“It was fun to get to practice with the team. I got to run scout team and helped them get ready for the rest of the games. To be honest, it was a fun time to get close to everyone during practice. I did all I could to help the team out.”
Now that bonus help is for real. Against the overmatched Warriors the had touchdown runs of 62, 40 and 5 yards. It was the second straight game Neatherton surpassed 200 yards rushing and cemented his spot as the perfect complement to junior standout running back Tony Clark, who also scored on two short runs.
That was the perfect remedy to overcome a crushing 39-38 loss to Springboro last week. It also vaults Miamisburg (6-2) back into solid Division II, Region 8 playoff contention for a home game.
Lebanon (6-2) couldn’t reproduce the offensive fireworks that enabled the Warriors to mount a five-game win streak. It looked good early for Lebanon, which led 17-7 on two touchdown runs by senior standout quarterback Dakota Allen and the first of two field goals by Xander Haley. But unforced errors, including consecutive lost fumbles on kickoff returns, couldn’t prevent the Warriors’ from being hit with a running clock.
“There were times we played well and did some things right, but they were the hungrier team,” Lebanon coach Shawn Lamb said. “You could tell their backs were against the wall.”
Lebanon’s standing in D-I, Region 4 will sink, but that could be righted against Stebbins and especially National West rival Springboro in the final two weeks. Miamisburg will host Beavercreek (4-4) and Northmont (3-5) in Weeks 9-10.
Neatherton also earned his first start at linebacker, joining many two-way Vikings’ starters.
“Jake’s a heck of a football player,” Miamisburg coach Steve Channell said. “Watching him play, sometimes you just way, wow. He’s a humble, down-to-earth young man. How many high school kids would be willing to sacrifice half their season to make the change that he did? This kid tried to do this the right way and he gets dinged half his football season.
“When the ruling came down, he made a choice to stay and finish his season and I’m glad he did.”
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