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Creek tops Wildcats

MAKING A MOVE — Indian Creek quarterback Greg Wade escapes Edison’s Mason Balzano during Thursday’s contest at Kettlewell Stadium. The Redskins finished the season at 8-2 with a 35-13 victory in the Route 43 Rivalry. Looking on is Creek’s Andy Waggoner. (Mike Mathison)

WINTERSVILLE — The Indian Creek football team built a big lead early and cruised to a 35-13 victory Thursday over Edison in the annual Route 43 Rivalry.

“The kids responded well coming off a tough loss last week,” said Redskins coach Andrew Connor. “We were dejected, but the seniors did a great job leading the team this week. That’s what it’s all about. We were glad to send the seniors out with a win at home.”

On Indian Creek’s first possession, it took just two plays for the Redskins to find the end zone. The first touchdown came on a 73-yard pass from Greg Wade to Austin Rawson. Rawson broke two tackles around midfield and sprinted for the early lead.

The Redskins scored two more times in the first quarter on a four-yard run by Robert Coppa and a 47-yard run by Wade, to give them a 19-0 lead after the first quarter.

Brandon Hiles’ 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half allowed Indian Creek to take a 22-0 lead into the locker room.

Rawson struck again early in the third quarter with a 52-yard touchdown run to give the Redskins a 29-0 advantage.

Edison’s two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by River Pappas and a 22-yard pitch-and-catch from Joe Nave to Seth Cade.

“We played hard and the kids gave great effort,” said Edison coach Derrick Stickles. “We still haven’t been able to put a full football game together and that part remains frustrating.”

Wade capped the scoring at the 2:23 mark of the fourth quarter on a 19-yard run.

Wade is one of 13 seniors for the Redskins who helped the program achieve eight-consecutive winning seasons. This senior class accounted for 30 victories since 2013.

“They were good leaders the entire time,” Connor said. “The knew what it took to be an Indian Creek football player. They carried the program well. I’m proud of them and I love them to death. I had a meeting with the seniors before the game and I told them, ‘It’s more than just being a football player here.’ They are all like my own kids. I’m going to miss them. They did great for the school.”

Edison also will graduate 13 seniors. Stickles has known this group since they were in sixth grade.

“Every senior class is special,” he said, “but this group will always hold a special place in my heart. I coached them in sixth grade and moved on with them to seventh grade. I left to coach at Oak Glen for a brief time, but returned to be their head coach at the high school level. They’re a great group who dedicated themselves to this program.”

Indian Creek pounded out 447 yards of total offense, 287 of which came on the ground. Wade was the leading rusher with 142 yards, while Rawson finished with 66 on just three carries and Robert Coppa added 59 yards.

Through the air, sophomore Brennan Norris was 7 of 12 passing for 87 yards.

“We played a lot of kids and we got a lot of different kids in the game,” Connor said. “Once you get to this point, the kids understand that it’s all about the next man up. We had that mindset all year. The kids have to follow their leaders and we’re blessed to have great leadership in this program.”

Wade’s only throw was the 73-yard touchdown pass to Rawson, who caught a total of three passes for 79 yards. Wade caught four passes to have 45 receiving yards and Trey Harton caught one pass for 18 yards.

For Edison, Cade led the rushing attack with 47 yards on 17 carries. Nave was 8 of 17 passing for 90 yards.

Defensively, Cody Westling had an interception for the Wildcats, who, as a team, recovered an Indian Creek fumble in the second quarter. Cole Clutter also had a quarterback sack.

Indian Creek’s Billy Haislet had two sacks.

The Wildcats finish the year with a 3-7 record, while the Redskins are 8-2. Indian Creek currently sits at No. 9 in the Division IV, Region 15 standings.

“Maybe things will break their way for us tomorrow,” Connor said, “but at least the kids did their part.”

Indian Creek 35, Edison 13

Edison                                   0  0  0  13  —  13

Indian Creek                     19  3  7    6  —  35

IC: Rawson 73 pass from Wade (Maiorano kick)

IC: Coppa 4 run (conversion failed)

IC: Wade 47 run (conversion failed)

IC: Hiles 35 field goal

IC: Rawson 52 run (Maiorano kick)

E: Pappas 1 run (kick missed)

E: Cade 22 pass from Nave (Cline kick)

IC: Wade 19 run (kick missed)

RUSHING: Edison 34-93 (Cade 17-47, Nave 10-39, Pappas 7-7); Indian Creek 32-287 (Wade 11-142, Rawson 3-66, Coppa 12-59, Harton 4-11, Norris 2-9).

PASSING: Edison 8-17-90-1-0 (all by Nave); Indian Creek 8-13-160-1-1 (Norris 7-12-87-0-1, Wade 1-1-73-1-0).

RECEIVING: Edison 8-90-1 (Cade 6-71-1, Westling 2-19); Indian Creek 8-160-1 (Rawson 3-79-1, Wade 4-45, Harton 1-18).

FIRST DOWNS: Edison 8, Indian Creek 15.

PENALTIES-YARDS: Edison 10-50, Indian Creek 7-58.

FUMBLES-LOST: Edison 0-0, Indian Creek 2-1.

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