ALBANY — Brendan Sano didn’t look nervous. Instead, he looked prepared to redeem himself against defending Tri-Valley Conference Ohio champions Alexander.
And he did just that.
“It feels great,” Sano said. “We definitely got it (our redemption).”
After practice, coach Ryan Adams said the team performed well under Sano’s leadership a week ago and the same could be said Friday night as Athens beat Alexander, 35-19.
Sano didn’t need to pass the ball against Alexander. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, all he needed to do was bulldoze his way through the offensive line on the ground. That’s all he did against the Spartans.
Sano finished the game with 14 carries, 82 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“The way the offensive line was playing, there was no need to throw the ball,” Sano said of utilizing his legs more than his arm.
This has been, perhaps, the first game of the year where the offense was consistent throughout all four quarters. They started slow with two punts.
The offensive momentum changed after a fumble from Tyler Roback turned into an 86-yard Alexander scoop and score.
Athens didn't only click offensively, but Athens was just as defensively efficient. The two names the Bulldogs needed to worry about were Chace Harris and AJ Marks; no one else mattered.
Marks and Harris traded plays at quarterback. The two connected on a few 30+ yard passes as well.
Tanner Tritipo lead Athens in the tackle category with seven and a half. Behind him was Logan Maxfield, who had four and a half tackles.
The game changed for Athens in the third quarter with nine minutes left. Marks dropped back to pass for Alexander. After scrambling out of the pocket he threw a desperation pass and Maxfield jumped in front of it and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.
“It’s a huge kick start for the offense,” Sano said. “That gets everybody juiced up and ready to get back out there on the field.”
When they got back on the field, the holes continued to open up and Sano and his offense took advantage.
Athens (3-1,1-0 TVC Ohio) opened up the conference schedule with a tone-setting win. Sano and the Bulldogs could not have asked for a better start to conference play.
Athens plays Vinton County next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
“We showed that we are a very strong, fast, athletic team,” Sano said. “As the season progresses, I think we’ll just keep getting better.”
