The Tigers looked for their first winning streak in six seasons as they visited Victory Parkway to take on the Walnut Hills Eagles. The Tigers were looking to keep their momentum churning into the month of October, while the Eagles were searching for their first win of the campaign.
The Loveland defense started out hot, forcing a three and out and getting the ball with great field position early in the game. Then, the Tigers offense replicated that energy and went down and scored, with a touchdown run from Colton Endicott (11). He wouldn’t stop there though. After a Kolby King (11) interception to set up the Tigers, Endicott waltzed in for his second touchdown of the game from 77 yards out on the first play of the drive, extending the Tigers lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter. The special teams also played a vital role in the first half for the Tigers. Brady Stidham (9) knocked through his first field goal of the year, putting Loveland up 17-0. It was clear that Andy Cruse’s group came to play, as the very next play, Ethan Freeland (12) recovered a Stidham pooch kick, and Jake Svitkovich (12) capitalized on that opportunity, as he found Brayden McCaleb (11) from 26 yards out to extend the Tigers lead to 24. Due to a time management error at the end of the game, Walnut Hills was able to drive down the field right before the half and punch one in, as TJ Nelson found Israel Bradford between the Loveland safeties to make it 24-7 at the intermission.
The second half was also dominated by Loveland. On the first drive, Endicott punched in his third touchdown of the game to make it 31-7. After another Endicott rushing score made it 38-7, King snagged his second interception of the game, and Endicott scored yet again to give the Tigers a controlling 45-7 lead. Eagles running back Mikey Jones scored in the 4th and converted a 2 point conversion to cut the lead to 45-15, but ultimately, the Tigers were too much. After another Brady Stidham field goal from 32 yards out, the Tigers took this one in dominating fashion, 48-15.
Endicott finished with 19 carries for 157 yards and five touchdowns. He finished with the 3rd most touchdowns in a game in school history, as well as his 3rd 100-yard game on the year. Svitkovich finished with 15/25, 152 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Loveland’s defense played absolutely incredible, and the ferocious effort was led by Ethan Freeland, who recovered both pooch kicks, recovered the only blocked punt of the game, and finished with 5 tackles as well. Loveland’s special teams had quite a night, with the aforementioned two kick recoveries, two field goals, and blocked punt. Junior kicker Ben Hicks (11) also converted all six of his extra point tries, the second most made in school history.
The Tigers will look to extend their winning streak to three games, as they host the struggling Turpin Spartins this week. If the Tigers can keep this momentum rolling and keep Endicott fresh, they will have no trouble carrying this momentum into November.