HOLMES TOWNSHIP — The Tiffin Calvert Senecas owned the time of possession, rushing yards, passing yards, and total yards.
Yet, the Wynford Royals won the game.
Calvert (1-1) ran 65 plays to the Royals’ 36 and outgained Wynford, 286-179.
But the Wynford defense was the difference in the game.
The Royals used two goal-line stands, one in each half, to edge the Senecas, 13-9, Friday night at Wynford.
Both teams are 1-1 on the season.
Wynford coach Gabe Helbert said that two big plays in the first quarter and a good defense the rest of the way got the job done.
“(Tiffin Calvert) had the ball a tremendous amount,” Helbert said. “I can’t believe how much they had the ball. We were fortunate enough to win. Our defense was able to get together. We had to get into a 50 look with our linebackers and had to do some things to control (Nick Seifert); he’s a good player.”
After Calvert’s Quinten Ronski booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Senecas a 3-0 lead, Wynford’s Cody Taylor took at ensuing kickoff at the Wynford 25 and scampered 75 yards for a score and a 6-3 Wynford lead.
Taylor capped a 74-yard drive in the first period with a five-yard run and the Royals held a 13-3 lead.
Then the Calvert offense took over.
The Senecas moved 80 yards in 16 plays to the Wynford one and had two plays from the Wynford one. Both times, Calvert halfback Aaron Rombach tried to score and was turned back.
Ronski kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and Wynford took a 13-6 lead into halftime.
Ronski converted a 30-yard field goal in the third period, cutting the Royals’ lead to 13-9.
From there, the Senecas made one final drive in the fourth period, moving 85 yards in nine plays to the Wynford six-yard line with about a minute left in the game.
On third down, Calvert quarterback Jack Shultz was sacked at the Wynford 19. On the next play, fourth and goal from the Wynford 19, Shultz was picked off by Wynford’s Nate Imbody to end the game.
“We got the ball inside the 10, we just couldn’t get the ball in the end zone,” Tiffin Calvert coach Steve Reser said. “We just had too many negative plays tonight. You saw what I saw. Obviously, it’s a tough one to swallow when we move the ball and we get inside the five and we fail to punch it in.
“Maybe we should have called a couple of different plays. Our young men gave a great effort,” Reser said.
“Again, we are very proud of kids’ effort, the kids just sucked it up toward the end and we were able to hold a very explosive Tiffin Calvert team to nine points,” Helbert said. “It’s just a testament to our defensive staff and our kids on that side of the ball.
“There were critical downs and critical plays on critical parts of the field,” Helbert added. “We were just fortunate to walk off our home field with a win.
“We had to drop a guy down, not to do that a ton. But you have to make adjustments during a game. We’re down a linebacker but our defensive staff did a phenomenal job of getting into those fronts.”
Offensively, the Royals struggled moving football. Wynford’s ability to move the ball on kickoff returns was also a key, according to Helbert.
“Special teams are a third of the game, something we really try and do a great job in practice,” Helbert said. “I thought our kickoff return team did a great job of getting the wall set up, two huge plays.
“But we have to start finishing drives on offense. It’s very disappointing. To walk out of here with a win, I’m happy, but our offensive attention to detail has to get better. Too many missed opportunities, too many missed assignments.”
Rombach led all rushers with 102 yards in 20 carries and wideout Seifert grabbed seven passes for 122 yards.
Wynford quarterback Dustin Brady rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries.
“No matter if it was on the 50 or the five or the one, I think Wynford did the same,” Reser said. “Hats off to them, hats off to their coaching staff. They have always had a great program here and that continues. We want to reach that.
We think we can play, and this is why we play games like this, to see what we are made of.”