Lima Senior’s Zaveon Garner stiff arms Findlay’s Luke Weihrauch during Friday night’s game at Spartan Stadium.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
Lima Senior’s defense intercepted Findlay’s 4-star major college recruit quarterback Ryan Montgomery twice in the first half, but there weren’t a lot of good moments after that for the Spartans when the Trojans spoiled their home opener with a 43-0 defeat on Friday night at Spartan Stadium.
After scoring 36 points and rolling up 436 yards total offense in an opening night win at Piqua last Friday night, the Spartans were limited to 121 yards total offense by Findlay. After getting 429 yards in the air against Piqua, the Spartans threw for 96 yards against Findlay.
“They made plays and we’ve got to give them credit,” Lima Senior coach Bill Lawrence said.
“Our defense played well. It was a 14-0 game for a long, long time. We didn’t get it going on offense and when the offense doesn’t get going, that’s on me as the head coach,” he said.
“They (Findlay) jumped the screens, they got some pressure (on quarterback Ja’Niaus Hall) and some different things like that. We’ll have to go to the films and see what we’ve got to do better and where we have to improve.
“At the end of the day, we knew it was a journey. Last week was a great start and this game, this week was a punch in the mouth. If you get punched, you have to regroup.”
Findlay’s first touchdown came on a 24-yard pass from Montgomery to Reece Little with 8:15 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.
C.J. Reid-Tisdale’s 70-yard punt return and a two-point conversion put the Trojans in front 14-0 a little over a minute after Little’s touchdown catch.
A 7-yard touchdown run by Matthew Guthrie increased the lead to 21-0 with 5:59 left in the second quarter and a 45-yard touchdown throw from Montgomery to Javonte Hill made it 28-0 with 3:07 left before halftime.
Lima Senior’s best scoring threat of the game came on the Spartans’ next possession when they moved from their own 34-yard line to a first-and-goal situation at Findlay’s 3-yard line in seven plays. The big play in the drive was a 43-yard pass play from Hall to Zaveon Garner.
But a holding call, two incomplete passes and two sacks by Findlay’s defense ended the threat.
Findlay opened the second half with a one-play scoring drive when Montgomery connected with Hill on a 49-yard touchdown pass to make it 36-0.
Montgomery’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, on a 12-yard toss to Austin Hasselbach, put Findlay up 43-0.
Findlay raised its season record to 1-1 with its non-league win in a match-up of former Three Rivers Athletic Conference teams. Lima Senior dropped to 1-1.
Game summary
Passing leaders
Lima Senior — Ja’Niaus Hall 14 of 26 for 96 yards, 0 touchdowns.
Findlay —Ryan Montgomery 12 of 16 for 178 yards, 4 touchdowns
Receiving leaders
Lima Senior
Zaveon Garner 4 catches, 58 yards
Kahliq Wash 4 catches, 29 yards
Rushing Leaders
Lima Senior — Kaden Hampton 1 carry, 14 yards
Findlay — Matthew Guthrie 10 carries, 70 yards
Scoring:
F — Reece Little 25 yard pass from Ryan Montgomery (kick blocked)
F — C.J. Reid-Tisdale 70 yard punt return (Reece Little pass from Montgomery)
F —Matthew Guthrie 7 yard run (kick good)
F —Javonte Hill 45 yard pass from Ryan Montgomery (kick good)
F — Javonte Hill 49 yard pass from Ryan Montgomery (Reece Little pass from Ryan Montgomery)
F — Austin Hasselbach 12 yard pass from Ryan Montgomery (kick good)
Reach Jim Naveau at 567-242-0414.
