CHANEY: Cowboys lose to Beaver Local Beavers 28-14
By John Kovach
The Cowboys had 11 penalties in a 28-14 loss to Beaver Local.
AUSTINTOWN — The Chaney High football team had too many things going against it Friday night against Beaver Local at Falcon Stadium.
Not only did the Cowboys’ offense and defense struggle, but they also made too many mistakes, committed 11 penalties for 80 yards and lost starting defensive tackles Ruben Morales and Francisco Morales to injuries in the first half.
The net result was that Beaver Local, led by the running back Shawn Bussard and quarterback Shawn Mercer, plus strong blocking and tough defense, built a big lead and held on for a 28-14 victory.
Mercer scored two touchdowns on runs of 26 yards and 1 yard in the first and third quarters, respectively, while Bussard tallied on a 5-yard dash in the second period and finished with 195 yards rushing.
Jake Lucas scored the Beavers’ final TD on a 2-yard dash, while Tyler Shultz kicked his fourth placement for a 28-0 lead.
Then Chaney struck for both of its TDs behind quarterback Ken Strong, who hit Carlos Colon on a 41-yard strike with 2:47 left and Anthony Cornwell on a 24-yard aerial at 1:24. Strong ran for the conversion after the final TD for the final score.
Mercer contributed 84 yards rushing in 17 attempts and was 3-for-5 passing for 49 yards.
Coach Rich Wright of Beaver Local (3-6) lauded his offensive line’s blocking.
“Our offensive line was blocking real well. Our backs were getting through the first level of their defense. Their defensive backs had to come up and make the tackles,” said Wright.
He also praised Bussard’s and Mercer’s running games.
“Bussard is in his first year carrying the ball. He broke some tackles and his second effort was great. He has great speed,” said Wright. And, “Mercer is a great leader.”
Wright said his team “controlled the ball. We dominated to [almost the end].” But, “Our young kids let us down at the end.”
Coach John Protopapa of Chaney (2-7) said that his team was “flat,” committed too many penalties and that his defensive line fizzled.
“We put eight guys up in the defensive line and we thought we could stop them,” said Protopapa. But, “We lost both of our starting defensive tackles.”
Protopapa said Beaver Local’s “first offensive series set the tone” of the game. Because during that 79-yard, eight-play drive, Chaney committed two penalties for 40 yards which aided the Beavers’ attack.
Beaver Local’s second TD, Bussard’s 5-yard dash, was set up when Chaney was stopped on fourth down at its 41-yard line after electing not to punt. The Beavers scored nine plays later.
Their third TD, Mercer’s 1-yard plunge, capped a 60-yard, 12-play march after taking the second half kickoff.
Beaver Local’s last TD, Lucas’ 2-yard dash, was set up by a fumble recovery at the Chaney 6, with Lucas scoring on the second play.
That was a great break. Because on the Beavers’ previous offensive series, after stopping Chaney at the 7-yard line, they drove 91 yards in 19 plays to the Cowboys’ 2, but Bussard fumbled after entering the end zone and Chaney recovered and returned the ball to the 4-yard line.
After Chaney got its first TD on Strong’s pass to Colon, the Cowboys’ Armonn Adams recovered a fumble at the Beavers’ 24 to set up Strong’s scoring pass to Cornwell.
Strong was 6-for-11 passing for 107 yards while Myke Parker led Chaney’s rushing attack with 33 yards in 12 carries.
kovach@vindy.com