Maconaquah Schools

Wabash was no match for the Maconaquah Braves Friday night in Three Rivers Conference action as Coach Michael Fenters' troops remained unbeaten in overpowering the Apaches, 77-0. It is the most points ever scored by the Braves, eclipsing the previous mark in a 72-20 win at North Miami in 2021. With the lopsided victory, the 8-0 Braves will now host Rochester (7-1) Friday night for the TRC championship. Both teams were tabbed as preseason TRC favorites and will carry perfect 7-0 league slates into the much-anticipated, heavyweight affair. Maconaquah, seeking its first conference title in 33 years, is ranked seventh in the latest AP Class 3A poll, while the Zebras are ranked 15th in the Class 2A poll. Landon Morgan forced an Apache fumble and Nolan Tarrh recovered at the Mac 49 on the visitor's opening drive. Ten seconds later the Braves led 7-0 as Marcell Sims grabbed a short pass from Aiden Robinson and sprinted 51 yards for Mac's first of 11 touchdowns. Foreign exchange kicking specialist Max Sachse booted the first of his school-record 11 extra point kicks, eclipsing the previous record (eight) shared by Jorge Cortez and Richie Leary. Robinson's second TD pass came at the 6:09 mark when he teamed up with Fuddy Kile from seven yards out, 14-0. The duo continued their assault on the record books. Robinson would finish with seven TD passes on the night, tying the school record set by Braxton Birner at North Miami in 2021. He was 18 of 23 (376 yards) before being pulled early in the third quarter with the Braves leading 63-0. His 376 yards is fourth-highest in school history. Kile, meanwhile, would add another TD via a 60-yard interception return with 4:44 left in the first half pushing Mac's lead to 49-0. He caught five passes for 63 yards and is now the state's all-time sixth-leading receiver with 3,629 yards as a four-year starter. Jordan VanNess ended the first quarter scoring, 21-0, with a five-yard TD pass from Robinson at the 2:22 mark. Sims would display his speed once again to open the second stanza when he dashed 64 yards to paydirt for a 28-0 lead. Mac's next two scores took less than a minute as AJ Kelly (62 yards) and Tarrh (nine yards) were on the receiving end of Robinson TD tosses. The Robinson-to-Kelly combo would end the first half scoring, 56-0, with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 2:14 on the clock. Robinson finished with 305 yards through the air in the first half. With the IHSAA "Mercy Rule" and running clock in effect the entire second half, the Brave reserves finished the game after Sims galloped 71 yards to the endzone with a Robinson aerial 62 seconds into the third stanza, 63-0. Sims' third score of the game gives the fleet-footed sophomore 120 points in his career, ranking him 13th on Maconaquah's career scoring list. His 102 points this season is second-most by a soph in the school's 62-year history on the gridiron. Fourth quarter action saw Nate Rader take an Alexander Martin pass 73 yards to the house for a 70-0 lead. Martin's 10-yard QB keeper with 3:30 remaining would make it 77-0 and break the previous team scoring record. Conner Eldridge and Sims led Mac's rushing attack with 78 and 64 yards respectively. Sims added a career-high 178 yards receiving on four catches. Kelly (74), Rader (73), Kile (63) and Tarrh (59) added to the Braves final receiving total as Robinson and Martin combined for a school-record 449 passing yards on the night. Defensively, Ryley Rodkey keyed the Braves' attack with seven tackles. Morgan finished with five, while Austin Ringeisen, Joe Butcher and Dakoda Dauenhauer were each credited with four. Sims broke up five Wabash passes when he wasn't scoring touchdowns. Gabe Jenkins' fumble recovery in the second quarter set up Maconaquah's sixth score of the game. It was Mac's fourth shutout of the year . . . the first time since 1982 of posting four shutouts in a season. The Braves are now allowing just 4.5 points per game heading into the colossal showdown with Rochester. Wabash is now 1-7 on the year and dropped to 1-6 in league play. Since joining the TRC in 2015 MHS has now won seven straight vs the Apaches and leads the overall series, 7-2. BRAVE SIDELINE NOTES . . . . . >>> Mike Otto, former MHS great & NFL Tennessee Titan was present to meet the players/fans after the game >>> Mac's eight-game win streak is the second longest in school history >>> Fifth win at home in 2024 ties school record for most wins at home in a season >>> Most consecutive wins in a season (eight) ties the school record set in 1973 >>> NEW RECORD . . . Most consecutive games won at HOME ... seven .. dating back to last year >>> NEW RECORD . . . Most consecutive conference games won ... eight .. dating back to last year >>> NEW RECORD . . . Largest margin of victory (77) erasing previous mark set at Whitko this year ***** Maconaquah's first-round opponent in Sectional 27 will be announced Sunday when the IHSAA tournament pairings are announced beginning at 6 pm.