By Jake Dowling,
Sun Sports Reporter
BETHEL — The Detroit Lions have the running back combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who are known as “Sonic” and “Knuckles,” respectively.
The New Richmond Lions have their own Sonic and Knuckles in the backfield.
Tailbacks Braylon Patchell and Dylan Wolf totaled an unofficial 359 rushing yards on 17 carries and a whopping seven touchdowns, powering New Richmond to a season-opening 53-34 victory Aug. 22 against Bethel-Tate.
“I just heard that stat,” New Richmond coach Brian Pitzer said. “In my time here, we might have had seven passing touchdowns, but definitely not seven rushing touchdowns.”
Wolf provided the shiftiness while Patchell was the bruiser before getting out in open space.
“When we go out there, we switch the game up,” Wolf said. “I like to juke a little bit, get a little shifty, and then he (Patchell) comes in with the power and runs people over. It’s a great combination, like thunder and lightning.”
Big plays were symbolic in the Week 1 matchup, especially for the Lions (1-0), who feasted on the Tigers’ defense early and often with 13 categorized as big plays — running plays that gain 10 or more yards and passing gains of 20 or more yards.
“Our o-line stepped up and our two backs are unbelievable,” Pitzer said. “They are really, really good. They are top in the city, and I told their parents that I don’t know how I am going to make both of them the player of the week. They have worked really hard at it all offseason and in-season.”
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THE CLERMONT SUN FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
WEEK 1
Batavia 42, Madeira 14
New Richmond 53, Bethel-Tate 34
Mariemont 30, Clermont Northeastern 6
Goshen 34, Monroe 14
— First Week 1 victory for the Warriors since 2018
Withrow 35, Milford 0
Harrison 34, Loveland 14
West Clermont 42, Mount Healthy 7
Williamsburg 28, Reading 7
