Arrows’ 12-point lead not enough to end losing streak

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NEW LEBANON — The Preble Shawnee football team’s losing streak reached five games after a heart breaking, 36-37 loss to Dixie on Friday, Oct. 9

The Arrows looked to be in control after a 20-yard Joby Williams touchdown run gave the team a 36-24 lead late in the third quarter. However, for a third time on the night, the point after the touchdown was no good and the Arrows left valuable points on the table.

Dixie was able to score the last 13 points of the game to come back and defeat the Arrows, 37-36.

Head coach Matt Hopkins said afterwards his once experienced team is now one of the least-experienced teams in the conference. “We are a very young team,” Hopkins said. “Going into the season we were one of the older, more experienced teams in the league, and now with injuries and other things, we have become one of the youngest teams in our league. We are still learning how to compete and play for four quarters.”

Despite the loss, running back Luke Lovely continues to improve as a runner, rushing ten times for 148 yards, including a 53- yard touchdown run.

Nyles Anderson also went over the century mark as he gained 102 yards on 11 carries.

In total, the Arrows gained 311 yards on the ground, gaining a total of 480 on offense on the night.

The Arrows led nearly the entire game as Anderson scored first to make it 6-0 in the second quarter. Chase Thompson hauled in a 52-yard pass for a score to make 12-6, before Lovely’s big touchdown run made it 20-12 entering halftime.

The Arrows lost the lead to start the second half as Dixie scored twice to make it 24-20 before the Arrows defense got two points on a safety to make the score 24-22.

Joby Williams then scored on two rushing touchdowns to give the Arrows their biggest lead of the game at 36-24, but the Arrow defense was unable to hold the lead. Dixie scored the final 13 points to win the game.

The Arrows are now 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the SWBL. They host Waynesville on Friday, Oct. 16.

“We have to have a short memory because a good Waynesville team is coming in this week,” Hopkins said. But he believes his team can play pressure free. “At this point, we have nothing to lose, so we can play free and fast and that usually makes for a pretty dangerous team,” he said.

By Austin Schmidt

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Reach Austin Schmidt at 937-683-4062 or on Twitter @aschmidt_RH.

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