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Indians finish last scrimmage before season

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CEDARVILLE — Things didn’t start off so hot for Cedarville in its scrimmage against Tipp City Bethel, Friday night at Cedarville High School. The Indians made a few mistakes early, but bounced back to beat the Bees, 21-6.

The first play from the line of scrimmage wasn’t pretty for Cedarville. Bethel’s Josh Wills took the handoff and ran the ball 65 yards to score. The Bees missed the two-point conversion, but then the Indians muffed the return on the ensuing kickoff. However, the officials ruled that the ball hadn’t gone far enough on the kick, overturning the call.

“We couldn’t have gotten much worse, that’s for sure,” said Cedarville coach Jason Christian about his team’s start.

The Indians calmed down once the game started rolling and began to play better on both ends. After punting the ball on offense, the Cedarville defense held Bethel on an important fourth down conversion with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.

Then first-year senior quarterback Jacob Gannon connected with Kosi Al Hassan on a 40-yard toss that got Cedarville to Bethel’s 3-yard line. Gannon ran the ball in on the ensuing play to get the Indians on the board.

Cedarville mostly relied on the run to move the ball. Between Gannon and the two tailbacks, Seth Salisbury and Mitchell Depp, the team unofficially moved the ball 55 yards on the ground.

With the ball on their own 35-yard line with 4:15 left to play in the first quarter, the Indians ate up the clock and ran the ball down the field to make it 14-6 with 40 seconds left to play in the quarter.

Cedarville’s defense made some plays, too. Salisbury and Al Hassan both recovered fumbles that stopped long drives from Bethel.

After the first fumble recovery, the Indians had a drive that started at their own 5-yard line. But on a third-and-nine play from the 6, Gannon found Al Hassan for a 94-yard touchdown. Gannon completed two out of three passes on the night.

“He’s got a big arm. He’s a good player. Wish we would have had him out a few years ago. He can throw it,” said Christian.

Cedarville took the 21-9 lead into halftime. The second half was low key. Each team took 10 plays from the line of scrimmage to try and score.

One thing Christian said the team needs to work on before the start of the season next week is cramping. Multiple players went down with cramps during the game.

“We can’t do that. I mean, we played a half, and it’s cool, not hot. We’ve got to do something different.”

Cedarville starts its season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 at home against London Madison Plains.

“We’re ready to get it going. Ready to quit messing around and get playing,” said Christian.

First-year senior quarterback Jacob Gannon (15) runs the ball for Cedarville in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_DSC07210.jpgFirst-year senior quarterback Jacob Gannon (15) runs the ball for Cedarville in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School. Barb Slone | Greene County News

Cedarville’s Seth Salisbury (20) sheds tacklers while running the ball in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_DSC07148.jpgCedarville’s Seth Salisbury (20) sheds tacklers while running the ball in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School. Barb Slone | Greene County News

Mitchell Depp was part of Cedarville’s rushing attack in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_DSC07272.jpgMitchell Depp was part of Cedarville’s rushing attack in a scrimmage against Tipp-City Bethel, Friday at Cedarville High School. Barb Slone | Greene County News

By Zach Gregory

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Reach Zach Gregory at (937) 372-4444, Ext. 2124.