FREDERICKTOWN — Loudonville provided a game and surprisingly difficult challenge, but Fredericktown survived to deliver a Homecoming victory to remember on Friday night.
Despite coughing up three fumbles, the Freddies hung on in the extra session to collect a 26-20 Know Morrow Athletic Conference victory.
“Loudonville is a much-improved team,” Freddies coach Scott Spitler said. “Ed Honabarger (former Danville coach) hats off to him. He’s a winner through and through. Every program he’s been involved with has been a winner.
“They are getting better every day and let me tell you, they had our attention.”
The Redbirds gave the home squad all it could handle, but a fatal mistake set up the winning score. Loudonville was flagged for pass interference in the end zone to set up the final, 1-yard TD plunge that finished it.
Fredericktown improved to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the KMAC. The Freddies’ one blemish came in a 41-7 loss to Mount Gilead. But last wek’s 25-13 rebound win at Northmor kept the home team in contention in the KMAC, just a game behind league-leading Centerburg.
The Freddies play at East Knox next week.
Fredericktown drew first blood when quarterback Blake Sipes tucked the ball under his right arm and bolted 23 yards for a touchdown. That score came on a fourth-down play with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. After a successful PAT, the Freddies owned a 7-0 lead.
Sipes struck again by hitting Gavin Toombs on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Again, the PAT was good and the hosts owned a 14-0 lead.
Loudonville responded with a pair of touchdowns, but two missed conversions left Fredericktown on top 14-12.
The teams played a game of defense until Loudonville took a 20-14 lead on a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion.
Fredericktown answered with a 90-yard drive, capped when Sipes found Junior Butler on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 3:31 remaining. The extra point was no good, and the game went into overtime.
“Our kids had a great week of practice, but in a game like that, we got up early and started giving them hope by turning the ball over, just a lot of silly stuff,” Spitler said. “Our conditioning level showed late, being able to just line up and do what we did, putting the ball in the end zone.
“We were alright once we stopped shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Loudonville falls to 2-5, 0-4. The Redbirds will host Cardington next week.
(Photos by Dan Werner)
