Fred Stabbert III | Democrat The Blue Devils are back on track, picking up the first win of the season, with a 23-12 non-league win over Eldred.

Dreher is there for Blue Devils

Story by Fred Stabbert III
ROSCOE — September 17, 2013 — The Blue Devils are back on track.
Roscoe-Downsville-Livingston Manor picked up its first win of the season Friday night with a convincing 23-12 non-league win over visiting Eldred under the lights.
The two teams will meet again at Eldred on October 25 in a Class D league game.
Roscoe was led by the tough rushing of 200 pound fullback Brad Dreher, who pounded up the middle throughout the game and had 126 yards on 17 rushes, including touchdown scampers of 10 and 2 yards respectively.
Roscoe started fast as Dreher pushed the ball across the goal line midway through the first quarter and Joey Gales added the extra point to make it 7-0 Roscoe.
The ensuing kickoff looked like it might go out of bounds. As Eldred players watched the ball bounce closer to the line, a Roscoe player quickly ran downfield and recovered the kick near the 30-yard line.
That set up Roscoe’s next score as Dylan Murphy ran 20 yards on a reverse and an Eldred penalty moved the ball down to the three-yard line. Halfback Brian Eskridge then ran it in to give Roscoe a 13-0 lead with 5:21 left in the quarter.
But Eldred was not about to give up.
Starting on their own 33, the Yellowjackets faced a third and 16 when Julian Gottlieb broke off a 50-yard run to move the ball down to the 25.
Six plays later Gottlieb again got the call from the 10-yard line and outran the defense to the flag for a touchdown, making it 13-6 with 59 seconds left in the first quarter.
Eldred’s defense stiffened in the second quarter, and the Yellowjackets marched down the field on their next possession with nifty runs by Gottlieb and Warren.
Warren then pounded the ball in at the 6:44 mark and Eldred was within one point at 13-12.
The first half ended in dramatic fashion as Roscoe engineered a late drive with no timeouts down to the seven-yard line.
A pass into the corner of the endzone fell to the ground as the horn sounded, ending the first half.
Roscoe took the second half kickoff and brought it out to the 40.
From there it was all Dreher.
He took the first handoff up the middle for 15 yards and then ran a sweep left for another 25. After another 8-yard run by Dreher, he capped off the drive with a two-yard run off tackle to make it 20-12 Roscoe at the 8:18 mark.
“We had a stretch where it was tough running,” Dreher said after the game. “But our line really picked it up.”
Roscoe head coach Fred Ahart agreed. “I thought the first drive of the second half was really key. It put us up 20-12. Our defense also did a good job. It was a good, hard game.”
Roscoe managed to hold Eldred scoreless in the second half and several timely turnovers also cost the Yellowjackets field position.
Roscoe placekicker Gales added a field goal late in the fourth quarter to make it a 23-12 final.
“That field goal was also big because it made it a two possession game,” Ahart said. “I have to give Eldred credit, they showed a lot by coming back and scoring those two touchdowns after we jumped out so quickly.”
Eldred head coach Mike Hoover also thought his team played hard and stayed focused.
“We had a good goal line stand,” he said. “We continued to move the ball and never gave up. It was also nice to see some guys catch some passes.”
Dylan Williams led Eldred with three catches for 73 yards. Gottlieb had 150 yards on 20 carries with 1 TD; and Warren had 32 yards on nine carries and 1 TD.
Defensively Warren led the way with eight tackles. Taylor Warren, Nick Banghard and Gottlieb all had four tackles.
Roscoe (1-1), which had no turnovers, was led by Dreher’s 126-yard night. Dylan Murphy had 34 yards on five carries and Liam Fogarty had 28 yards on 9 rushes.
Quarterback Collin Tallman was 2-7 for 31 yards and rushed for five yards.
On defense the Blue Devils were led by Fogarty, who had 12.5 tackles, Tallman’s 9 tackles and Dreher’s 8.
Eldred will host Sullivan West this Friday at 7 p.m. while Roscoe will host Hackley on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME STATISTICS
Roscoe/Down/LM (1-1)
Rushing – Dreher 17-126, 2 TD; Fogarty 9-28; Murphy 5-34
Passing – Tallman 2-7, 31 yds.
Receiving – Taurino 1-19; Dreher 1-12
Tackles – Fogarty 12.5; Tallman 9, Dreher 8

Eldred (0-2)
Rushing – Gottlieb 20-150, 1 TD; N. Warren 9-32, 1 TD
Receiving – Williams 3-73
Tackles – N. Warren 8; T. Warren 4; Banghart 4, Gottlieb 4