Kentucky Christian keeps RedStorm winless

Rio Grande Sports Information
     JACKSON, Ohio - Perhaps it was an omen when the University of Rio Grande's first play from scrimmage resulted in a safety.
     Things didn't get much better from that point on as Kentucky Christian University went on to roll up nearly 500 yards of total offense and post a 42-6 win over the RedStorm in the Appalachian Athletic Conference opener for both teams, Saturday afternoon, at Jackson High School's Holzer Field at Alumni Stadium.
     The Knights evened their overall record at 2-2 with the win.
     Rio Grande slipped to 0-4 with the loss.
     The RedStorm forced the Knights to punt on the game's opening possession, but Chase Hall's boot was downed at the 4-yard line and - on the ensuing play - Rio freshman running back Simi Jaf-Ogunolayi (Pataskala, OH) was tackled in the endzone on a sweep to the right side for a safety, giving KCU a 2-0 edge with 11:27 left in the first quarter.
     The Knights also found paydirt on their ensuing possession following a Rio Grande free kick, with Jackson Wasik finishing off a 12-play, 65-yard march with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown, scoring from one yard out on fourth-and-goal with 5:36 remaining in the period to make it 8-0.
     After the two teams traded punts on their respective ensuing possessions, Rio freshman signal-caller Keatin Emener (St. Petersburg, FL) was intercepted by KCU's Dashawn Webster at the Knights' 23-yard line to kill a promising RedStorm drive.
     KCU answered with an eight-play, 80-yard scoring march which culminated in a 22-yard touchdown scamper by Jovari Gamble and pushed the lead to 14-0 with 12:44 left before halftime.
     The Knights forced Rio into a three-and-out punt situation and then scored four players later when Wasik connected with Calvin Brown on a 60-yard scoring strike with 9:35 remaining before the intermission.
     Christian Altizer's PAT kick pushed the cushion to 21-0.
     After forcing another RedStorm punt, KCU fired off another touchdown march which covered 80 yards over nine plays and ended with a 35-yard TD pass from Wasik to Jalen Briscoe and a 28-0 lead with 2:24 left in the half.
     Emener was picked off for a second time by Webster on Rio's ensuing possession and his 54-yard return for a touchdown gave KCU a 35-0 advantage at the break.
     Gamble got the Knights on the scoreboard one final time with a 2-yard scoring run which capped an 11-play, 80-yard march with 2:13 remaining in the third period.
     Rio Grande avoided a shutout in the game's waning moments when freshman quarterback Ayden Ludolph (Martins Ferry, OH) teamed with sophomore Beamer Walker (Cincinnati, OH) on a 53-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 left to play to set the final score.
     It was the first points for the RedStorm since Walker caught a touchdown pass on the team's first possession of the campaign in a season-opening loss to Defiance College
     The play also provided Rio with five more yards of offense than it had accumulated in the entire contest prior to that point.
     KCU finished with a decided 487-101 edge in total offense, with Wasik completing 27 of his 37 passes for 329 yards and a pair of scores.
     Gamble ran for 99 yards and his two scores on 13 totes, while Brown finished with 102 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Jason Cobb also hauled in six passes for 94 yards in the winning effort.
     The Knights converted six of their 14 third down situations in the contest and were a perfect 4-for-4 on fourth down conversions.
     Ludolph was 6-for-11 for 78 yards and the touchdown for Rio Grande, with freshman Mikelle Moore (Cincinnati, OH) led the RedStorm on the ground with just 17 yards on two carries.
     Walker's TD grab - his only catch of the day - led the home team in receiving.
     Defensively, Rio was led by sophomore Nathaniel Lopez (East Mims, FL), who had nine tackles - including one for loss - as well as a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
     Sophomore Dakari Reese (Streetsboro, OH) added eight tackles and a fumble recovery, while freshman Joris Gibson (Jacksonville, FL) and sophomore Isaac McCory (Chillicothe, OH) both had sacks and freshman Marlon Reed (Hamilton, OH) and sophomore Elijah Armstrong (Arlington, TX) also recovered fumbles.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Saturday when it travels south to the University of Pikeville for the first night game of the season.
     Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Hambley Athletic Complex in Pikeville, Ky.