Pirates sailing for championship showdown

POMEROY––With a 62-6 win over Liberty Christian behind them, the undefeated Pomeroy Pirates set sail for the 1B Southeast 8-Man Championship at Sunnyside Christian tonight, Nov. 4.

Sunnyside Christian (8-1, 5-1 1B SE) had been unbeaten until a 54-14 loss to DeSales last week, which makes Pomeroy's upcoming contest crucial for an uncontested league championship.

"A win versus the Knights clinches the outright league championship for the Pirates," commented Head Coach Kyle Kimble.

"It was another great team win for our team against a very athletic Liberty Christian team," Kimble said. "Our seniors really stepped up and played a great game on Senior Night and Homecoming."

The Pirates, per their usual game plan, wasted little time putting the game out of reach, but not before the Patriots too a swipe at the Pirates.

Colton Slaybaugh counted 50 of his 101 yards rushing on the first Pirate score of the game, but then Liberty's Perry Pottle found Sam Culver open for a 65-yard score making it 8-6 after the Patriots' point after was no good.

After that it was all Pirates. "Other than a first quarter pass play for a touchdown, we held Liberty Christian's offense in check and kept them out of the end zone for the remainder of the game," Kimble said.

"Our offense was hitting on all cylinders, getting an early 40-point running clock lead in the first quarter," he added. "The coaches and I are really happy that our seniors were able to finish their Lybecker field careers on a winning note."

Gwinn averaged 23.4 yards per carry as he totaled 164 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns, plus a third on a pass from Sidney Bales in the third quarter. He broke loose for touchdowns of 25 yards and 46 yards in Pomeroy's first-quarter scoring blitz.

Slaybaugh clipped off another 45-yard scoring ramble, with Gwinn running in the PAT.

Ollie Severs scored when a Patriot fumble caused by Trevin Kimble was recovered for six. Gwinn punched in the two-point conversion.

Receiver Sidney Bales caught a 31-yard Gwinn pass for Pomeroy's last score of the first quarter. With Gwinn's point-after run, the 46-6 score set the mercy-rule clock in motion.

In the second quarter, Slaybaugh blew into the end zone on a six-yard run, with Gwinn again stepping into the end zone for the extra point.

The Pirates' sole third-quarter score was an 11-yard pass from Bales to Gwinn to set the 62-6 win in stone.

Pomeroy chalked up 332 yards of total offense compared to Liberty's 96. The passing game totaled 51 for Pomeroy and 81 for Liberty, and Pirate rushers counted 281 yards while the defense held the Pats to just 15 yards.

Gwinn hit two of three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown, and Bales' sole pass of 11 yards was to Gwinn for six.

Besides Gwinn's 164 rushing yards and Slaybaugh's 101 yards on the ground, Braedon Fruh had four carries for 26 years, Walker Flynn packed the mail one time for 14 yards and Bales got the call a couple time of a short gain.

Almost the whole defensive crew made a mark on the Patriots, led by Trevin Kimble and Braedyn White, each with five solo tackles, Kimble with three assists. Severs had four solo and three assisted tackles.

Colby Ledgerwood notched three solo tackles and an assist; with Richie Veccio, Sid Bales, Gwinn and Trace Roberts each getting two solos. Braedon Fruh, Slaybaugh, Brodie Magill and Jett Slusser each logged a solo.

Pomeroy 62, Liberty Christian 6 (10-29-21)

Pom 46 8 8 0-62

LC 6 0 0 0-6

Pom-Slaybaugh 50 yd run. Gwinn run

LC-Culver 65 yd pass from Pottle. Pass fail

Pom-Gwinn 25 yd run. Gwinn run

Pom-Gwinn 46 yd run. Kimble pass from Gwinn

Pom-Slaybaugh 45 yd run. Gwinn run

Pom-Severs fumble recovery. Gwinn run

Pom-Bales 31 yd pass from Gwinn. Run failed

Pom-Slaybaugh 6 yd run. Gwinn run

Pom-Gwinn 11 yd pass from Bales. Slaybaugh run