Antwerp’s Cole Seslar was left unopposed, as he drove 10 yards to cross the line. More pictures at westbendnews.net
ANTWERP – Keaton Altimus completed 18 of 27 passes and the Antwerp Archers improved to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 2007 with a 14-7 win over county rival Paulding Friday night at Keysor Field.
With the game tied at 7-7, Antwerp struck with just over five minutes left in the contest to get the victory.
Altimus found Luke Brewer on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 5:13 remaining on the clock to give the blue and white the go-ahead score. Jacob Savina split the uprights on the extra point kick to set the final at 14-7.
Paulding’s Drew Lumpkins dives to catch the overthrown ball in the 1st quarter of the game. More pictures at westbendnews.net
Paulding struck first, giving the Panthers the early advantage.
The Panthers took the game’s first possession and put together a drive that eclipsed 7:51 off of the clock before culminating in a four-yard Jacob King run to put Paulding on top 7-0.
Antwerp tied the game in the final minute of the first half.
Cole Seslar hauled in a ten-yard scoring strike from Altimus with 54 seconds remaining in the second quarter to, after Savina’s extra point conversion, send the game into the break tied at 7-7.
Altimus finished the night with 238 yards passing to lead the Archers to the victory. Cole Seslar hauled in nine receptions for Antwerp, covering 155 yards, with Luke Brewer picking up five catches for 63 yards.
Antwerp totaled 23 rushing yards and 261 yards of total offense on the night while the Panthers totaled 265 yards.
Meanwhile, Paulding posted 169 yards on the ground over 48 carries.
Deisler rumbled for 76 yards on 21 carries with Jacob King running for 57 yards on 14 tries.
Quarterback Payton Beckman was 6 of 10 passing for 42 yards while Jacob Deisler finished 4 of 12 for 54 yards for the Panthers.
The Archers had four turnovers compared to Paulding’s two.
The maroon and white had 16 first downs compared to Antwerp’s 13.
Antwerp will open Green Meadows Conference play on Friday as it hosts Fairview. The Apaches are 2-1 on the season after posting wins over Wauseon (34-30) and Paulding (46-6) to start the season before falling to Bryan 21-20 on Friday.
Paulding, which falls to 0-3, starts Northwest Conference action on Friday as well when the Panthers travel to Columbus Grove. The Bulldogs are 1-2 after losses to undefeated Pandora Gilboa (25-13) and Leipsic (48-18) before knocking winless Patrick Henry (27-7) in week three.
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