NEW CONCORD − For seven long days, the sting of a crushing, last second, one-point Week 1 defeat to Maysville was on the minds of the John Glenn football team.
That bitter taste lingered on the practice field and was on the Muskies’ minds all week.
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On Friday, they finally got their shot at redemption and these Muskies took full advantage with an offensive explosion to coast past a pesky Cambridge squad for a 50-21 victory.
“We talked about that wait in our pregame talk, I love football but the bad part about it, you only get to play once every seven days,” John Glenn coach Matt Edwards said. “So, we were ready to get back out here and wipe that bad taste from last week out of our mouth.”
“We had a great week of practice this week, and we came out ready to go tonight,” Edwards added. “We focused and were determined to put that behind us tonight. And we executed very well tonight and were able to get it done out on the field in front of our fans.”
John Glenn’s Colten Gress breaks free for a touchdown run against Cambridge during a game in New Concord on Friday, August 30, 2025.
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John Glenn football builds first-half lead with perfect execution
John Glenn’s execution in the first half was perfect … three possessions and three touchdowns to build a 21-7 lead at the halftime break.
Muskie senior QB Owen Edwards was on target in the first half finishing a perfect 6-for-6 passing performance for 80 yards with a pair of TD tosses.
Edwards connected with Colten Gress with a 25-yard scoring strike, followed by a 6-yard hook-up with Ryder Pennington to put the Muskies up 14-7.
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Reese Metzger then broke off a 13-yard spring into the end zone to close out the perfect first half offensive showing.
Muskies’ Metzger goes off in second half
Metzger exploded in the second half to finish a big night with 98 yards rushing on 17 carries with three rushing TDs and then broke loose with an exciting 80-yard kickoff return for his fourth touchdown of the night.
Edwards closed his night by hitting on an efficient 9-of-13 passes for 137 yards with his pair of TD passes, Gress hauled in 5 receptions for 37 yards with a TD, and Pennington latched on to 4 catches for 56 yards with a score.
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Bobcats show some positive signs despite loss
Cambridge fans were treated to some positive signs from the Bobcats (0-2) who put up 21 points, including a pair of long scoring drives.
Marshall Laishley finished off a 15 play, 75-yard first-half drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, and sophomore A.J. Lawrence capped another long drive in the second half with a 13-yard TD jaunt.
And the Bobcats’ final touchdown was a testament to the effort this team continues to give as they keep working to end the current losing streak.
Cambridge’s Raider King catches a pass up the middle and turns down field against John Glenn during a game in New Concord on Friday, August 29, 2025.
John Glenn scored late to push the lead out to 50-14 with time winding out, but on the ensuing kickoff that effort came out as CHS senior Trashuan Shaver fielded the ball and raced 91 yards up the field for a touchdown.
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Lawrence hit on 5-of-10 passing attempts for 67 yards, and added 40 yards rushing on 14 carries with his TD. Laishley led the Bobcats ground game with 52 yards on 20 carries with a TD.
“It’s coming, you can see the progress we are making,” CHS head coach Kevin Gunn said. “Slowly, but surely we are validating the extreme effort our kids are giving. All the hard work they have been putting in is starting to show. They continued to battle all night.”
“These kids continue to bust their butts every day,” Gunn continued. “Our coaching staff believes in this team, and I’m just so proud of the effort they continue to give. We have had some costly injuries here lately, but they just keep showing up and putting in the work.”
John Glenn will host West Muskingum in Week 3, while Cambridge travels to Meadowbrook for a Guernsey County tussle with 7 p.m. kickoffs at both sites.
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KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn football fends off spirited Cambridge for first win
