{"id":122019,"date":"2019-08-31T00:45:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-31T05:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=122019"},"modified":"2019-08-31T00:45:07","modified_gmt":"2019-08-31T05:45:07","slug":"treece-defense-lead-cougars-past-bryan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2019\/08\/31\/treece-defense-lead-cougars-past-bryan\/","title":{"rendered":"Treece, defense lead Cougars past Bryan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent sports editor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRYAN — Owen Treece passed for 145 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and another score to help Van Wert defeat Bryan 34-13 at Golden Bear Stadium on Friday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Van Wert\u2019s defense held Bryan to just 169 yards of total offense, with 65 yards coming on one play, while the Cougars tallied 333 yards of total offense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Van Wert linebacker Parker Conrad sacks Bryan quarterback Nate Miller.<\/strong> Photo courtesy of Jerry Mason<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been ready for this game for a long time,\u201d Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. \u201cWe wanted to come out and make a statement after a solid year last year. This team wants to be known for something and they way they came out and controlled the game was fabulous, and I\u2019m so proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already leading 20-7 to start the third quarter, the Cougars forced Bryan into a three-and-out, then scored two plays later when Treece scrambled from trouble and found a wide open Connor Pratt for a 66 yard touchdown pass. Peyton McAlpine\u2019s PAT gave Van Wert a 27-7 lead with 10:34 left in the period, but the Golden Bears responded with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Nate Miller to Connor Arthur to make it 27-13 with 10:22 on the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert answered with a methodical eight play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a Treece four yard touchdown run with 7:13 left in the third. The drive included a spectacular 30-yard catch by Tanner Barnhart, who wrestled the ball away from a Golden Bear defender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat drive was huge to go up like that because they scored and had that big play and maybe a little bit of momentum,\u201d Recker said. \u201cOwen led us down there and the offensive line and the receivers (blocked) \u2013 it was an all-out effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linebacker TJ Reynolds opened the scoring in the first quarter. After Van Wert\u2019s opening drive stalled, Parker Conrad sacked Miller, then two plays later, Reynolds intercepted a pass and raced untouched 38 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cougars a 6-0 lead at the 8:12 mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was a big play,\u201d Recker said. \u201cTJ is very good at that outside linebacker spot as far as feeling things out \u2013 he kind of felt that route and knew where he needed to get to. There was no quit in him as he went both ways for us tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conrad and defensive lineman Keagon Hammons combined for four sacks, including one that ended Bryan\u2019s second drive on fourth down at the Van Wert 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeagon had a fabulous year last year and now he\u2019s bigger, faster and stronger and when we can get that kind of pressure it makes it so much easier because we can put five or six guys in coverage, so Keagon really helps out our coverage,\u201d Recker explained. \u201cParker does a great job of running our defense, because he knows where to line up, he adjusts easily, he\u2019s smart and savvy and he made some big tackles tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate Jackson increased Van Wert\u2019s lead to 13-0 with a one yard touchdown run with 3:52 left in the first quarter, but Bryan countered with a one yard scoring run by Noah Tressler at the 11:20 mark of the second quarter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Owen Treece scrambles for yardage against the Golden Bear defense.<\/strong> Jerry Mason photo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert then put together an 11 play, 65-yard drive that included a 25 yard run by Treece and a fourth and nine completion from the junior quarterback to Nate Jackson. Two plays later, the two connected on a five yard scoring pass to give the Cougars a 20-7 lead with 7:13 remaining until halftime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe does a great job,\u201d Recker said of Treece. \u201cWe talked about his toughness, his leadership and all of that came into play tonight by being able to keep plays alive. If he can do that, we\u2019ll be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur offensive line stepped up tonight and saw some different looks and did a good job opening some holes,\u201d Recker added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert put together a 10 play drive deep into Bryan territory, but turned it over on downs shortly before halftime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cougars lost Jackson (12 carries, 39 yards) to a second half shoulder injury, but Levi Newell stepped in and contributed nine carries for 37 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNate\u2019s a very good running back and he did a nice job,\u201d Recker said. \u201cHe\u2019s good at avoiding contact and he gets yards that way, and then we brought in Levi after Nate got hurt and he was fresh, so that helped. Levi\u2019s a savvy runner \u2013 he\u2019s not going to beat anybody with his speed but he just knows how to avoid contact and get positive yardage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert (1-0) will open Western Buckeye League play at Defiance on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scoring summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First quarter<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:12 \u2013 TJ Reynolds 38 yard interception return (Petyon McAlpine kick failed)
3:52 \u2013 Nate Jackson 1 yard run (McAlpine kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second quarter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:20 \u2013 Noah Tressler 1 yard run (Adam Fireovid kick)
7:13 \u2013 Owen Treece 5 yard pass to Nate Jackson (McAlpine kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:34 \u2013 Owen Treece 66 yard pass to Connor Pratt (McAlpine kick)
10:22 \u2013 Nate Miller 65 yard pass to Connor Arthur (kick failed)
7:18 \u2013 Owen Treece 4 yard run (McAlpine kick)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bryan <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rushing: Nate Miller 14-60; Passing: Miller 10-17-1-1, 111 yards; Receiving: Connor Arthur 6-92-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rushing: Owen Treece 22-112-1; Levi Newell 9-37; Nate Jackson 12-39-1; Passing: Treece 13-19-145-2; Receiving: TJ Reynolds 6-24; Jackson 4-20-1; Tanner Barnhart 2-33; Connor Pratt 1-66-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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