HARRISON, Ohio — The Harrison High School football program likes to say it drinks the green juice.
There was no doubt that the Wildcats brought the energy Friday night in a 49-26 win over visiting Mount Healthy in a key Southwest Ohio Conference matchup.
It was the WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week.
"It was awesome," Harrison coach Derek Rehage said. "We played really well on defense. (Junior defensive lineman) Logan White and (sophomore defensive back) Ben Markarian had huge games. In the first half we ran the ball, we threw the ball - we kind of did whatever we wanted. In the second half we didn't play as well but we kind of hung on."
There were plenty of computer points at stake in Division II, Region 8.
Harrison (6-1, 1-0 SWOC) is No. 3 in Region 8 while Mount Healthy (5-2, 1-1 SWOC) is No. 7.
"It's huge — it puts us in the driver's seat for the league," Rehage said.
Harrison led 21-0 early in the second quarter after senior running back Cole Koops scored his second touchdown run of the game. He scored on a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
Koop finished with 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Josh Adelsperger had two receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Dickie Engel threw for three touchdowns in the game.
Harrison led 35-14 at halftime.
Harrison's defense put the game away when Markarian recorded two pick-6s in the third quarter while White finished the game with 17 tackles and tied his own program-record five sacks.
"I told you the other day he's pretty good," Rehage said of the junior defensive lineman. We struggle with him on our offense and our offensive line every day (in practice). Logan White is an animal. He is just phenomenal. He runs. He can pass rush. He just does everything that he does really, really well. His motor never stops. He's just a great kid."
Junior linebacker Brycen Deller (11 tackles) and senior linebacker Jayden Little (10 tackles) were among other defensive leaders for the Wildcats.
This is the second straight season that Harrison defeated Mount Healthy in the regular season.
The top eight seeds in each region host first-round playoff games starting Nov. 1.
Harrison plays host to Talawanda Oct. 11. Mount Healthy plays host to Dayton Belmont Oct. 11.
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