassed over 400 yards in last week's 36-3 win over Piqua. Against Findlay on Friday, the Spartans managed a third of that total rushing for just 17 yards a getting 121 through the air. "We didn't get it going on offense, and when the offense doesn't get going that's on me," said first-year Lima Senior coach Bill Lawrence, who had been an assistant under Mike Mauk when Kenton's high-octane passing game was turning out record-setting numbers. "They jumped a lot of screens. They got a lot of pressure. You have to give (Findlay) credit. They made the plays." Junior quarterback Ryan Montgomery completed 14-of-19 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Senior receiver Javonte Hill, whose leaping one-handed grab and 40-yard dash for a touchdown made ESPN's list of top ten plays last week, didn't have that kind of highlight-reel night against Lima Senior. But he did catch six passes for 141 yards and two scores. Leading 21-0 with four minutes left in the first half, Findlay covered 58 yards in just four plays, the last a swing pass to Hill in the left flat. Hill faked his way past one defender, sidestepped another and outran a third to complete the 46-yard score. Findlay used another big play by Hill but needed a lot less time to made make if 36-0 and trigger a running clock in the second half. After recovering the second-half kickoff at the Lima Senior 49, Montgomery went deep and Hill caught the pass in stride for his second score of the night. Findlay used a number of other big splays in building its lead. Three minutes into the game, Isaac Tuiloma stripped the ball free and Keegan Klotz recovered at the Lima 41-yard line. Montgomery hit Austin Hasselbach for 13 yards, then Reece Little straight down the middle for the final 24. Another defensive stand forced Lima Senior to punt and CJ Reid-Tisdale, thanks to some key blocks when he caught the ball and some shifty moves during the runback, went 69 yards for the score. Matthew Guthrie would add a 7-yard TD run in the second quarter, and Montgomery would fire his fourth TD pass, a 9-yarder to Hasselback late in the third. Findlay complemented its passing game with a solid running attack. Guthrie rushed for 91 yards on 13 carries and Austin Sertell rushed seven times for 52 yards as Findlay's offensive line of center Zach Searls, guards Geovani Ambrister and Brody Smith and tackles Baylor Wilkin and Ben Mueller created some gaping holes at times. In addition to his fumble recovery, Klotz had two sacks, both coming during an end-of-the-half possession where Lima Senior had a first-and-goal at the 4-yard line but did not score. Elijah Johnson also had a sack during that sequence, and Baret Helms had an interception. "We want to be cleaner with things, but it all worked out, all three phases of the game," Adams said. "A win always makes you feel good, but I want more. I'm going to enjoy tonight, no lie about that, then it's time to go on to the next one." Findlay will now play three cross-over games against teams in the Northern Lakes League's Cardinal Division: Friday at Sylvania Southview, Sept. 8 against Oregon Clay at Donnell Stadium, and Sept. 15 at Fremont Ross. Findlay 14 14 15 0 —43 Lima Senior 0 0 0 0 —0 First Quarter FIN – Little 25 pass from Montgomery (kick blocked) FIN – Reid-Tisdale 69 punt return (Little pass from Montgomery) Second Quarter FIN – Guthrie 7 run (Sprague kick) FIN – Hill 46 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) Third Quarter FIN – Hill 49 pass from Montgomery (Little pass from Montgomery) FIN – Hasselbach 9 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) FIN LS First Downs 20 10 Rushes-yards 26-152 16-17 Passing Yards 225 121 Comp-Att-Int 14-19-2 14-31-1 Punts-Avg. 1-28 6-31.2 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-1 Penalties-Yards 7-88 11-67 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Lima Senior, Hall 14-13. Findlay, Guthrie 13-91, Little 1-11, Sertell 7-52, Sheets 2-6. PASSING — Lima Senior, Hasll 14-31-1, 121 yards. Findlay, Montgomery 14-19-0, 225 yards. RECEIVING — Lima Senior, Garner 6-66, Wash 3-16, Doughty 2-26, Hampton 1-12. Findlay, Guthrie 1-10, Hill 6-141, Hasselbach 2-25, Best 1-20, Little 4-29.