The Red Devils opened up their 2023 season with a road trip up to Canton South to take on the Wildcats. After last year’s high scoring affair, fans were in for a treat with this game. Both teams wasted no time getting on the board. Canton South took four minutes off the clock in the first quarter as Wildcat quarterback, Poochie Snyder found senior classmate Tre Wilson in the endzone for an 18 yard touchdown pass. The extra point went wide but the Wildcats had a 6-0 lead. St Clairsville took 7:02 off the clock on their way to a 16 play drive for a score as junior Dino Burk found paydirt from 14 yards out. The extra point was good and the Red Devils took their first lead of the game. Burk found the endzone once again at 3:04 of the second quarter from 4 yards out to extend the St. Clairsville led to 14-6. A little over a minute later, Canton South struck again. This time it was Rome Cox from 27 yards out and a Snyder 2 point conversion tied the game at 14.
On the opening kickoff of the second half senior Kaleb Walz scooped up the ball and went 85 yards for the touchdown to make it 21-14 Red Devils. Canton South would not go away as they answered the Red Devils touchdown with a score of their own. Tavon Castle, who led Canton South last season in receiving ,caught his first touchdown of the campaign from Snyder. With the score deadlocked at 21, Wilson caught his second touchdown pass of the night from the Sacred Heart commit, Snyder, to take a 28-21 lead. On the ensuing drive, St Clairsville took their turn on answering the South touchdown. Dino Burk completed the hat trick on the night with his third score of the game. However, the extra point went wide and St Clairsville still trailed 28-27. On the very next drive for Canton South, Snyder kept the ball and rumbled 89 yards to extend the Wildcats lead to 35-27. Burk, however, answered back the other way for St Clairsville for his fourth score of the evening. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful and the score remained 35-33 in favor of Canton South. After a Red Devils turnover, Snyder found the back of the endzone from 50 yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the game. The Red Devils tried to mount a comeback as junior quarterback Brady Schafer found Colt Westlake crossing the middle of the field and threw him a dime to make it 42-40. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Canton South and they went into victory formation. Wildcat quarterback Poochie Snyder completed the night with 5 total touchdowns on 3 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing. He threw for 182 yards on 9 completions and rushed 12 times for 159 yards. Wilson finished the night with 3 receptions for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On the Red Devil side of things, Schafer completed 9 passes on 20 attempts for 127 yards and a touchdown. Cole Thoburn hauled in 4 receptions for 44 yards. Westlake finished the evening with 2 receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown. Burk carried the ball 36 times for 211 yards and four touchdowns. Gavin Schoolcraft chipped in with 15 carries for 100 yards.
The Red Devils will hit the road again for a short trip over to Martins Ferry next Friday for a 7pm kickoff. St Clairsville has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with the Purple Riders.
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