East Knox football snaps skid with 27-12 win over Loudonville

The victory bell at East Knox hadn’t rung in a while. Friday night, it might have rang the whole night long.

The Bulldogs had lost seven straight games, including three this year, but got the chance to ring that bell as an attacking defense and an opportunistic offense led them to a 27-12 victory over Loudonville.

“We needed that. It’s been a four-game losing streak to end last year and a three-game losing streak (this year). We needed to get that taste out of our mouths,” said East Knox football coach Andy Beatty.

The Bulldogs (1-3 overall, 1-0 Knox Morrow Athletic Conference) set the tone on the first play of the game, forcing a Loudonville fumble which defensive back Rush Beatty recovered. After two plays netted EK just one yard, quarterback Jax Lester found Dakota Cooper open down the middle for a 52-yard touchdown strike.

After the teams traded possessions, the Bulldogs pounced again on a Loudonville (2-2, 0-1) mistake. The Redbirds were unable to catch the punt and EK recovered once again, the second of six Loudonville turnovers on the night.

East Knox wasted little time again, as Lester connected with Rush Beatty on a 38-yard TD strike.

A fumbled kickoff return by Loudonville set up the next EK score. On a fourth and nine play, Lester found Logan Clark open for a 24-yard TD pass and the Bulldogs were in control.

“That (turnovers) were huge. We have a crazy, young, inexperienced team,” coach Beatty said. “Getting those early scores for momentum was huge. Our guys are very resilient, but they needed to see some success. So, that was good because I think they are starting to see how good they can be.”

The Redbirds started holding on to the ball in the second quarter and it paid off with a 5-yard touchdown run. They were driving again late in the quarter but fumbled at the EK 16-yard line. After picking off a Lester pass, the Redbirds looked like they might punch it in to pull within one score. But Alex Guinsler swatted away a potential touchdown pass and then Lester intercepted the Redbirds on the last play of the half.

“When they were moving the ball, it was like, ‘Alright, what are we going to do? Are we going to bounce back and get after it?’ I was really proud of the way they stepped up and fought through that,” coach Beatty said.

“Outside of a few drives, we did really good (defensively). We were rolling three deep on some positions. Loudonville had a great game plan to run the ball, chew clock and we really preached bend, don’t break. They’re going to get yards, they’re going to move the ball, they’re going to try to go on these death marches and wear you down. I was really proud of our team for fighting through those and just staying disciplined. We’ve not always been that this year. It was good to see.”

Lester, who finished the night 14 of 24 for 224 yards passing, connected with Clark again late in the third quarter on a 51-yard pass play that effectively sealed the victory for EK. Lester had four touchdown passes on the evening.

Cooper led the Bulldogs with four receptions for 69 yards and a TD. Rush Beatty also caught four passes for 55 yards and a score, while Clark had two receptions for 72 yards and two TDs. Landon Boyd led the EK rushing attack with 54 yards on 11 carries. Lester added 32 yards on six attempts.

“Jaxon (Lester) and those four receivers are on such a different level with communication, non-verbal communication. Two of the touchdowns we scored on we were either in the wrong formation, or they ran the wrong route, but it worked. Those are the plays that make me look really smart, but that’s not what I called,” coach Beatty said. “Some of that is their chemistry. They have been together all winter and spring, throwing routes. They’ve been through a lot with the adversity we’ve faced with some of our players having injuries and with Aidan’s (Riggle) battle with cancer, this group has gotten close in a way it almost feels like they’re playing with their actual brothers out there.”

Caden Ridenour led the EK defense with 21 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Rush Beatty added 15 tackles and recovered a fumble, while Ray Arnold had 14 tackles and Lester had nine tackles, forced a fumble and had an interception.