Tyler Harris, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WEST PORTSMOUTH — Rough.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
That’s how you could describe the first quarter on Friday night in West Portsmouth. There’s no other way to put it.
This is how the Senators’ first four possessions went — turnover on downs, interception, interception, punt.
But five minutes into the second quarter, the Senators (11-1) used a 12-play, 62-yard drive to finally break the seal with a one-yard touchdown plunge from quarterback Mitchell Irwin and they never looked back.
After trading two more non-productive drives, the Vikings set up to punt but had trouble with the snap and Trevor Fike made a diving tackle to give the Senators the football.
With 41 seconds left until halftime and a short field, West used its passing game to strike again with an absolute dime from Irwin to Jeffery Bishop. The 19-yard score pushed the halftime score to 14-0.
And, despite the low score and a relatively close game, the Senators’ defense kept the confidence high for the home team, holding the Vikings to just 50 total yards in the first half.
PHOTOS: Images from West’s win over Columbus Academy
“For us, the key tonight was executing and not overthinking things,” West coach Todd Gilliland said. “I thought we played great team defense, not just one guy making plays. We were able to get them into long third downs, allowing our defensive backs to make plays for us.”
Speaking of defensive backs, Cole Tipton started the second half, much like the first, with his second interception of the night on a leaping grab at his own five-yard line. The defenses traded blows most of the half, but the Senators eventually wore down Columbus Academy, using a bruising running game, led by senior Ryan Sissel and a dominant offensive line.
“We felt like we had a size advantage,” Gilliland said. “We knew we wanted to be balanced in the first half, and really grind it out in the second. Give credit to [the Vikings], they played hard and hit hard, but we knew if we got them in a spot to have to throw the ball and play from behind, we’d be in a good spot.”
It definitely was a good place to be for the Senators, who delivered the final blow midway through the fourth quarter after a grueling 15-play, 75-yard drive was paid off by Sissel from a yard out, rounding out the night’s final.
The Vikings would have to rely on the passing game to try and get back into things, but another interception, this time by Brandon Anderson, was the straw that broke the camel’s back and allowed West to eventually run out the clock.
The Senators were led by Sissel, who carried the load, taking 31 totes for 132 yards and a score. He also had 46 receiving yards to boot. Bishop led the receivers, hauling in four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown while adding 28 yards on the ground. Irwin finished his night 8-of-17 passing for 123 yards alongside a score and a rushing touchdown.
West’s defense was sensational, holding Academy to just 95 total yards while picking off three passes.
West now advances to a Division V regional semifinal where the Senators will meet with Ironton. That game will be at 7 p.m., Friday at Portsmouth High School.
“This season has meant a lot to these guys,” Gilliland said. “They have worked so hard to get to this point and we have a mantra, ‘Get better every week,’ and we’ve done that this year. It’s no secret that Ironton is really good. But we feel like we’re pretty good, too and we are going to go to battle next week.”
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