Columbus Grove’s Kyle Lathrop reaches the end zone on a fumble return during Friday night’s game at Leipsic.
Nate Reynolds | The Lima News.
LEIPSIC — The Columbus Grove Bulldogs invaded Leipsic for the final Northwest Conference clash Friday night with the Vikings, who are departing for the Blanchard Valley Conference next season.
Bulldog quarterback Landon Best ran for 3 touchdowns and Kyle Lathrop picked up a Leipsic fumble and returned it for a 22 yard score as Columbus Grove doubled up the Vikings 28-14.
“Early on in the year we were still figuring some things out and we have gotten better every week. It was a homecoming game for them, but we liked our chances.
We felt like we were going to be the better team as long as we played physical football and I think our defense definitely did. Offensively, our offensive line from week one until now, we run the ball and that was the key. “ Columbus Grove coach Andy Schafer said.
Trenton Barraza ran the ball 24 times for 146 yards. Quin Schroeder broke for a 43 yard touchdown run and Trent Siekfer contributed by hauling in a 16 yard pass from Tyler Lammers to account for the Leipsic scoring.
Grove scored on their first possession of the game, giving the hosts a steady diet of Barraza, including a 50 yard run. Three plays later Best bolted in the end zone from a yard out, making it a 7-0 score. The seven play 69 yard drive took 4:16 off the clock.
The Vikings appeared to be on their way to tying the game on the ensuing possession, however with the hosts on the Grove 15 yard line, Leipsic committed the first of its six turnovers with the first of two fumble recoveries by Lathrop.
“Kylan Mayes tonight was a man for what he did on the defensive side. He was almost unblockable at times and if they doubled him that left Lathrop open as well our defensive line played one heck of a game.” Schafer said.
Columbus Grove used its first possession of the second quarter to tack on seven more; the 11 play 5:07 drive was capped off with Best finding paydirt for a second time, this on a 7 yard run to put the ‘Dogs up 14-0 with 5:21 to go before the break.
The Vikings got on the board with 4:20 to go in the half on the Schroeder run to make it a 14-7 contest, a score that would hold to the half.
The Bulldogs struck again late in the third using the ground game again as they continued to pound away using a 12 play drive with Barazza and Best grinding at the Leipsic defense. The drive culminated with Best tallying his third score of the game, this from 2 yards out to take a 21-7 advantage. “We like to stick with it (the run) and take some shots (with the pass), which we did. We were close on a couple of them, but the key is to run the football, always has been at Grove,” Schafer said.
The Bulldogs tacked on their final score on the night on the Lathtop recovery and scoop to the end zone. The victory was the third in a row for Columbus Grove (4-0 NWC) and moves tits record to 6-2 on the year. The Vikings (3-1 NWC) suffered their first loss as they dropped to 6-1.
Game summary
Score by quarters:
CG 7777 –28
Leipsic0707– 14
Scoring:
CG — Landon Best 1 (Evan Verhoff kick)
CG — Landon Best 7 run (Verhoff kick)
L — Quin Schroeder 43 run (Schroeder kick)
CG — Landon Best 2 run (Verhoff kick)
CG — Kyle Lathrop 22 fumble recovery (Verhoff kick)
L — Trent Siefker 16 pass fromn Tyler Lammers (SChroeder kick)
CG L
14 First downs 14
251 Total yardage 192
197 Rushing yardage 128
54 Passing yardage 64
5-9-0 Passing (Com-Att-Int) 14-21-1
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
3-43 Punts-Average 0-0
6-65 Penalties-Yards 0-0
Individual leaders:
Passing: Landon Best 5-9-54; Tyler Lammers 14-21-64.
Rushing: 24-146; Quin Schroeder 7-64.
Receiving: Kyle Hopkins 2-20, Brady Basinger 2-30; Trent Siefker 6-41.
Dave Boninsegna wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
