“We played with a lot of effort. I’m not disappointed in my team,” said Brody Honaker, one of only three seniors on the New Miami roster. “We have a lot of potential. If we keep our heads on straight and put the effort in we did today — but try harder during practice — I think we can accomplish good things.”
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Halfback Martise Edwards scored all 20 points in Gamble’s single-wing offense, running 22 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns. He added a conversion run.
Honaker tallied the lone TD for the Vikings on a 2-yard run late in the second period, closing the gap to 8-6.
“I am so proud of my defense and how they played,” New Miami coach John Singleton said. “We knew they had speed and could break one at any time, but our kids stood up and played hard all night.
“Offensively, we’re having some growing pains. When you play freshmen, you’ve got to grow with them. But I believe in them, and the good thing about freshmen is that you’re not going to get worse. You’re only going to get better and better.”
The Gators won the yardage battle 257-108 and had several big gainers called back. They were 0 of 4 passing, and Mike McCants was picked off once by Jordan Robinette.
“I’d give us about a B-minus,” Gamble coach Robert Rachel said. “We made a lot of mistakes. We dropped a wide-open touchdown. We had two long runs called back. We dropped two interceptions we should’ve had.
“Like I told the kids, when we do what we’re coached, we look pretty good. When we try to create on our own, we look pretty bad. But we’re going to take it. You can’t give wins back.
“New Miami is a well-coached team. Coach Singleton has probably been coaching as long as I’ve been alive. He had his boys ready just like I expected. They’re going to give that man their all week in and week out.”
Antonio Wilcox had a pair of interceptions for Gamble as New Miami freshman quarterback Trey Robinette was 6 of 16 for 69 yards. Honaker paced the Vikings on the ground with 32 yards on 12 carries.
The Vikings had minus-25 yards of offense in the fourth period. Edwards scored on a 3-yard run with 6:06 remaining to make it a 14-8 affair. He added a clinching score with 1:59 left.
“That’s about right for him,” Rachel said of Edwards’ performance. “He’s our horse and a senior. We’re going to ride him.”
Honaker grabbed a loose ball after the Gators failed to handle the kickoff following his touchdown in the second quarter. New Miami quickly drove to the Gamble 27 just before halftime, but a Wilcox interception near the goal line ended the threat.
It was Division VII football at its thin-roster finest. The Gators dressed 16 players, while the Vikings dressed 20.
Singleton is hoping to have junior running back/linebacker Dalton Garrett available to play against visiting Marion Elgin next Saturday. Garrett has moved back into the district, but his paperwork is still being cleared by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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“Nobody else has come out this week, but I feel I’ve got the 21 best kids in the school in this locker room, and I love every one of them,” Singleton said. “We’re going to get after it this week and get ready for Elgin.”
Gamble will face Riverview East at Taft next Saturday.
New Miami 0-6-0-0—6
Gamble 0-8-0-12—20
G: Martise Edwards 3 run (Edwards run)
N: Brody Honaker 2 run (Pass failed)
G: Edwards 3 run (Run failed)
G: Edwards 7 run (Pass failed)
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