Piqua defeats Sidney in long running rivalry

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COLUMBUS (AP) — A football rivalry in its third century was renewed last week when Piqua traveled the 10 or so miles to Sidney.

As has been the case for most of the matchups, Piqua was victorious, 33-13, in the 121st meeting since 1899.

The Indians improved to 77-38-6 in the series and have won 12 of the past 14 and 32 of 37. The Yellow Jackets were attempting to win back-to-back games vs. Piqua for the first time since 1978-79 but instead have not beaten the Indians at home since 2002. This marked the 90th straight year the southwestern neighbors have played each other at least once in a season.

With the victory, Piqua reclaimed the “Battered Helmet” awarded the winner since 1974. The old-style helmet is black with a gold “Sidney” on the left side and a blue “Piqua” emblazoned on the red right side. The school colors are separated by a thick white stripe down the middle.

“It is an ugly, old thing but we are glad to have it,” Piqua coach Bill Nees told the Piqua Daily Call.

The rivalry is fierce but respectful. Nees, Piqua’s coach since 1992, this year had his name added to a plaque in the visitors’ locker room of Sidney Memorial Stadium that recognizes six other “outstanding” opposing coaches.

“That was pretty cool,” Nees said. “That is quite an honor.”

FANTASTIC FINISHES

Logan rallied from a 14-point deficit late in the third quarter for its first victory, 31-30, over Athens. The Chieftains (31-24) took a 31-24 lead before visiting Athens (4-2) scored with 32.8 seconds remaining in the game. Chieftain lineman Kory Henthorne broke through to block Nate Gribble’s extra-point kick to preserve Logan’s 14th consecutive victory over Athens dating back to 1995. . Sandusky scored a touchdown with 46 seconds left — one play after a touchdown run had been called back — to beat Bellevue 28-26. Bellevue had the ball at the Sandusky 17 in the closing seconds, but the Blue Streaks broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired. . Antwerp, which did not field a varsity team a year ago, picked up its first Green Meadows Conference win since Oct. 21, 2011, with a 14-7 victory over Holgate. Keaton Altimus hit Cole Seslar with a 17-yard TD pass with 52 seconds remaining to rally the Archers from a 7-6 deficit.

FOOT NOTABLES

Cory-Rawson’s Mason Warnimont, the reigning Division III champion in the 200-meter dash, carried 34 times for 340 yards and three touchdowns in the Hornets’ 29-26 win over Mt. Blanchard Riverdale. . Aaron Carmack completed 22 of 31 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns in Fairfield’s 35-27 win over Cincinnati Sycamore. Teammate James Mitchell tied a single-game school record with 11 receptions and totaled 151 yards and three touchdowns. . Ryan Montgomery had nine carries for 171 yards and four touchdowns and completed 6 of 6 passes for 60 yards and a TD in unbeaten Franklin’s 54-6 win over Waynesville. . Hamler Patrick Henry’s Donny Johnson ran for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-7 win over Archbold. Swanton, who plays Patrick Henry this week, has outscored opponents 277-33. Swanton (6-0) is eighth in The Associated Press Division V poll; Patrick Henry, also 6-0, is No. 3 in Division VI. . Albany Alexander quarterback A.J. Marks turned in a busy night during a 37-20 loss at McArthur Vinton County. Marks finished with 34 rushes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He completed 12 of 32 passes for 123 yards and caught two passes for three yards. He either had a rush, pass or catch in 68 of his team’s 80 offensive plays, as well as playing safety on defense. McArthur Vinton County quarterback Naylan Yates rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns in helping the Vikings to their first home win over Alexander since 2007.

Ada quarterback Seth Conley completed 31 of 43 passes for 300 yards and four TDs in a 27-26 win over Convoy Crestview. Jordan Bailey had seven receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Chase Sumner had 10 catches for 88 yards and also scored twice for the Bulldogs. . Fostoria defensive end Monty Stahl recovered three Bloomdale Elmwood fumbles as the Redmen beat the Royals 41-6. . Akron Ellet senior Marquise Bridges scored five touchdowns and had 324 yards of total offense, 262 of it rushing, as the Orangemen (6-0) beat Uniontown Green 48-34.

EXTRA POINTS

Liberty Center head coach Rex Lingruen, in his 38th and final season, picked up win No. 250 with a 14-0 victory over Delta. . Warren John F. Kennedy (6-0) posted its fifth shutout of the year by beating Garfield Heights Trinity 44-0. The Eagles have outscored their opponents 192-7. . Findlay Liberty-Benton scored 42 points in the first quarter, including defensive touchdowns on a 37-yard interception return and a 37-yard fumble recovery, in a 69-0 win over Arcadia. . Keedrick Cunningham ran 13 times for 276 yards and three touchdowns as Proctorville Fairland beat Gallipolis Gallia Academy 49-34. It marked the first coaching win at Fairland for Melvin Cunningham, who is Keedrick’s father. Melvin Cunningham was an All-American defensive back at Marshall and helped the Thundering Herd to the NCAA I-AA national title in 1996.

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By Craig Merz

Associated Press

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