Beavercreek 14, Wayne 13

CINCINNATI - The Beavercreek Battlin’ Beavers pulled off one of the biggest wins in the history of their program as they held off the Wayne Warriors for a 14-13 win.

It has been at least 25 years since Beavercreek (4-3, 1-1) got a win in a matchup with the Warriors, who started the week at No. 5 in the TSF Ohio DI Rankings and very much entrenched in the Region 4 playoff picture.

The heavy rains helped the Battlin’ Beavers contain an explosive Wayne (5-2, 1-1) offense as they pounded the ball on the ground and ate up huge chunks of clock in the process. Beavercreek held the ball for over 33 of the game’s 48 minutes to seal the victory.

Airius Moore put Beavercreek on the scoreboard first with a 3-yard TD run late in the first quarter. The lead would be short-lived though as the Warriors answered less than a minute later Javon Harrison connected with Devin Reed on a 16-yard TD pass to knot things at 7-7 entering the second quarter.

Harrison would give Wayne the halftime lead when he scrambled 18 yards for a rushing touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion kept the lead at six with Wayne up 13-7 heading into the locker rooms.

Moore would help the Battlin’ Beavers regain the lead with a second rushing touchdown as he scored from two yards midway through the third quarter. It would prove to be the final points of the evening.

Beavercreek was approaching the red zone with just over four minutes left in the game with a chance to put the contest away, but a key fumble gave the Warriors life.

Harrison and Reed would connect on passes of 28 and 25 yards to move Wayne to the Beavercreek 22-yard line, but only managed eight yards over the next three plays as they settled for a game-winning field goal attempt. Colin Belcher’s kick came up short though and the Battlin’ Beavers escaped victorious.

Beavercreek looks to keep thing rolling next week as they square off against last-place Springfield. Meanwhile, Wayne heads to Centerville as the Elks will look to claim the GWOC Central title.