Hounds use turnover spree to beat Savannah

Locked in its first tight battle of the season, Class 3 No. 2 Maryville cashed in on three fourth quarter miscues by Class 4 No. 2 Savannah to break free for a 31-14 win Friday at Savage Field.

It was Maryville's first win over class Savannah since 2009, allowing the Hounds to regain possession of the traveling trophy.

Maryville (8-0, 6-0) also took over sole possession of first place in the MEC from Savannah (7-1, 5-1). A win over Lafayette in the regular season would give the Hounds the MEC title outright.

Maryville held a 10-0 lead at half that was trimmed to 10-7 in the third before the Hounds opened the fourth quarter with 21 straight points in a six-minute span.

The first score was set up by a bad snap back to Savannah's punter that was recovered by Maryville at the 4-yard line.

Brody McMahon ran in from four yards out on the next play to make it 17-7.

On Savannah's next series, safety Trent Nally made his second interception of Savage quarterback Zane Wilt and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown to put the Hounds up 24-7. It was Wilt's fourth interception of the game.

The Hounds then recovered a Wilt fumble--Savannah's fifth turnover-- at the Savage 43 and scored on a 13-yard run by McMahon with 5:48 left.

It was McMahon's third touchdown run of the game.

Savannah scored once more on a 16-yard run by Corey Coburn with 3:05 left, but the Hounds recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the remaining time.

Maryville finished with 294 yards rushing in the game led by McMahon with 96 on 21 carries. Quarterback Jonathan Baker scooted for 64 yards on seven carries and Peyton Mizera went for 60 on eight.

Baker was 6-12 passing for 30 yards and an interception.

Wilt completed only 5-17 passes for 42 yards and was picked off four times.

Nally had two, while Ridge Yount and Tyler Kenkel had the others.

Nally also led the Hounds with 6.5 tackles.

The Hounds scored all 10 first half points in the second quarter.

Boston Schneider connected on a 28-yard field goal to give the Hounds a 3-0 lead with 10:29 left. A 2-yard touchdown run by McMahon made it 10-0 with 3:59 left.

Savannah committed 10 penalties for 62 yards in the first half and Wilt tossed three interceptions.

The Savages started the second half with a kickoff return into Maryville territory and scored on a 16-yard run by Wilt with 9:45 left.

Savannah got the ball back three more times down 10-7, but went three-and-out on all three drives.