OSU coach, ex-Buckeye Myers watch Miamisburg dump Alter
MIAMISBURG — Coming off the field following a win over Lebanon last week, Miamisburg thought it was going to face Harrison seven days later. The Vikings also weren’t confident what impact junior receiver Jackson McGohan would have in the passing game with a cast on his broken left hand.
A lot can change in seven days.
Facing Alter in a nonleague match-up created due to COVID cancellations, Miamisburg handled the Knights 33-14 at Holland Field before a crowd that included Ohio State coach Ryan Day and former Buckeyes and Miamisburg lineman and current Green Bay Packers center Josh Myers.
The meeting was the first between the schools since Alter went 3-1 during a fourgame series from 1991-94. The Knights were supposed to play Belmont.
McGohan, who had his cast removed earlier in the week, caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. His one-handed grab on a 29-yard completion in the second quarter sent the stands into a frenzy as Burg built a 16-0 halftime lead.
Through two games, Miamisburg (3-0) had thrown the ball 13 times. Vikings senior quarterback Justin Barry was 10-of-16 for 164 yards and two touchdowns (including a 59-yard strike to sophomore tight end Drew Dunaway) versus Alter (1-2).
“The first week we didn’t have Jackson, so that hindered us a little,” Miamisburg coach Lance Schneider said. “Last week we only threw it three times because we were doing a great job upfront and didn’t need to throw it. But I feel like for this offense to get to where we want it, you have to be able to throw.”
“We knew we were going to come out and pass the ball as much as we could,” McGohan said. “It worked in our favor. Our quarterback, offensive line and receiving corps did a great job.”
Miamisburg’s defense wasn’t bad either.
Limiting Alter to 21 yards in the first half, the Vikings forced two turnovers, the last of which was a fumbled snap on the Knights’ lone third quarter possession.
Freshman quarterback Gavin Conner led the Knights on two fourth-quarter scoring drives by completing 12-of-20 pass for 154 yards and a touchdown of 5 yards to senior CJ Hicks.
Hicks also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Danny Mangin on fourth-and-14 after Conner had to exit due to getting his helmet knocked off by the Miamisburg defense on third down.
The Knights managed 266 yards but ran for just 51 on 26 carries.
“We didn’t do much of anything good the first half offense or defense,” Alter coach Ed Domsitz said. “They controlled the line of scrimmage.
“It’s disappointing. We’re capable of performing better than we saw tonight.”