Unlucky 13

Scanning the Oil City sidelines before Saturday night’s game at Bender field in Meadville something was missing.
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The number two jersey of Oil City’s all-time leading rusher Ethen Knox was nowhere to be found.

There did appear to be a Knox doppelgänger wearing number 13 however.

Actually, it wasn’t a look-a-like, Knox was wearing a different jersey because his white #2 was ripped in the last game and the repair wasn't finished in time.

Superstition may have suggested a different number choice for Saturday?
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The tailback averages over 200 yards a game and was met at the line of scrimmage or backfield by Bulldog defenders all night long keeping him to under 50 yards in the game. Not many teams have kept him under 50 yards in a  possession nevermind a whole game.

It was evident early on, no matter what jersey Knox was wearing, Meadville was keyed in on him. The Bulldogs cruised to a 32-8 win to take charge of Region 5. 

On the opening drive, keeping Knox at bay and Oil City penalties set the tone as they went three and out.

​Though the Oilers got a quick interception they weren’t able to convert a first down again giving it back to the Bulldogs in excellent field position. A few plays later at 4:23 of the first quarter Meadville's Jacoby Thompson took it in from the four. After the failed extra point it was 6-0.

Oil City again was forced to punt without a first down.

Moments later MASH quarterback Tate Reichel tossed to Brighton Anderson who scampered 80 yards for the second touchdown of the opening frame. This time they converted on the two-point attempt to go up 14-0.

The second quarter started out disastrous for the Oilers with a lost fumble giving the Bulldogs good field possession again. And again the Bulldogs took advantage with an untouched seven-yard touchdown by Jordan Lawrence. A second failed kick left them up 20-0.

Penalties once again killed the Oilers on the next drive, turning the ball over on downs.

On MASH’s next possession the Oilers looked to get the break they needed. A penalty and bad snap put the Bulldogs in a second and 47 situation.

But things were not going to go the Oiler way no matter what. Jacoby Thompson took the ball around the edge and 64 yards later scored their fourth unanswered touchdown.

Way behind and with the running game not working, Dan York’s Oilers tried something they don’t do a whole lot of - they threw a pass.

​From their own 11, Cole Findlay arced one over the Meadville defenders hitting Gavin Stephens in stride for an 89 yards to pay dirt touchdown at 2;38 seconds left in the half. A Knox two-point conversion narrowed the gap to 26-8 going into the half.

Two weeks ago York and his staff were able to make blocking adjustments when Franklin was doing a good job holding Knox’s yards in check. But not so this week against the athletic defense led by Justice Esser and Ty Tidball.

MASH held Knox to less than 15 yards in the second half and ate clock with their pounding running game. 
They scored once more in the third quarter on a 32-yard pass from Reichel to a wide open Nic Williams.

The Bulldogs would’ve scored again in the last minute of the game, but instead of running up the score, Brighton Anderson took a short pass into the wide open for 44 yards stopping at the one and allowing the Dawgs to run out the clock on a 32-8 win.

Oil City, now 4-2 on the season, hosts Holidaysburg next week before their next region game against Conneaut.