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By Greg Floyd – Piqua Daily Call
SPRINGFIELD - Minus a main gun, the Piqua Indians capitalized Friday night on a rugged running attack and sturdy defense to defeat the Springfield North Panthers, 41-0.
Sophomore stand-in quarterback Rob Lillicrap (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) took the reigns holding senior running backs Bryan Magoteaux and Ryan Honeycutt and junior back Ben Holtvogt. The Indians' starting running backs compiled 107 yards on 27 carries with three touchdowns on the night.
A pleased head coach Bill Nees wasn't too quick to complement. Before the game he didn't shower his players with praise, and explained to one reporter "You can't look at a car and say it is shiny enough...someone else will show up in a shinier car."
Nees reflected on that comment after the win against the Panthers, then added a footnote: "It's Labor Day weekend, and I suppose we'll have to get the car buffers out Monday."
Lillicrap's passing game started cold, on the whole not because of his own shortcomings, however. His oft-crisp passes struck just off his receivers' marks, though catchable. Lillicrap was 4-for-11 passing in the first half for 56 yards, and 10-for-20 for the game for 137.
Preseason starting quarterback Lance Karn, a junior, was limited to punting duties because of an injured right shoulder hurt during the last scrimmage game of the preseason.
Nees said he didn't give Lillicrap or his players any surprises. The backup knew for some time that he could be called on to start as Karn is day-to-day with his injury, and may remain that way for some time.
Even the new dress uniforms got a test run Thursday in a full pad practice.
"We never do anything for the first time out here on the field," Nees said.
But what clinched the game for the Indians was a defense that despite breakdowns could stop the Panthers' offense cold if needed. Springfield's best first-half series of plays consisted of five downs. The Panthers covered 40 yards in those plays, only to be flustered by an Indians interception at the Piqua 25-yard line by senior defensive back Marc Cool.
That wasn't the end. Magoteaux is credited with an interception, as is senior Doug Ouhl - a questionable starter because of an injury - who ran his theft back 47 yards for a touchdown. Ouhl's efforts put the game further out of reach at 20-0 midway through the second quarter.
"Most disappointing were the turnovers," Newly appointed Panthers head coach Jim Dimitroff said. "The returnees Piqua had on defense were outstanding. They just took control of the game."
Nees replaced his starters with some eight minutes left in the game and the Indians ahead, 34-0. Within minutes, backup sophomore running back Kevin Darner penetrated the end zone to give Piqua the final touchdown with some five minutes remaining.
Senior defensive standout Antwon Jones (6-4, 238) limped off the field at the start of the third quarter, but will be fine, Nees said. Jones suffered leg cramps.
Some 400 Indians fans crowded the visitor's side bleachers.
Piqua plays again Friday in its season home opener as the Indians host Xenia at Wertz Stadium.
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