ARCANUM – The Preble Shawnee Arrows stayed undefeated on the season with a 34-0 win over the Arcanum Trojans.
“They are very good,” said Arcanum coach Matt Macy following the game. “I see them as possibly the best team in the region.”
The teams played a 0-0 standoff in the opening quarter, with Arcanum sophomore Lucas Miller picking off an Arrows pass in the end to keep the first-quarter shutout intact.
Arcanum kept the game scoreless for the first 21 minutes and 39 seconds before Preble Shawnee scored with an Isaac Blankenship 38-yard touchdown reception. With the PAT kick through the uprights, the Arrows took a 7-0 lead.
Arcanum went three and out, with the Arrows blocking the punt, setting up a first-and-ten at the 14-yard line. Shawnee scored on the first play from scrimmage, giving the visitors a 14-0 lead, and the teams headed to the halftime break.
“We’re 0-0 three minutes to go in the first half,” Macy noted. “Three or four things happened badly that hurt us, but I am proud of my guys.”
The Arrows received to open the second half and scored at 9:41 in the third on a 2-yard run by Reece Smith. The PAT kick was muffed, giving Preble Shawnee a 20-0 advantage.
Caleb Blankenship gave the Arrows a 26-0 lead with a 31-yard TD run, and with the PAT kick splitting the uprights, Shawnee had a 27-0 lead at 7:13 in the third.
The veteran Arrows’ final score of the night came on a 2-yard touchdown run by Nolan Earles. With the PAT good, Preble Shawnee led 34-0, which would hold up for the final score over a young Arcanum team.
“This isn’t an excuse, but 14 of our 22 starters are freshmen and sophomores,” said Macy. “They have to play better, but I am super proud of them. They are developing and coming through, and our seniors are doing well.”
Arcanum stands at 4-3 in the conference and 4-4 overall on the season with an October 18th game on the road at the 0-7 Dixie Greyhounds and close out the season on October 25th at home when the 1-6 Bradford Railroaders come to town.
“We need to take care of business next week and the week after,” Macy stated. “The goals we set at the beginning of the year are still there for us.”
Arcanum has an opportunity to close out the season with back-to-back wins and a respectable 6-4 record.
“I am excited for the future; I’m excited for the next couple of weeks,” Coach Macy concluded. “We’ll see if we can get in the top 16 and the playoffs.”
