Piqua’s RayShawn Garrett celebrates a touchdown with Debo Knisely as Joey Voskuhl watches Frday night against Stebbins at Alexander Stadium/Purk Field.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Piqua’s Jericho Burns extends the ball as he crossed the goal line for a touchdown Friday night.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Piqua’s John Hess fights off a stiff arm to tackle Stebbins’ Andre McConnell Friday night.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Piqua’s Izzy Coleman (17) and Joey Voskuhl (9) wrap up Stebbins’ Deshaun Cunningham Friday night.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
Piqua’s Noah Coleman runs upfield with the ball against Stebbins after a catch Friday night as the Piqua sidelines watches.
Rob Kiser|Miami Valley Today
PIQUA — The Piqua football team got back on track Friday night, taking care of Stebbins 24-13 in MVL action at Alexander Stadium/Purk Field.
Piqua, 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the MVL, will travel to Tipp City Park Friday night to take on Tippecanoe, 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the MVL.
Behind a solid effort from the offensive line, Piqua running back Jericho Burns set the tone early and never let up, rushing for 192 yards on 29 carries.
Stebbins opened the game on its own 20 after a Gavin Larger touchback on the kickoff.
The visiting Indians dove into Piqua territory, but Piqua defensive end Isaiah Martin knocked down a pass on fourth-and-three to give Piqua the ball at its own 43.
The home Indians them put together a 59-yard drive that took the rest of the first quarter clock and lasted 20 plays.
On Piqua’s second play, Burns began a trend for the night, running 18 yards to take the ball down to the Stebbins 38-yard line.
After a holding penalty, Burns would run 13 and seven yards on the next two plays to get another first down.
On a fourth-and-nine from the Stebbins 25, Caiden Thomas would find Noah Coleman out in the flat and he would break several tackles to get the first down and extend the drive with a 12-yard gain to the 13.
After two touchdowns were called back by penalty, Piqua faced a fourth-and-goal from the 12-yard line.
Thomas would find RayShawn Garrett for the touchdown on the first play of the second quarter and Piqua led 7-0 after Larger’s PAT kick with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
After a Joey Voskuhl interception stopped a Stebbins drive, Piqua would add a 26-yard field goal by Larger with 1:23 remaining in the half to take a 10-0 lead at the break. Stebbins final drive of the half was ended by a Owen Shawler interception.
Stebbins would take advantage of a Piqua fumble to get on the board in the third quarter.
Taking over at Piqua 10, Stebbins would convert on a fourth-and-goal from the 11, with Devin McCormick finding Brayden Walters in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Daniel Torres PAT kick made it 10-7 with 9:32 remaining in the quarter.
But, Burns would take over the game on the ground and help Piqua put the game away.
He added touchdown runs of four and 17 yards, with Larger hitting both PAT kicks to make it 24-7.
Stebbins put together a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter, with McCormick running it in from seven yards out to make the final 24-13.
Thomas was eight-for-10 passing the game for Piqua, with Garrett catching four passes for 38 yards and Voskuhl catching two passes for 44 yards. Garrett added a 37-yard punt return in the second half to help set up a score.
Izzy Coleman led the defense with 10 tackles, John Hess had nine Shawler added six tackles.
Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]
