Clay Mastin with the big interception for the Arrows- Photos by WARD MOELLER

Step one is in the books.

The Tecumseh Arrows are ready to get things turned around again this year, and it all began last weekend as the Arrows opened the season hosting Fairborn.

Despite the game being suspended at halftime due to the storms and concluded on Saturday, Tecumseh used a solid second half effort to cruise to a 38-19 rout of the Skyhawks, in a game that was decided in the final 12 minutes.

“Our kids came out ready to play and since Fairborn is so close to us, the kids know each other and it’s a nice rivalry,” said Tecumseh coach Chris Cory. “They beat us last year and we were ready to go, the kids came out and played hard. We have been motivated to play Fairborn.”

The Arrows came out strong, as they drove down the field and scored on the first drive when Jayden McFarland punched it in from four yards out, giving the Arrows a 7-0 lead.

“We were concerned with offense in preseason, but that drive gave us confidence,” Cory said. “The kids are confident with the defense and were unsure with the offense. The opening drive score showed the kids we will be ok offensively this year.”

McFarland came back with another score in the second to give the Arrows a 14-0 lead before Wesley Watts hit Gracen Barnhart with a 72 yard pass to send the game to the half with the Arrows leading 14-7.

“Our defensive performance was outstanding, we only gave up one long pass, it was one mistake,” Cory said. “Other than that 72 yard play, they would have been under 50 yards for the half. We knew we had to play good defense and we had a great game plan.”

“We are not a homerun play offense, but we need to be opportunistic with our offense.”

“I told them Saturday that the first series was important for us. We got a stop on first drive when Clay Mastin got an interception and drove down and James Gray kicked a field goal to put us up two scores.”

Fairborn scored two minutes later to cut the Arrows lead to 17-13, before the deciding fourth period would arrive.

AJ Betleyoun came up with two interceptions in the fourth, and the Arrows blocked a punt to set the tone for the huge fourth period for Tecumseh.

In the fourth, Will Sowder kept the ball for a one-yard scoring play to give the Arrows a 24-13 lead early in the fourth, then Kenyon Watson went to work. After he broke loose for a 61 yard scoring run, he came back and capped another drive with a four yard run for another score, and before the Skyhawks knew it, they trailed 38-13.

Watson finished with 140 yards rushing, while Brody Martin added 56.

Tecumseh now prepares for another team that the kids are looking forward to another shot at, with the Butler Aviators coming to town Friday night.

“They are an athletic team with great team speed and they are aggressive,” Cory said. “It will a challenge, last year they beat us 52-0 and our kids are going to have to focus well and be ready.”

Gametime at Spitzer Stadium on Friday is 7 p.m.

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