Week 5 football: Unbeaten Beavercreek defeats Fairmont

Kaden Wenger packs a massive can-do grudge when he gears up for football games. Beavercreek’s designated go-to running back likes to remind doubters what he’s all about, which is often.

“It’s one of my favorite things when people underestimate me or think, well this guy is small,” said Wenger, easy to spot with long locks of hair protruding under his helmet. “When they’ve been keying all week on me, I’ll just run them over.”

»THE BOYS ARE BACK: Hartsock and Pendleton on Facebook Live

»WHO’S NO. 1? Second week of state football polls

»WEEK 5: High school football schedule

He did a lot of that in an a season-defining 14-3 defeat of visiting Fairmont on Friday night. The Greater Western Ohio Conference National East high school football opener drew a capacity crowd and was a showdown of unbeaten divisional rivals. Beavercreek went to 5-0 for the first time since the 2008 season. Fairmont fell to 4-1.

»SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

The win apparently keeps Beavercreek at fifth in Division I, Region 3 computer points. The Beavers are bidding for their first postseason bid. Fairmont was No. 2 in the region and likely will drop to a tie with Beavercreek at No. 5.

All the scoring was done in the second quarter and Wenger set up both Beavercreek touchdowns. He finished with a game-high 179 yards rushing in 29 carries and would have scored in the closing minutes had he not fumbled in the end zone.

Outstanding in yards after contact, that pushed his five-game season total 981 yards, just 19 yards shy of being on pace to crack the elusive 2,000-yard barrier.

Beavercreek’s Sabastian Rendon scored on a 57-yard run and quarterback Cody Hocker added a 9-yard touchdown run. Both those scores received decoy assists from Wenger by luring Fairmont defenders.

Asher Rohm staked Fairmont to a 3-0 lead with a 31-yard field goal to start the second-quarter scoring.

It also was a matchup of a coaching turnover that has rebooted the 20-team mega-conference over the last four seasons. Beavercreek coach Nik Black is in his fourth season and Dave Miller his second at Fairmont. Both have quickly upped the games of their programs. Fairmont has rebounded the most, coming off a 1-9 season.

Beavercreek hit a new low by not passing against Fairmont, instead opting to run on all of its 57 plays. Also noteworthy of the Beavers:

• They recovered two onside kicks, including a stunner to start the second half.

• The Beavers don’t punt; Sean Keck place kicks. It’s an unusual sight, seeing a team line up for what looks like a 70-80 yard field goal attempt. Instead, it’s a free kick. Said Black of Beavercreek’s punting: “We suck at it.”

• Sophomore Marcella Cash handles all the Beavers’ extra-point kicks. A girls soccer standout, she perfectly pooched the two recovered onside kicks.

“The kids know things are starting to turn in the right direction as far as our overall season,” Black said. “Certainly, we’ve put ourselves in a very good position for the remainder of the season with our start.”

Fairmont QB Braden Miller, Dave’s son, completed four passes for 96 yards and had 80 yards rushing to lead the Firebirds. Junior linebacker Jonas Smith led Fairmont with five solo tackles and seven assists.

»FACEBOOK: For more high school sports you should like Marc Pendleton