Fort Frye’s Grady Hesson hands the ball to an official after scoring a touchdown against Marietta Friday at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Fort Frye quarterback Grady Hesson ran for two touchdowns and threw for another. But the stat that mattered to him most was the shutout streak kept intact by the Cadet defense.

Friday night at Don Drumm Stadium, Fort Frye’s defense extended its scoreless streak to 22 consecutive quarters after posting a 35-0 shutout of Marietta.

The particular number was the point of emphasis in the postgame talk.

“That streak is something we hold to a high standard,” Hesson said. “We expect our defense to be really good and it’s a really good accomplishment for us.”

The Fort Frye backfield of Tyce Beardsley, Gavin Rauch and Kainan Bradford was responsible for the majority of the 311 yards on the ground, while the Cadet defense limited Marietta to 37 yards of total offense in the first half. The Tigers finished the game with a grand total of 106.

Marietta’s Kobe Alexander (15) carries the ball as teammate Owen Riley (14) looks to block during Friday’s game against Fort Frye at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The 8 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter was played under a running clock.

“I thought our defense played really well – they were having fun out there,” Fort Frye coach Eric Huck said. “We let up a little bit there in the third quarter, but we got a big stop in the red zone.”

Hesson scored the first two touchdowns of the game on dives up the middle from five yards and again from two yards. Tyce Beardsley’s 38-yard touchdown run just before halftime extended the lead to 21-0 – one play following a defensive stop on a fourth-and-4 for the Tigers.

“I told the guys at halftime, I made a critical mistake out there going for it on fourth down right there near midfield,” Marietta coach Mike Kupfner said. “We were trying to see if we could get a first down and maybe a quick hitter like we did last week against Williamstown.”

While Fort Frye (6-1) extended its winning streak to six straight, Marietta slipped to 1-7. Offensive leaders for the Tigers included quarterback Owen Riley with 41 yards on 14 carries.

Fort Frye’s Gavin Rauch (11) carries the ball behind teammate Blake Wheeler (51) during Friday’s game against Marietta at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“After the game, I said this is the first time that we kind of got manhandled a little bit,” Marietta coach Mike Kupfner added. “That’s a credit to Fort Frye. Defensively, they were flying downhill. What they do, they do very well. They have a real solid program from peewee and all the way up.”

Fort Frye scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions. The Cadets took the third quarter kickoff and covered 50 yards in three plays with Hesson finding Rauch for a 13-yard TD reception.

Marietta nearly had an answer on the ensuing drive, chewing eight minutes off the clock and getting the ball into the red zone for a fourth-and-3 at the 19. Fort Frye plugged the Tigers’ progress, and the Cadets went right back to work for a nine-play, 82-yard drive capped off by Rauch’s 15-yard score and a 35-0 lead at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter.

Beardsley led the Cadets with 120 yards on 12 carries, while Rauch finished with 89 yards on 15 rushes. Bradford added another 63 yards on seven attempts.

The only series which interrupted the touchdown streak was a fumble by Hesson trying to gain the final five yards to the end zone for a possible third touchdown late in the second quarter. Otherwise with a major assist from the line, the offense ran smoothly with Hesson also completing all five pass attempts for 60 yards.

Fort Frye’s Kainan Bradford (10) runs through a tackle during Friday’s game against Marietta at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Grady is the leader of that offense and does such a good job with everything,” Huck said. “There are some little things that people don’t realize with calling audibles at the line and different things. He is very football savvy, a very smart kid and someone I definitely trust with that responsibility.”

Where It All Started

Friday was reunion of sorts for Fort Frye assistant coach Jason Schob, who stepped down as the Marietta head coach after last season. The win was bittersweet because he still feels a bond with current players on the Tiger roster.

“This week leading up to the game was tough because I still love and care about the kids at Marietta,” Schob said. “Not a lot of sleep happened at night. But obviously we have to do the best we can and I am so fortunate to get this week over with.”

The Fort Frye family has welcomed Schob into their family. His father is the principal at Fort Frye and he is the teacher for his younger sister, who is a freshman at the school.

Marietta quarterback Owen Riley (14) awaits a playcall from the sideline during Friday’s game against Fort Frye at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Schob’s role on game night is being the voice in the ear of the coaches along the sidelines.

“It’s definitely being in the box because I’ve never been in the box in my coaching career,” Schob said.

The culmination of the week took place on the field during postgame when several Fort Frye players gave Schob a Gatorade bath with plenty of ice mixed in.

“I saw the kids looking at each other and whispering – I didn’t expect that,” Schob said. “But we have good kids and I’m really proud about how we played.

“LIke I’ve said, I love and care about the kids at Marietta, but it’s been a real smooth transition at Fort Frye so far.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com