High school football: Penalties, losing gambles cost Black River against Smithville

Penalties and going broke on money downs cost the Black River football team a golden opportunity at a mild road upset Friday night. The Pirates won most of the key box score metrics in a non-league game at Smithville, but the Smithies held firm on fourth down and turned two drives into scores before holding on 14-8. Black River (1-2) outgained Smithville (3-0) 294-204 and by and large matched the physicality of 195-pound running back Mason Haines (15 carries, 68 yards), who had been, by far, the Smithies' go-to player through two games. However, the Pirates committed 10 penalties for 85 yards, including seven holdings, converted only 3-of-13 third downs and failed on fourth down at the Smithville 31-, 12-, 43- and 36-yard lines. The game was scoreless at halftime, as neither team could put anything together on a consistent basis. Smithville got another opportunity after forcing an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-long Black River trick play from the Smithies 43. On the ensuing play from scrimmage, Smithville quarterback Brock Cannon found Isaiah Lee for a 38-yard pass that pushed the ball into Black River territory. Two plays later, Haines plowed through a defender, broke two more tackles and spun around a blocker for a highlight-reel 13-yard touchdown run that finally broke the ice. Black River again failed on fourth down — this time from the 36 — and Smithville took advantage again by chewing clock and scoring on a 9-yard run with Javen Woodarski with 6:41 remaining in the game. The Pirates finally got on the board out of a hurry-up offense, as Dom Bell found Zane Bungard from 17 yards with 3:04 to play. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the Smithies got the needed first down on the next possession to run out the clock. Black River struggled to run the ball throughout, finishing with 93 yards on 31 carries. Hunter Varney led with 47 and Dozier Hendershot added 47. Bell finished 17-for-26 for 201 yards, the touchdown to Bungard and no interceptions. Bungard caught eight passes for 92 yards, Austin Pamer hauled in a 41-yarder on a gutsy fourth-down call from the Black River 29 and Varney was the check-down specialist with five grabs for 36 yards. The loss spoiled a stout defensive effort, highlighted by Pamer's three tackles for loss on Smithville's first eight plays from scrimmage. Bungard added a fumble recovery in the first half and Varney broke up a pass. Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Smithville 14, Black River 8 BLACK RIVER &emsp;&emsp;0 0 0 8 — 8 SMITHVILLE &emsp;&emsp;0 0 7 7 — 14 Third S — Mason Haines 13 run (Luke Snyder kick), 4:00. Fourth S — Javen Woodarski 9 run (Snyder kick), 6:41. B — Zane Bungard 17 pass from Dom Bell (Hunter Varney pass from Bell), 3:04. &emsp;&emsp;BR &emsp;&emsp;S First downs &emsp;&emsp;13 &emsp;&emsp;11 Rushing &emsp;&emsp;31/93 26/106 Rushing average &emsp;&emsp;3.0 &emsp;&emsp;4.1 Passing &emsp;&emsp;17/27 &emsp;&emsp;9/12 Passing yards &emsp;&emsp;201 &emsp;&emsp;98 Total offense &emsp;&emsp;58/294 38/204 Punting &emsp;&emsp;2/41.5 3/29.0 Penalties &emsp;&emsp;10/80 &emsp;&emsp;1/5 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;0/0 &emsp;&emsp;2/1 RUSHING: Black River — Varney 12-47, Dozier Hendershot 9-45, Bryce Murray 1-1, Bell 9-0. Smithville — Haines 15-68, Brock Cannon 3-15, Ben Beichler 1-13, Brady Sidle 2-10, Woodarski 3-9, Team 1-(-2), Isaiah Lee 1-(-7). PASSING: Black River — Bell 17-26-201-0, Varney 0-1-0-0. Smithville — Cannon 9-10-98-0, Sidle 0-2-0-0. RECEIVING: Black River — Bungard 8-92, Austin Pamer 1-41, Varney 5-36, Murray 1-15, Hendershot 1-13, Kage Petruzzi 1-4. Smithville — Lee 6-83, Woodarski 2-11, Evan Thut 1-4.