BELLEFONTAINE – Urbana was penalized over 100 yards in the first half alone en route to a 35-14 loss to Ben Logan Friday night in CBC/MRD football.
UHS’s opening possession of the game went backwards due to false start and holding penalties, but the Hillclimbers stopped Ben Logan on downs at its own 48 moments later.
Plagued by more penalties, the Hillclimbers lost yardage and quarterback Levi Boettcher was sacked on fourth down.
On Ben Logan’s ensuing possession, a 37-yard reception was nullified by off-setting penalties, and the Raiders were forced to punt.
A personal foul on UHS later in the first quarter gave BL a first down at the UHS 41, and utilizing screen passes, the Raiders moved all the way to the 5.
Urbana’s Sam Niswonger then tipped and intercepted a pass to thwart the Raiders’ threat.
Moments later, UHS’s Nick Johnson fumbled inside his own 10 as the scoreless first quarter came to an end.
Ben Logan went for it on fourth and goal at the 11, but the pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
Later in the second quarter, a facemask penalty on the Hillclimbers gave BL a first down at the UHS 25.
A 15-yard TD pass two plays later gave the Raiders a 6-0 lead, and a successful two-point conversion run made it 8-0 with eight minutes remaining in the first half.
A Logan Rooney interception stopped a Ben Logan drive midway through the second quarter, but Boettcher threw a pick six to the Raiders two plays later.
The extra-point kick failed, and the Raiders led, 14-0, with 4:20 remaining in the first half.
Urbana’s Devin Trent returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a TD to cut the Raiders’ lead to 14-7.
A six-yard Ben Logan punt gave the Hillclimbers a first down at the Raider 31, but a sack ended the drive on downs at the BL 40.
A wide receiver screen pass moments later went 47 yards for a touchdown, and a two-point conversion pass made it 22-7 in Ben Logan’s favor with 1:36 remaining in the first half.
UHS ran the ball three straight times to start the third quarter and lost yardage on each play, but a Hillclimber interception four plays later near midfield gave UHS good field position.
But once again, the Urbana offense stalled out and was forced to punt.
Ben Logan quickly put a 59-yard TD pass on the board to make the score 28-7 with 6:33 remaining in the third period.
The third quarter ended with the Raiders on top, 28-7.
A blocked punt with 10:37 remaining gave Urbana possession inside the BL 20, but Boettcher was intercepted at the goal line three plays later.
An 85-yard TD pass from Boettcher to Max Niswonger at 8:07 of the fourth quarter cut the Ben Logan lead to 28-14.
The Raiders (4-3, 2-0) responded with a long scoring drive that culminated on a QB sneak which gave the home team a 35-14 lead with 4:27 to play.
The teams combined for 11 turnovers in the game.
Urbana (2-5, 1-1) hosts Northwestern next Friday night.
