The Chillicothe Swarm opened their 2018 semi-pro football season with a 20-12 victory over the Sugar Creek Shockers in non-league action on Saturday night at Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium. After the visitors from Kansas City opened the scoring on a 10 yard touchdown strike with 2:43 to go in the first quarter, the Swarm’s defense struck five minutes later, as Alex Parrack recovered a forced fumble in the end zone to tie the game at 6 with 13:31 to go in the first half. Weston Baker connected on the extra point, giving the Swarm their first lead of the season.
The Swarm continued to set the pace through the remainder of the second quarter, as, following a forced fumble, quarterback Clayton Dahlberg hit wide receiver Tanner Johnson on a 10-yard scoring strike to give Chillicothe a 14-6 lead (Baker hit the extra point) with 10:54 remaining in the half. A one-yard quarterback sneak by Dahlberg within the final minute of the half pushed the lead to 20-6, as the Swarm’s holder lost the hold on a failed extra point.
Sugar Creek, on their second scoring strike of the night between quarterback Boyd and receiver Bluitt, added six points with 35.8 seconds remaining in the half. The pass was set up on a kickoff return to the Swarm’s 39 yard line.
The second half was played in a much cleaner fashion, as both teams worked off rust to bring down their penalty total, with both teams going scoreless, as the Swarm, clinching the game on a late 4th quarter interception, were able to kneel on the football to finish off the Shockers.
The Swarm, 1-0 on the young season, will host the Omaha Stockmen in their first Midwest Football Alliance game of the season this Saturday, May 5th. Kickoff for the game has been moved from 7 o’clock to 4 o’clock.
For more on the Chillicothe Swarm football team, visit www.chillicotheswarmfootball.com!
