Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ ST. CLAIRSVILLE quarterback Tyler Tonkovich looks to pick up yardage during Friday’s game against Meadowbrook.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The first few series of Friday’s meeting between visiting Meadowbrook and the host St. Clairsville Red Devils turned out to be microcosm of the game,and the two teams’ respective seasons thus far.

Save for a first-quarter fumble on a prime scoring chance, the Red Devils took advantage of the opportunities that came their way. The Colts flashed moments of ability but, as has been the case to start the 2019 season, inconsistency reared its ugly head.

St. C. forced two turnovers that it turned into 14 points and started to see its offense begin to gel as the hosts stayed unbeaten with a 42-12 victory against Meadowbrook, which dropped its second-straight game after Week 1 shutout of John Glenn.

“It continues to be a problem” Meadowbrook coach Coular Clendenning said. “Last week our offense was up and done, we didn’t have any turnovers or penalties but things didn’t go our way and defensively, we weren’t paying attention and played undisciplined and frantic at times.

“(Friday) is another representation of that but against a much better football team. We have to clean it up. We have to start being consistent with who we are and what we do.”

St. Clairsville conversely played fairly consistent football offensively mixing a hard-charging ground game with rollout passes from junior Tyler Tonkovich to the tune of nearly 390 yards of total offense.

The lone blemish came when the hosts forced a turnover on downs inside the Colts territory on the first series. They marched inside the 25, but a fumble squandered a scoring opportunity.

It wasn’t the only time the Devils’ defense gift wrapped the offense quality field position.

The following series Austin DaRe intercepted a Josh Hupp pass at his own 30-yard line and raced down the visitors’ sideline before being tackled at the 10. Aaron Jordan would muscle his way in from the 3-yard-line a few plays later for an early 7-0 advantage.

Following another turnover on downs, St.C. was set up inside Meadowbrook territory again. The drive stalled, but Coach Brett McLean opted to go for a 4th-and-3 from the Colts’ 21. Tonkovich took a bootleg left and received a big kickout block from tight end Derek Witsberger to spring him for the first down. Tonkovich later snuck in from the 1 for his team’s second score.

The confidence, as did the Red Devils lead, only grew from that point.

“Honestly, that was huge that first series to get a stop,” McLean said. “We knew their offense was potent and that they could move the ball and we didn’t know how many times we could stop them and to get a (stop) out of the gate, it gave us a shot in the arm and got us moving.”

Two touchdown runs from Jacob Jordan, sandwiched around a 38-yard scoring strike from Tonkovich to Aaron Jordan gave the hosts a sizable 35-0 lead after three.

That pass to Jordan illustrated how St.C.’s night was going.

Tonkovich booted right, stopped and threw across field to a wide-open Jordan, who scampered down the home sideline to pay dirt. It wasn’t the first time Tonkovich rolled out to his right with a run/pass option, but it was the first time he went cross field with his pass.

On the next series, Tonkovich faked a jet-sweep handoff and then placed the ball into Jacob Jordan’s hands. Jordan took off up the middle, made a couple nice moves and races 65 yards to the Colts’ five. He scored one play later. The Devils had ran a couple jet sweeps successfully earlier, and the defense, respecting the perimeter speed, left Jordan room to run up the gut.

“Our offense gelled a little bit (Friday),” McLean said. “We did some good things and we’re excited about it. Our line played really, really well. Tyler had a good amount of time in the pocket and made some good decisions and Aaron had a great night. Witsberger had a great night.”

Jacob Jordan finished with 79 yards rushing and two scores, back by 73 yards from Aaron Jordan and 39 from Tonkovich, who threw for 129 yards on 12 of 23 passing, adding a 5-yarder to Witsberger to cap the Devils’ scoring.

Hupp totaled 228 yards for Meadowbrook, including a 73-yard strike to Addy Black in the game’s waning moments. Hupp ran in the Colts’ other touchdown as he finished with 41 yards on the ground.

Timmy Feguson had 44 yards rushing and Black total 101 receiving yards on four receptions.

St. Clairsville travels to Martins Ferry on Friday to take on the rival Purple Riders.