West Jefferson doomed by turnovers

BEAVERCREEK — West Jefferson learned how costly five turnovers can be.

Second-seeded Middletown Madison, in the playoffs for the first time in school history, forced four interceptions and one fumble to upend the Roughriders 42-7 at Beavercreek High School on Friday in the Division V, Region 20 final.

“When you have that many turnovers in a game of this magnitude, you’re not going to have a lot of success,” West Jefferson coach Shawn Buescher said.

Roughriders quarterback Lance Lambert, who entered Friday with only five interceptions this season, threw four in the game, including one that was returned 98 yards for a touchdown by Mason Whiteman in the fourth quarter.

Hats off to Madison’s pass rush for putting Lambert under duress, Buescher said.

“They did a good job of getting to him and made him hurry some throws,” he said. “We had some problems on the edge creating space.”

The Roughriders (12-1) had little answer for the Mohawks’ rushing attack, which accounted for all of their 353 yards of total offense.

Junior fullback Cameron Svarda led the way for Madison (11-2), rushing for 217 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Mason Whiteman recorded 85 yards on 13 carries and a score and senior running back Tyler Baumgartner had 37 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

The Roughriders scored their only points on a 70-yard kick return by Gabe Jones on a squib kick as time expired in the first half. It followed a 26-yard field goal by Graham Reich, and the Mohawks entered halftime leading 17-7.

It was back and forth for much of third quarter, until Cameron Svarda picked off Lambert at the Roughriders’ 32-yard line and returned it to the 9, leading to Baumgartner’s TD run.

Svarda scored his third touchdown to give the Mohawks a 29-7 lead.

The Roughriders graduate 12 seniors, including several key contributors in Lambert, running back Ethan Higgins, wide receiver Caleb Vanhook, tight end/ linebacker Justin Gatley and offensive lineman Cole Howard.

“They’re a great group of kids,” Buescher said. “They’ve meant a lot to us on the field and off the field. They’re great leaders for our program.”