Football: Thoughts After Week 1

It didn't go quite as Orrville fans had hoped, but with several key players sitting out for various reasons, it's not entirely shocking. The Riders lost to Northwest by a 40-14 score (game was closer than the score, but no excuses, we got outplayed) but played hard until the end. Below, you'll find scores from the other 9 teams on our schedule, as well as scores from all 30 teams in Division 4, Region 14. Below that you'll find some thoughts of mind from the Orrville game and from games from around the area as well.

I guess this is a new feature. Hope you like.

Before I get to all that...wanted to point you all to a link. Scott Ferrell Photography is a local, Orrville photographer who is providing a wonderful service to all Rider fans this year. He is offering his pictures taken at Rider games free of charge. You can download them and use them for whatever you please. All he asks is that you consider him for things like senior pictures, family protraits, and things like that. Can't do any better than free can you? Here are the pics from week 1, and here's a link to his homepage where you can find contact info.


Orrville Opponents
Triway lost to West Holmes (D3) – 28-27
Copley beat Jackson (D1) – 14-6
Lexington beat Mt. Vernon (D1) – 42-17
Mansfield Sr lost to Brunswick (D1) – 29-6
West Holmes beat Triway (D4) – 28-27
Ashland beat Willard (D3) – 28-0
Madison lost to Shelby (D3) – 14-13
Clear Fork beat Seneca East (D6) – 35-0
Wooster lost to Canfield (D2) – 24-21

Region 14 Results
(Region 14 teams listed first, games in bold were between 2 region 14 teams)

Black River lost to Berlin Center Western Reserve (D5) – 7-6
Bucyrus def. Ridgedale (D6) – 49-0
Chippewa def. Norton (D3) – 20-17
Clear Fork def. Seneca East (D6) – 35-0
Elyria Catholic def. Cleve. Collinwood (D2) – 35-0
Fostoria lost to Ottawa-Glendorf (D4) – 22-0
Galion def. Mt Gilead (D5) – 33-16
Genoa Area def. Rossford (D4) – 60-0
Huron def. Vermillion (D3) – 31-7
Lagrange Keystone lost to Monroeville (D6) – 33-24
Lorain Clearview def. Castalia Margaretta (D5) – 27-14
Metamora Evergreen def Otsego (D4) – 41-14
Milan Edison def. Norwalk (D2) – 35-19
Milbury Lake def. Swanton (D4) – 24-3
Norwayne lost to Wellington (D4) – 39-14
Ontario lost to Loudonville (D5) – 35-7
Orrville lost to Northwest (D3) – 40-14
Ottawa-Glandorf def. Fostoria (D4) – 22-0
Paulding lost to Wayne Trace (D5) – 23-12
Pemberville Eastwood def. Clyde (D3) – 32-21
Port Clinton def. Woodmore (D5) – 34-26
Rossford lost to Genoa Area (D4) – 60-0
Sheffield Brookside lost to Oberlin Firelands (D3) – 34-0
Swanton lost to Millbury Lake (D4) – 24-3
Tontogany-Otsego lost to Metamora Evergreen (D4) – 41-14
Triway lost to West Holmes (D3) – 28-27
Upper Sandusky lost to Carey (D6) – 28-0
Van Wert lost to Bryan (D3) – 35-7
Wauseon def. Fairview (D4) – 49-14
Wellington def. Norwayne (D4) – 39-14

1. Congrats to new coach Brent Besancon for winning his first game as coach of the Rittman Indians and snapping the school’s 28 game losing streak. I have no ties to Rittman at all, but a 28 game losing streak is much too long. Good to see them get a 'W.'

2. After listening to the Riders warmup music for 2 nights in a row…I think I’m a fan of this song. Won't ever top "Lunatic Fringe" but it's nice.

3. Gage Wyant did well in his first start as a Rider QB. Very gutsy and a fiery competitor. I hope he can find playing time with regular Rider QB Joe Besancon returning this week. I don't want to be accused of overstating things, but Gage reminded me a little of a young Tim Hiller. He's got a nice build and throws a real nice spiral.

4. I liked the play of Tre Simpson at tailback. He needs to be touch the ball 10-12 times a game…at least.

5. Jordan Thomas had a nice game at WR. With Sam, Dillon and Chase returning, we should have a very potent passing game the rest of the way.

6. Why weren’t the bands at the game Saturday night? I can understand the Northwest band not being there….they have economic troubles and may not have been able to justify it……but I don’t see a reason why the Orrville band couldn’t have played.

7. Triway losing a 27-7 4th quarter lead to West Holmes is downright painful.

8. There’s a good chance Copley will come into Red Rider Stadium for a week 3 matchup with a 2-0 record. Their opponent this week is Cleveland JFK.

9. For debuting a new offense, Northwest looked awfully solid. I’d like to think our missing players could have made a difference, but at best, it’s a close game. I guess those are the consequences for some poor decisions.

10. I’m hoping we come out and show Triway the real Red Riders this week. Time to start reaching our potential.

A few more....

11. I see Waynedale has new brown helmets (scrapping their classic gold helmet. They played at home this past weekend and wore brown helmets, brown pants and brown jerseys. Not the best look, IMO, for the GOLDEN Bears. Ever since they went away from the Wisconsin "Flying W" logo, their helmets have looked kinda amatuer-ish.

12. Speaking of uniforms...wonder when the last time the Riders wore their white jerseys at home? It happened this past weekend. Riders wore red jerseys on Friday night, but had to go to their road white jerseys when the game continued on Saturday. Wore the red pants too. Northwest wore their home jerseys and anothe variation of their silver pants.