By RYAN Walker

For The Ironton Tribune

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Lee Marvin had The Dirty Dozen. Green head coach Larry Hall has the “Feisty 15”.

With just 15 players dressed in uniform, the Bobcats rallied in the second half to defeat the Sciotoville East Tartans 21-12 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday night at Bobcats Stadium.

Last week, the Bobcats were unable to play their game against South Gallia due to injuries and illness. 

Green was led offensively by senior Blake Smith who carried the ball 10 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also caught five passes, including a touchdown catch. 

Also leading the way was senior Landon Kimbler who completed 18-of 30 passes for 146 yards and 2 touchdown passes. His top target was Mason Neal who finished with 8 receptions for 84 yards and a score.

The Bobcats were able to bend-but-not-break in the early going. The Tartans 9-play opening drive was halted when senior Landon Lewis batted down a pass on third down and Smith tackled Lindon Williams shy of the sticks on a fourth down run to end the drive.

Sciotoville (1-8, 0-4 SOC) went to their air in the second quarter, as Kaiden Huston completed 3 passes to Keagan Barker during the drive to help move the Tartans to the Green 19. On a first down play, Williams took a handoff on a jet sweep toward the East bench, made a cutback against the grain and raced 19 yards for the first points of the game. The Bobcats stuffed the two-point conversion attempt to keep the score at 6-0 with 5:30 remaining before halftime.

The score remained that way at the break.

The Bobcats (2-6,1-3) came out firing in the second half, driving 53-yards in just 5 plays to get on the board. Kimbler completed two passes on the drive, with the last one going to Neal for the final 9 yards to tie the game. Quincy Merill added the extra point to give the Bobcats a 7-6 lead.

The Tartans fumbled around the ensuing kickoff that resulted in their next possession staring at their own 3.

But Sciotoville got a 10-yard run on first down by Tycyn Pernell and a facemask penalty to get out of the shadow of their own goalpost. The Tartans followed that up with 10-straight runs to get into the end zone. Barker capped off the drive with a 9-yard run behind the middle of his offensive line. But Barker was stopped again on the two-point try and the score remained 12-7.

Barker was the all-purpose leader for the Tartans on offense. The senior rushed for 78 yards from the fullback and wingback position, and also led all receivers with 114 yards on 8 receptions.

A turnover on Green’s following possession gave the ball back to East at midfield and a chance to take control of the game.

But the Bobcats defense was able to hold again. getting a fourth down stop when Kimbler batted away a pass directed at Barker. 

Green took over at their own 34 and went on a 12-play drive to take the lead for good. The drive got kickstarted on a second down completion by Kimbler to Neal for 20 yards. Smith ripped off a 13-yard run after spinning out of a would-be tackle to get to the East 24. 

The Bobcats drove to the 8, facing a fourth-and-six. Kimbler dropped back to pass and hit Smith on a swing pass and he beat the defense to the pylon for the score. Merrill booted the extra point to put Green ahead 14-12 with 37 seconds left in the third.

East decided to gamble on their following possession and go for it on fourth-and-four from their own 36. But Huston’s pass missed its target and the Bobcats took over with 10:33 remaining. 

Two plays later, Smith took a handoff and raced untouched down the left hash for a 36-yard touchdown scamper. Merrill’s extra point extended the Bobcats lead to 21-12.

The Bobcat defense closed the game out by forcing 3-straight turnovers. Daniel Brannigan ripped the ball loose and fell on the ball on the ensuing possession. Then Merrill and Kimbler each picked off a pass to close out the win.

East 0 6 6 0 = 12

Green 0 0 14 7 = 21

Second Quarter

Ea — Lindon Williams 19 run (run failed), 5:30.

Third Quarter

Gr — Mason Neal 9 pass from Landon Kimbler (Quincy Merrill kick), 11:24.

Ea — Keagan Barker 9 run (run failed), 6:06.

Gr — Blake Smith 8 pass from Landon Kimbler (Quincy Merrill kick), 0:37.

Fourth Quarter

Gr — Blake Smith 36 run (Quincy Merrill kick), 10:20.

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Ea Gr

First downs 20 12

Rushes-yards 48-209 24-129

Passing yards 114 146

Total yards 323 275

Cmp-Att-Int 8-15-2 18-31-1

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 4-36.0 5 6-65

Punts-average 0-0.0 1-38.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–East: Kaiden Hutson 10-21, Tycyn Pernell 6-31, Keagan Barker 12-78 TD,Lindon Williams 11-58 TD, Bryton Lennix 9-31, Team 1-minus 2; Green: Riley Cunningham 8-18, Landon Kimbler 5-23, Blake Smith 10-95 TD.

PASSING–East: Kaiden Hutson 8-15-2 114; Green: Landon Kimbler 18-30-1 146 2TD, Ryleigh Cunningham 0-1-1 0.

RECEIVING–East: Keagan Barker 8-114; Green: Ryleigh Cunningham 3-41, Brody Stapleton 2-11, Mason Neal 8-84 TD, Blake Smith 5-10 TD.