GIBSONBURG 56, SENECA EAST 34
By Kyle Holsinger
ATTICA — Gibsonburg’s offense got rolling last night, and the only thing that stopped it was the clock. Their defense wasn’t too shabby either.
The Golden Bears scored on all eight possessions, aside from downing the ball to end the half, and running the clock out at the end of the contest to beat Seneca East, 56-34.
Gibsonburg (2-0) put a damper on Seneca East’s senior night by racking up 485 yards of total offense with 394 of that being on the ground as well as forcing four turnovers on the defense. The Golden Bears had seven rushing TDs as their running attack was on full display at Seneca East Stadium.
Golden Bear sophomores Grant Smith and Reece Walby balled out-of-control as each went over the century mark in rushing. Smith carried the ball for 195 yards on 25 rushes and two TDs. Walby had 13 carries for 134 yards and three TDs. Walby also threw for 34 yards and caught a pass for 35 yards to have 203 all-purpose yards on the evening. On defense, he had two interception as well.
“I just think it was a good, hard-nosed game,” Gibsonburg coach Joe Wyant said. “Offense played really good for every series we had the ball; and the defense, once they settled down a little bit, the four turnovers were great."
Gibsonburg went 68 yards in five plays to score on their opening drive of the game. Walby took a handoff on a sweep to the right and ended up racing down the sidelines for a 50-yard gain to get down to the Tigers 15-yard line. Three plays later, the Golden Bears faked to the fullback and gave it to Walby who ran to the right side for an 11-yard score. After the PAT, Gibsonburg was up 7-0 with only 2:10 off of the clock.
Seneca East (1-1) wasted no time; scoring on their first play from scrimmage when junior QB Nicholas Parks threw a deep pass down the middle to classmate Ethan Schultz. Schultz’s defender fell as the two were coming down with the ball and Schultz took the ball the rest of the way for a 70-yard TD reception. It was tied again after only 11 seconds.
The Golden Bears answered when senior QB Camden Mooney passed over the middle to Walby who raced right and was forced out-of-bounds for a 35-yard pass at the Seneca East 28. Three plays later, Mooney hit tight end Luke Foster for a 21-yard TD toss. It was 14-7 with 7:22 left in the first.
That’s when the Tigers put together a 14-play, 70-yard scoring drive that lasted 4:44. Parks was 4-of-5 passing on the drive for 39 yards and he capped off the drive with a 3-yard TD pass to sophomore Jackson Gayheart. The game was tied back up with 2:38 remaining in the quarter.
Gibsonburg again answered the call on the third play of their next drive when Walby scored on a 46-yard scamper on a trap play to the right side. It was 21-14 in the Golden Bears’ favor.
Seneca East’s Parks was sacked by Spencer Waugaman on the first play of the next drive, setting up a 2nd-and-20 for the Tigers. Parks threw a screen pass to Gayheart that was blown up by the Gibsonburg defense. Gayheart ended up fumbling on the play, and the Golden Bears had great field position for their next drive at the SE 18.
Coach Wyant called Grant Smith’s number twice and after a 16-yard run, he was able to score from two yards out. The PAT increased Gibsonburg’s lead, 28-14.
The Tigers did not get down on themselves though and pounced right back; going 77 yards in just five plays to score. Parks hit senior WR Bryler Beamer on a wheel route to the left for a 28-yard catch to get into Golden Bear territory. Two plays later, Parks chucked it up to the right corner of the end zone, and Beamer came down with it for an 18-yard TD reception. A PAT got the Tigers within seven points with 9:54 to go in the first half.
Gibsonburg marched 80 yards in 11 plays to stretch the lead to two scores again. On the drive, they converted a fourth-and-three on a trap left to Smith for seven yards to the Tiger 40. Two plays later, senior Grant Dawson scored on a 34-yard rush to help get the score to 35-21 in favor the Golden Bears.
On the second play of the next drive, Parks threw a deep pass down the middle only to be intercepted by Walby to give Gibsonburg great field position at the Tiger 24.
After 16- and 6-yard runs by Smith. Gibsonburg gave him the ball for a third time and it was a charm as he was able to cross the goal line for a two-yard rushing TD.
The Golden Bears went into halftime with a 42-21 lead. Walby already had 119 yards on 6 carries, and Smith had 91 yards on 14 carries at the break.
Seneca East came out of the break and went on a 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive to get within 14 points of Gibsonburg. It was a steady drive as the Tigers picked up five first downs on their way to the end zone. Senior Taylor Young capped it off with a six-yard TD run.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Golden Bears were unstoppable Friday. They went 68 yards in six plays. The drive was highlighted by a 37-yard run by Smith to get down to the SE 3. Two players later, Walby scored on a sneak from a yard out. Walby replaced Mooney at halftime as QB. With 4:09 left in the third, Gibsonburg was up, 49-28.
The Tigers roared back and put together a nice 13-play scoring drive where they picked up six first downs. The drive climaxed when Parks kept the ball and ran to the right for a two-yard TD.
The PAT was no good, but the Tigers were down two scores, 49-34.
Gibsonburg put the final score on the board when Smith ran 22 yards up the middle for a TD.
The Tigers’ Parks completed 16-of-26 passes for 227 yards, three TDs, and three INTs. Beamer had nine receptions for 114 yards and a TD, and Ethan Schultz had two for 82 yards and a TD.
Seneca East had 396 total yards of offense. Parks' 227 passing yards and an additional 169 yards on the ground.
Gibsonburg was 4-of-6 passing between Mooney and Walby for 91 yards and Mooney's TD.
Seneca East travels to Monroeville (2-0), and Gibsonburg heads to Milan Edison (2-0) next Friday.
Gibsonburg 21 21 7 7- 56
Seneca East 14 7 13 0- 34
thank you Kyle for this informative article. we don't get articles like this in news papers anymore. Can't even find a box score anywhere. I would be like too know how many first downs each team had.
looking forward to reading future articles written by you
Gary
Gibsonburg
Seneca East had 23, Gibsonburg had 20. Thanks for reading, and for your input. It is appreciated.