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Toronto struggles with Southern Local

SALINEVILLE — Two early turnovers and big pass plays from Southern Local proved too much for Toronto, as the visiting Red Knights fell to the state-ranked Indians, 43-14, Friday at Wigwam Stadium.

The Indians, who entered the game on top of the Division IV, Region 21 standings, remained undefeated at 4-0, with Jayce Sloan throwing for 257 yards. The Red Knights, who were held to 146 yards total offense, fell to 1-3 on the season, while turning the ball over on their first two possessions.

Southern came up with a fumble on Toronto’s first drive and came down with an interception on the second. The Indians would capitalize on both, and the Red Knights quickly found themselves behind by two touchdowns just four and a half minutes into the game.

Mark Soukup recovered the fumble that put the Indians’ wheels in motion on the Toronto 24. Dylan Milhoan chewed up 22 yards on the first Southern play of the game, and senior fullback River Pappas rumbled in from 2 yards out to open the scoring at 10:41. Pappas also hauled in the conversion pass.

Things didn’t get much better for the Red Knights on their next possession. Unable to gain yards on the ground, Toronto tried the air, only to be picked off by Bradly Sloan. Milhoan later ran the ball in from 5 yards out to cap off Southern’s second drive. Pappas caught the conversion pass and Southern led, 16-0, with 7:38 left in the first.

The Red Knights were able to lessen the burden early in the second quarter. Toronto held the Indians deep in home territory when Isaac Miller came up with a sack to force Southern into a fourth-and-15 situation at the Indian 15. Instead of punting, the Indians went for it. The pass fell incomplete and Toronto took over on downs. Four plays later, the Red Knights converted a fourth down of their own, and after losing a couple yards on run, punched into the Southern end zone on a 6-yard run by Zach Stackhouse. The PAT made it, 16-7, with 11:47 remaining in the half.

Toronto, however, was unable to keep the momentum, and it was all Southern after that as the Indians began to gain yards through the air. Sloan connected with Soukup on a 25-yard play and hit Bradly Sloan for 33 yards to cross the Red Knight 5. Milhoan finished the drive with a 1-yard run. The pass for the conversion failed, and Southern held a 22-7 lead as the bands took the field.

The Indians picked up where they left in the third. After returning the second-half kickoff to the Toronto 48, Southern used just one play to cross the Toronto goal line again when Sloan connected with Cam Grodhaus on a scoring strike at 9:13. The PAT was good.

Three minutes later, Bradly Sloan came up with his second interception of the night, snagging the ball on the Southern 16. It took two plays for Indians to make another trip into the Red Knight’s end zone. An 8-yard run by Pappas was followed by a 78-yard Sloan-to-Sloan connection. The conversion failed, but Southern had increased its lead to 35-7 at 8:08 of the third.

Toronto struggled to move the ball and was held to a quick three-and-out, allowing the Southern offense back on the field. The Indians slowed the pace on that possession, moving 56 yards on 10 plays. Grodhaus capped off the four-minute drive with a 16-yard scoring reception from Sloan. Grodhaus also ran in for the 2-point conversion.

The Red Knights mustered a final score with 1:15 remaining in the game. Tristan Thomas ran in from a yard out.

Jayce Sloan connected on 9 of 12 attempts to record his 257 yards. Bradly Sloan led the Southern receivers, netting 149 yards and a touchdown on just three receptions. Grodhaus finished with 70 yards and two scores on three catches.

The Indians added 131 on the ground. Grodhaus came up with 50 yards on eight carries. Pappas had 40 on five carries and a TD. Milhoan carried 10 times for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

Toronto quarterback Caleb Leasure was 6 of 17 for 47 yards. Tristan Thomas had one catch for 21 yards, while A.J. Clegg had one for 11 and Sackhouse had two for 12.

Stackhouse registered 30 yards rushing. Kobe Herrick and JoJo Savage each had 23 yards on the ground.

The Red Knights will try to get back to the winning sides of things Friday when they play host to 3-1 Leetonia. Southern travels to 2-2 Lisbon on Friday.

Southern 43, Toronto 14

Toronto 0-7-0-7 — 14

Southern 16-6-21-0 — 43

S: Pappas 2 run (Pappas pass from Sloan), 10:41

S: Milhoan 5 (Pappas run), 7:38

T: Stackhouse 6 run (Herrick kick), 9:13

S: Milhoan 1 run (kick good), 1:50

S: Grodhaus 48 pass from J. Sloan (pass failed), 11:47

S: B. Sloan 78 pass from J. Sloan (run failed), 8:08.

S: Gradhaus 16 pass from J. Sloan (Gradhaus run), 4:01

T: Thomas 1 run (Herrick kick), 1:15.

RUSHING: Toronto 28-101-2 (Stackhouse 2-30-1; Thomas 3-11-1; Herrick 11-23; JoJo Savage 6-23; Dozier 6-12). Southern 30-131 (Grodhaus 8-50; Pappas 5-40-1; Milhoan 10-39-2; B. Sloan 1-8; Garrett Brewer 1-3; J. Sloan 5 -(-10).

PASSING: Toronto 7-17-43-1-0 (all by Leasure). Southern 9-12-257-0-3 (all by J. Sloan).

RECEIVING: Toronto 7-47-0 (Thomas 1-21; Dozier 2-3; Stackhouse 2-12; Clegg 1-11). Southern 9-257-3 (B. Sloan 3-149-1; Pappas 1-5; Grodhaus 3-70-2; Soukup 2-33.)

PENALTIES-YARDS: Toronto 3-30; Southern 4-35.

PUNTS: Toronto 2-31; Southern 0.

FUMBLES-LOST: Toronto 3-1; Southern 3-0.

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