CAMDEN — After dropping its third straight close game in Week 7, Preble Shawnee’s football team rebounded and closed out the season with three straight convincing wins, including Friday’s (Nov. 1) 49-14 home blowout of a quality Northridge team, which entered the contest with a 6-3 record.
“I did not expect it to end up quite the way it did. But I’m glad it did. That’s a great team and I’m proud of our guys. I think it shows how good we really are when we take care of the football and just play hard,” Shawnee coach David Maddox said of the lopsided score. “It was a great game. A great way to finish. I wish we could have a couple of those games back, but proud of the players. They continued to play hard and it was a good finish.”
Shawnee wraps up the season with a 5-5 overall record and was 3-3 in the Southwestern Buckeye League’s Buckeye Division.
With his five touchdown passes Preble Shawnee senior quarterback Jake Green set a new career record for touchdown passes.
Green completed 17 of 30 passes for 175 yards.
“I thought our defense played excellent. Our offense ran the ball well and Jake did a great job and had a big night throwing the ball. He broke the career passing touchdown record. Congratulations to him,” Maddox said.
After losing 18-13 to playoff bound Milton-Union, during a rain storm in Week 7, the Arrows beat Dixie (47-13), Carlisle (52-20) and Northridge.
Shawnee’s other two losses during its three-game skid were to Buckeye Division champion Waynesville (28-21) and Southwestern Division champion Franklin (38-36 on a last minute field goal).
“There’s nothing that they should be ashamed of. They should be proud of the season,” Maddox said. “We just talked about staying the course and keeping our nose to the grindstone and working hard and they did just that.”
And against the Polar Bears, Shawnee got off to a great start.
Eyan Haemmerle scored on a 7-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
Green then connected with Bryce Singleton for the first of his five TD passes and a 14-0 lead, still in the first quarter.
In the second, senior lineman Ty Stevenson scored his second-career touchdown on a 4-yard run to make it a 21-0 game.
Green and Haemmerle hooked up for a 6-yard TD pass and a 28-0 lead.
Northridge followed with a 57-yard TD pass and a 2-point conversion to make it 28-8, but the Arrows responded when Green found Austin Tutt for a 3-yard TD on the final play of the first half for a 35-8 lead.
James Gibson opened the scoring in the second half with a 7-yard TD reception from Green to push the lead to 42-8.
Green and Haemmerle, who caught seven passes for 72 yards added their second TD on a 1-yard pass to extend the lead to 49-8.
The Polar Bears rounded out the scoring on a 66-yard run late to make it 49-14.
Ben Hobbs led the Arrows with a 135 yards rushing.
Maddox said he is going to miss this year’s senior class.
“I’m going to miss those guys. Not only are they great players but they’re great young men. Just an absolute pleasure to coach and be around. These guys are special,” he said. “ It’s a special group and I’m definitely going to miss them.”
