The Miami Trace Panthers advance in the playoffs with a 27-14 victory over the short-handed FAC Champs Chillicothe Cavaliers.
Despite only having 18 players dressed for the game, due to COVID quarantine of several players and their entire JV team, the Chillicothe Cavs gave it everything they had and left it all on the field. Chillicothe scores first Friday night on their second possession when running back Maxwell Lee ran it in from three yards out capping 5 play 60 yard drive to the give the Cavs a 6-0 lead.
Miami Trace answered the score on the very next drive as Weston Melvin found Josh Gilmore on one of his three touchdown catches, this one for 54 yards to tie the score at 6. Each team score once more in the first half as Chillicothe QB Jaiden Cain found the end zone on a 1 yard run capping an 8 play 71 yard drive, the 2-point conversion was good to give the Cavs a 14-6 lead. But again Melvin found Gilmore on the Panthers very next drive, 2 plays 27 yards, the PAT was good and at the half the score was 14-13 in favor of Chillicothe l.
The second half belonged to the Panthers as Chillicothe did not score another point. Trace’s Hunter McBee caught a 28 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Josh Gilmore scored his third TD of the night in the fourth quarter to seal the deal 27-14 in favor of Miami Trace.
Trace finished with 361 total yards, Weston Melvin was 11-18 for 202 yards and 4 touchdowns, Gilmore caught 7 passes for 152 yards and turner scored while Junior Running Back Jayden LeBeau carries the ball 21 times for 151 yards. Miami Trace (4-3) advances to Play London next Friday. Buckeye Country 105.5 air time will be 6:40 pm.
The Cavaliers fought hard and didn’t give up despite being undermanned, they finished with 265 total yards, junior Running Back Tylin Scales had a career night rushing for 157 yards on 19 carries.
The FAC Champ Cavaliers playoff season came to a close with a record of (5-2). Whether they will play in more regular season games will be decided next week.