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McARTHUR, Ohio — The Meigs defense came to life and had two second half goal line stands, and the Marauders held Vinton County scoreless in the final three periods en route to a 27-12 win over the Vikings Friday evening.

The Marauders who have battled injuries all season played with out the services of their fine looking freshman quarterback Kaileb Sheets, who was injured on a late hit last week at Nelsonville. But senior Dillon Boyer stepped in and ran the wildcat offense for Meigs.

Meigs received the opening kickoff and fumbled with Nate Shrader recovering for the Viking at the Meigs 26. Five plays later, quarterback Andy Long scored from a yard out. The extra points were no good but the hosts held a 6-0 lead with 9:30 left in the first period.

Meigs took the ensuing kickoff and put together a 13 play, 80 yard drive. The drive was capped off when Boyer hit Devon Cundiff from 30 yards out. The extra points were no good but the game was tied at 6 with 4:38 left in the period.

Vinton County came right back however and cored with 1:41 left in the period when Long hit Dylan Crisp from 19 yards out for the score capping off a nine play, 64 yard drive.

Meigs took the lead with 8:34 left in the half, when Jordan Hutton broke free in the middle of the line and raced 47 yards for the score. Andrew Burt added the extra points and the Marauders took a 14-12 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Marauders first goal line stand happened late tin the third period when the Marauder interior line busted through the line and hit Tim Ousley for a loss on fourth and inches with 1:54 left in the third period.

The Marauders coughed the ball up ion first down however and the Vikings recovered at the Meigs 11.Three plays later on fourth and one from the two yard line, Long was hit for a loss and fumbled and the Marauders held again taking over at their own three.

Six plays later, Boyer gave Meigs some breathing room when he took it around left end and raced 86 yards for the score. The extra points were no good, but Meigs was on top 20-12 with 9:50 left in the contest.

The defense came up with another big play, Cundiff looked to have iced the game for Meigs with an interception and 20 yard return, but the junior coughed up the football and the Vikings recovered with 2:00 minutes remaining. But on the next play, Austin Welch picked off a deflected pass and went untouched 17 yards for the score. Ty Phelps added the extra points to give Meigs a 27-12 lead with 1:47 remaining.

Damon Jones then picked off a Long pass and Meigs was able to run out the clock.

Boyer led Meigs with 135 yards in 10 carries; Hutton added 54 in eight tries. Meigs rushed for 270 yards in just 27 carries for an average of 10 yards a try. Boyer was five of 12 in the air for 59 yards. Cundiff caught three for 45 yards.

Chase Fout led the Vikings with 69 in 12 tries; Tim Ousley added 49 in 11 carries. Long was 10 of 25 with three interceptions for 154 yards. Jordan Kidd caught three for 67 yards.

With the win the Marauders go to 2-5 over all and 1-1 in the TVC, the win is Mike Bartrum’s first TVC win, Meigs will return home next week for homecoming against Wellston. Vinton County falls to 1-6 and 0-2 in the TVC.