Former Cavalier coach John Sines once explained "There are three phases to a game, offense, defense and special teams."

The message was, a team has to make plays in all three areas to be effective.

For Hamilton Township, it was the punting game.

Aaron Williams scored two touchdowns returning two punts. The last was good for 77 yards and what became the winning touchdown in a 27-23 season opening victory at Herrnstein Field.

With seven minutes to play, Chillicothe had a 23-6 lead, then came a 65 yard pass play for a touchdown and back to back punt returns to score the win.

The game's first play dictated the night would not be a normal one. Chillicothe, beginning its season with a bevy of untested talent, jumped out to a 6-0 lead when a Rangers snap sailed over quarterback Zack Thompson's head and was recovered by the Cavs' Derrick Milliken for a quick touchdown.

Shortly thereafter, Caylib Holt recovered a Hamilton fumble and a few plays later Julius Lee was running in for a touchdown to put the Cavs ahead 13-0.

Suddenly, the upstart Cavaliers were looking like the favored team. Tim Beard tacked on a 31 yard run breaking free to make it 19-0. The Cavs capitalized on nearly every opportunity the Rangers handed to them.

Following another snap over Thompson's reach, Chillicothe was set up inside the Hamilton 40. While the Cavs failed to record another touchdown, Noah Valentine pushed a 45 yard field just over the cross bar as the first half expired.

With a 23-0 lead at the half, the Cavs were beaming with confidence.

Whatever magic Chillicothe had in the first half, swayed to the opposite sideline.

The Rangers took advantage of a couple of punts which sailed to the sideline in Chillicothe territory. The first was a short run by P.J. Ansell to get Hamilton on the scoreboard (23-6). Another set up a 39 yard field goal (23-9) and a 65 yard td pass (23-15) and then came the two returns by Williams.

Hamilton thought they'd also scored a safety on blocked punt which Brian Ray blocked into and out of the end zone. Following a lengthy discussion, the block was ruled a touchback, and despite kicking the ball away, the Cavs retained possession at their 20 yard line.

Hamilton didn't get the two points they were looking for, but the night was far from over.

Chillicothe failed to convert on the ensuing possession and was forced to punt. That's the play that lead to the winning touchdown.

Valentine got a good kick away that sailed over the head of Williams at the Rangers' 40 yard line. Williams picked up the ball at the 23 and raced to the far sideline. His move to the Hamilton sideline proved advantageous. Once Williams found a lane in front of the Rangers bench, he and five other Rangers escorted him to the end zone for the decisive score.

Beard was Chillicothe's most productive ball carrier with 17 carries and 86 of the Cavs' 112 yards on the night.

After the game, Chillicothe coach Ron Hinton said "They started playing harder on the line of scrimmage and we didn't respond to that... We started losing confidence and we started making a ton of mental mistakes... We just didn't close the deal."

Despite the surrendering the 27 second half points, Coach Hinton was upbeat.

"We still have 9 games to play, I think we're heading in the right direction. I'm disappointed, but I'm proud of my kids."

The Cavs will host Big Walnut Friday.

NOTES: Before the game, Herrnstein Auto Group and Chrysler gave the Chillicothe Touchdown Club a $2,000 shot in the arm. Cavalier fans could take a test drive in one of three vehicles. For each, the Club earned $20 for each driver... Chillicothe's Stefan Hinty had a couple of impressive hits, one for a quarterback sack to grant him the season's first Monroe Collision "Big Collision of the Game".

Photos by Dana Cousins, wbex.com.

HEAR the Cavs-Hamilton Twp PODCAST HERE.