Page 18 - The Buzz 10/16/2026

C2 | NEARBY NEWS The OCTOBER 16 - 29, 2026
New Lexington improves to 8 – 0 overall and 4 – 0 in the MVL

BY MATTHEW DOTSON | THE BUZZ

New Lexington’s running back getting wrapped up by the West Muskingum defense. Matthew Dotson

Vs. West Muskingum (10/9) close New Lexington’s lead down touchdown was the last score of the 4-yard rushing touchdown, with
On Friday night in Tornado Country, to 35 – 28. Colton Mathias turned first half, putting Meadowbrook at a Mathias following with the extra
the Panthers faced West Musking- around in the next drive to bump the 34 – 0 disadvantage at halftime. point to lead 27 – 6. After a short
um. Just a few minutes into the score right back up to 41 – 28 after After halftime, Eli Dixon took a Tri-Valley possession, Carson Mc-
game, West grabbed a touchdown a 28-yard touchdown. Mathias made fumble return for a 22-yard touch- Coy’s punt return for a 42-yard touch-
for an early 7 – 0 lead. Just after the a 3-yard touchdown later in the third down, 41 – 0. The Panthers held that down brought the score up to 34 – 6
kickoff, Lane Ratliff completed a 48- quarter, pushing New Lex’s lead lead through the end of the third after Mathias’s PAT. Minutes later,
yard touchdown pass to Eli Dixon, to 47 – 28 to end the third quarter quarter. In the final minutes of the Tri-Valley landed a 69-yard pass for
and Lane went on to grab the two- and the scoring for the game as the game, with a running clock, Cohen a touchdown, but still trailed 34 – 12
point conversion to take the lead for fourth period went down without a Martin made a 58-yard touchdown at the end of the third. At the start
the Panthers, 8- 7. Right before the score, giving New Lexington the 47 – to finalize the winning score at, New of the final period, Ratliff hit a 39-
end of the quarter, West Muskingum 28 win. Lex 47, Meadowbrook 0. yard pass to Tyson Spicer for a touch-
grabbed another touchdown to lead down, 40 – 12, followed by Ratliff’s
14 – 8. At the beginning of the sec- Vs. Meadowbrook (10/2) Vs. Tri-Valley (9/25) toss to Tanner Toth for the 2-point
ond quarter, Colton Mathias ran the The Panthers hosted the Meadow- The Scotties made the long trip to conversion, 42 -12. Just before the
ball 68 yards for a touchdown, tying brook Colts on Friday. New Lex took New Lexington on Friday. The first clock ran out, Tri-Valley took a short
up the game after the missed extra control right away with a touchdown quarter between the two teams went touchdown, but still lost to New Lex-
point at 14 – 14. A pick-six by Lane on the kickoff, with Tyson Spicer by without a score. Ratliff opened ington 42 – 19.
Ratliff for a 57-yard touchdown gave running the ball back for an 87-yard the scoring for New Lex in the second
New Lex the 21 – 14 lead. Ratliff touchdown, followed by a two-point quarter with a 24-yard touchdown Vs. Coshocton (9/18)
grabbed a single-yard touchdown, conversion to lead 8 – 0. Lane Rat- to lead 6 – 0. Tri-Valley answered On the road in Coshocton, the New
pumping their lead up to 28 – 14. liff grabbed a 5-yard touchdown a back with a touchdown of their own Lexington Panthers took a 39 – 6
The Tornadoes answered back with little later in the first period to set to tie the game 6- 6. Colton Mathias lead at halftime. After halftime, Co-
a touchdown that narrowed the gap the Panthers’ lead at 14 – 0. Tyson ran the ball for a 17-yard touchdown shocton put out a short touchdown,
to 28- 21, with New Lex still leading. Spicer ran in a 13-yard touchdown, to take the lead again, 12- 6. After 39 – 12. Cohen Martin grabbed the
Ratliff hit Tanner Toth in the numbers with Colton Mathias adding the extra blocking the punt, the score for New last touchdown of the night and still
for a 15-yard touchdown just before point, 21 – 0. Near the end of the Lex increased to 14 – 6. Ratliff com- lost the match, 46 – 12.
the break, giving the Panthers a 35 first quarter, Brayson Lee took the pleted a 33-yard pass to Tanner Toth
– 21 advantage at halftime. ball in for a 2-yard touchdown to end for a touchdown, 20 – 6, to end the
After the intermission, the Torna- the period with New Lex leading 27 first half.
does nabbed a short touchdown to – 0. Gunner Patton’s 1-yard rushing Back in the game, Ratliff hit a

OTC Honors Legends of Loyalty Award Winners SUBMITTED

Submitted
Central Ohio Technical College of service to the college, have made pacted the trajectory of our college,” Misty Amacher
(COTC) President John M. Berry, PhD, a significant impact on its history, Berry said. “Their vision helps set our Amacher showcases incredible cour-
presented the prestigious Legends gone above and beyond their re- direction. Their commitment keeps tesy as a member of the campus’s
of Loyalty award to a quartet of com- quired duties, and displayed unwav- us moving forward. Their example student financial services depart-
mendable, worthy recipients. ering dedication. inspires all of us to work toward the ment. Through almost 30 years
The honor, established by the Of- This year’s Legends of Loyalty shared goal of empowering students on campus, this respectful prob-
fice of the President in 2011, is award winners are Misty Amacher, through education and training that lem-solver has helped students nav-
awarded at the annual Legacy and Rhonda Carter, Kim Goudy and The changes lives.”
Leadership Dinner. It recognizes in- Ohio State University at Newark.
dividuals who, through several years “Their selfless service has truly im- CONTINUED ON C3