WYOMING 27, CLINTON MASSIE 7

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Hall helps Wyoming rally

BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor

Richard Hall is stopped at the goal line in the first quarter. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

Thoughts of Wyoming's first-round Division IV playoff loss to Ottawa Glandorf last year surfaced Friday at Mason's Dwire Field.

Richard Hall & Co. were held scoreless in the first half Friday, but the Cowboys scored four touchdowns in the second half and pulled away for a 27-7 victory over Clinton Massie before a crowd of 2,800.

The Cowboys (10-1) advanced to the Region 16, Division IV championship game next week at a site to be announced Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Wyoming plays Germantown Valley View, which defeated Ironton 50-20.

"We came out flat on offense," said Hall, the senior tailback who rushed for 318 yards and three TDs. "Tonight it was the defense that carried us as they have all season."

Trailing 7-0 midway through the third quarter, Wyoming coach Bernie Barre dug deep into his bag of tricks and came up with a halfback option pass that produced the first TD and tied the score.

Quarterback Kyle Lewis pitched the ball to Adam Monday, who lofted a perfect strike to Chris Carter in the end zone.

But, it was the passing of quarterback Kyle Lewis that loosened the Clinton Massie defense, which played as many as nine men on the line in an attempt to stop Hall, who had 81 yards on 21 carries in the first half.

"Once I started completing a few passes, their linebackers stayed back," Lewis said. "Richard then took over. I don't know how he does it, but he somehow gets loose."

Hall finally got into the end zone with six seconds remaining in the third quarter. He took a handoff from Lewis, broke right, cut back to the left and scored from 10 yards out.

"Richard tends to look for the big run on every play," Barre said. "We tell him to take the 5-yard runs and the big ones will come." On Hall's next two TD runs of 33 and 59 yards, linebacker Scott Crider - inserted as a fullback in the fourth quarter - threw key blocks.

"Scott's a heck of a football player," assistant coach Jim Barre said. "He'll probably play a lot of fullback next year." Clinton Massie coach Dan McSurley was impressed with Hall and Wyoming.

"This is my 14th year coaching and the Hall boy is the finest I've seen," McSurley said. "But Wyoming's defense also played well. They took us out of our shotgun and forced us to go with play action.

"There were opportunities for us, but we couldn't capitalize. Our kids fought hard and got beat by a good football team."

Lewis completed 8 of 16 passes for 142 yards. Monday was the big-play receiver, coming up with four clutch catches during the Cowboys first two drives.

The Falcons, making their first playoff appearance, bow out at 9-1, the best record in school history.

Clinton Massie 7 0 0 0- 7
Wyoming 0 0 14 13-27

C-Phipps 1 run (Bryant kick)

W-Carter 30 pass from Monday (Kaszubski kick)

W-Hall 10 run (Kaszubski kick)

W-Hall 33 run (Kaszubski kick)

W-Hall 59 run (kick blocked)