McKinley hands Wayne first defeat

HUBER HEIGHTS — Discussing the list of went wrong or didn’t go well enough Friday night, Wayne football coach Roosevelt Mukes returned to the same thought.

“We’ve just got to get better,” he quietly said over and over.

Mukes meant offense, defense and special teams. He meant penalties and turnovers. Being ready to play. Everything.

The Warriors showed life in the final 16 minutes, but they already trailed by three touchdowns and lost 28-12 to visiting Canton McKinley.

“Gotta give credit to Canton McKinley,” Mukes said. “They came down here and did what they were supposed to do.”

Wayne (2-1) was looking for its first 3-0 start since its undefeated 2016 regular season. McKinley (1-2) was looking for its first win, and the Bulldogs took advantage of Wayne mistakes, situations and a methodical running game.

The first break was a 64-yard punt to bury Wayne deep in its own territory. Wayne followed with a short punt that gave the Bulldogs possession at the Wayne 28. Five plays later, the Bulldogs had overcome a holding penalty to take a 7-0 lead on Treyton Mackey’s 12-yard run.

Next, the Warriors made a bad snap on a field-goal attempt and the Bulldogs turned that into a 60-yard scoring drive for a 14-0 lead. A Wayne personal foul aided

McKinley’s touchdown drive in the third quarter that made the score 21-0.

“We were a little flat, and that’s something we have to get better at and coming ready to compete when the game starts,” Mukes said. “I’m not making excuses. We’ve just got to get better.”

Wayne started freshman Tyrell Lewis at quarterback again. But with the offense not moving in the first half, Mukes turned to senior leading receiver and backup quarterback Bryan Kinley for most of the rest of the game.

The Warriors will spend this week trying to get better, and the schedule doesn’t get easier. Springfield comes to town Friday for the Greater Western Ohio Conference opener.