TRENTON — For Badin High running back Chase Even, it was simply a matter of continuing to pound the rock.
The Rams faced some adversity in the first half at Edgewood but had no problem giving the ball to Even in the second half in a 31-7 win in front of a packed house at Kumler Field.
Even had over 100 yards and three scores in the second half, finishing with 218 rushing yards as the Rams improved to 3-0 on the season.
Even said the film showed holes would be open and he took advantage of them.
“We knew coming into this game they didn’t have a loaded box so we took what they gave us,” Even said. “We pounded the rock.”
Badin coach Nick Yordy liked his team’s approach in the second half after a sloppy first half, especially the play of Even.
“He was a little banged up in week one against Hamilton,” Yordy said. “We tried to get him to rest, heal up a little bit. He just doesn’t have that mentality so this week maybe the weather helped us out a little bit, getting him some rest. I think he is obviously back to 100%.”
Even said he is back and ready to roll the rest of the season.
“I feel great,” Even said.
Yordy said the atmosphere will only help his squad playing in front of a packed house in Trenton.
“I think anytime you are playing Edgewood, a Butler County rival, obviously it is going to be a tough game,” Yordy said. “We told the kids all week long this is what we expected”
Badin racked up 24 points in the second half while forcing two Edgewood turnovers.
“We relaxed a little bit at halftime and just played our game,” Yordy said.
Badin scored on the initial performance of the second half, running Even to set up a 34 yard TD pass to Hudson Heid.
Edgewood turned the ball over on the next possession, with junior Rylan Osterberger snagging a tipped pass.
Even notched his second score to make it 21-7 before the Cougars turned it over again.
Badin wasted no time, feeding Even leading to his 18 yard scoring run to make it 28-7.
Edgewood coach Matt Root liked his team’s approach, admitting it just got away from his team in the second half.
“It got away from us, just some mistakes,” said Root, who captured his first win at the Cougar helm last week against Miamisburg. “They made the plays in the second half. Badin has a really good football team and I think we do as well. We will get better.”
Edgewood fell to 1-2 on the season despite taking the opening kickoff down to grab a 7-0 lead on Carter Breedlove’s scoring run
Root said his team will learn from it and move on.
“We are getting better,” Root said. “We have to make a couple more plays but the second half got away from us. We just have to keep fighting and come out every week and get better.”
