By Jesse Swafford | CSwaff Media
Photography by Jesse Swafford | CSwaff Shots
NEW MADISON, OH — Something had to give Friday night when a pair of unbeaten WOAC teams met at Tri-Village.
When it was over, the Patriots were still standing.
Tri-Village made enough plays on both sides of the ball, including a pair of critical second-half defensive stops, to hold off Ansonia 29-22 and remain unbeaten.
The game had the feel of a matchup between two teams comfortable playing very different styles. Ansonia was content to slow things down, control the football and shorten the game, while Tri-Village looked for opportunities to create bigger plays.
For most of the first quarter, the Tigers’ approach worked.
Tri-Village finally broke through with just 9.4 seconds remaining in the opening period when Brecken Gray scored on a five-yard run. The extra point gave the Patriots a 7-0 advantage after one.
Ansonia answered in the second quarter.
Cade Shellhaas connected with Graham Coppess for a 19-yard touchdown with 6:26 remaining in the half. The Tigers successfully converted the two-point attempt to take their first lead of the night, 8-7.
That lead lasted all of 17 seconds.
On the ensuing kickoff, Griffin Richards broke loose and took it all the way back for a touchdown, immediately swinging the momentum back to the Patriots. The extra point put Tri-Village back in front, 14-8, with 6:09 remaining.
Ansonia had an opportunity to answer before halftime, but the Patriots’ defense came up with a turnover. With 30 seconds remaining and the Tigers at the Tri-Village 37, Dom Black recovered an Ansonia fumble to preserve the six-point lead going into the locker room.
Ansonia received the second-half kickoff, but the Tri-Village defense forced a punt.
The Patriots quickly took advantage.
Gray found Richards for a big completion that took the ball all the way to the Ansonia 1-yard line. Staley Colston finished the drive from there, punching it into the end zone to extend the Patriots’ advantage to 21-8 with 9:28 remaining in the third.
But Ansonia wasn’t going away.
Freshman Austin Tobe ripped off a 30-yard touchdown run, and another successful two-point conversion pulled the Tigers within 21-16 with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter.
The momentum had shifted.
Tri-Village went three-and-out, giving Ansonia an opportunity to take the lead. The Tigers moved the ball into Patriots territory and faced fourth down at the Tri-Village 25.
That’s when the Patriots’ defense delivered one of the biggest plays of the night.
Tri-Village stuffed Ansonia on fourth down with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter, keeping the Tigers out of the end zone and protecting the 21-16 lead heading into the fourth.
The Patriots eventually gave themselves some breathing room.
With 8:59 remaining, Colt Camacho broke free for an 18-yard touchdown run. Tri-Village converted the two-point attempt, stretching its advantage to 29-16.
Ansonia continued to battle.
The Tigers put together a late drive and Lander Shives scored from three yards out with just one minute remaining. The two-point attempt failed, leaving Tri-Village with a 29-22 advantage.
The Patriots recovered their second onside kick of the game to secure possession.
That would be the final margin.
In a game where momentum changed hands several times, the Patriots answered nearly every Ansonia push. Richards’ immediate kickoff return following the Tigers’ first touchdown proved particularly important, while the defense produced a turnover late in the first half and a fourth-down stand late in the third.
Tri-Village walked into Friday night as one of two unbeaten teams.
The Patriots walked out as the one that stayed that way.
FINAL: Tri-Village 29, Ansonia 22
