ANTWERP – The Antwerp Archers scored 20 points in each of the first two quarters and cruised to a 47-28 win over visiting Paulding Friday night in Green Meadows Conference football action.
With the win, the blue and white captures its first GMC title in football in school history as Antwerp improves to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the league. Edgerton, Ayersville and Tinora all stand two games back from the Archers with one week remaining in the season.
Reid Lichty led the way for Antwerp with 108 rushing yards on nine carries, including touchdown runs of seven, eight and 43 yards. Carson Altimus added touchdown runs of two and 15 yards for the Archers, totaling 49 yards over eight carries.
Altimus also completed 11 of 24 passes for 186 yards as Antwerp totaled 342 yards of total offense overall.
Lichty hauled in four receptions for 58 yards and Landon Brewer picked up a pair of catches for 89 yards. Kayden Winslow also caught two balls for 22 yards and Tavin Sholl added two receptions for 13 yards, including a touchdown pass from Altimus.
Camden Fuller and Dayne Sholl had the other two receptions for Antwerp.
Brewer recorded a 94-yard punt return for a score for the blue and white and picking up a two-point conversion as well (this breaks the school record of 93 yards set in 2000 by Justin Wise!!). Fuller added a two-point conversion for the Archers and Ty Jackson split the uprights for an extra point.
The Archers led 20-0 at the end of one period and took a 40-8 lead into the locker room at the intermission. After expanding the margin to 47-8 at the end of three quarters, Paulding scored 20 fourth quarter points to complete the scoring.
