Olentangy Orange turned three short fields into touchdowns and beat Hilliard Davidson 25-6 on Friday, Sept. 25, in Lewis Center to open OCC-Central Division play, as reported by the Delaware Gazette's Ben Stroup.

The defending OCC champion entered the conference opener at 2-3. Orange lost its season opener 21-6 to Olentangy Berlin on Aug. 21 and was coming off a 51-7 loss to Pickerington North on Sept. 18. The Pioneers (3-3, 1-0 OCC-Central) needed a strong start to league play, and they got one.

Orange's first scoring drive was the exception to the short-field pattern. Quarterback Colby Luling took over at his own six-yard line midway through the first quarter and engineered a 94-yard march. Running back James Schuh ripped off a 20-yard gain during the drive, Luling connected with Trace Schroeder for a first down, and Schuh punched it in from three yards out with 1:26 left in the quarter.

The Wildcats handed Orange the next two scores. Davidson muffed the ensuing kickoff, and the Pioneers recovered at the 21-yard line. Colby Luling capped the short drive with an eight-yard keeper to make it 12-0 less than a minute into the second quarter.

On Davidson's next possession, defensive lineman Evan Heerdt recorded a sack that forced a punt. Ricky Tonelli-Floyd blocked it, giving Orange the ball at the Davidson 21 for the second straight drive. Colby Luling then hit receiver Jake Luling for an 18-yard touchdown, making it 18-0 midway through the second quarter. The score held through halftime.

Orange missed the extra point after each of its first three touchdowns.

The missed kicks did not matter.

Jake Luling returned a Davidson punt to the Wildcat 27-yard line in the third quarter. Jaelyn Berry finished the drive by powering in from one yard out at the 4:20 mark, extending the lead to 25-0.

Davidson's only score came on the final play. Quarterback Aiden Kattenhorn found Drew Osborn for a 19-yard touchdown as time expired to set the final margin at 25-6. The Wildcats fell to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the division.

All four Olentangy schools won Friday. Olentangy Liberty beat Dublin Coffman 31-3, Olentangy topped Thomas Worthington 49-14, and Olentangy Berlin edged Hilliard Darby 20-19.

Orange travels to Dublin Coffman (1-5, 0-1 OCC-Central) on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.