WADSWORTH, Ohio — Late in the second quarter, host Wadsworth was hanging tough with 20th-ranked Copley. The Grizzlies' running game was finding its stride, moving the ball with authority, and Copley's high-powered offense seemed eager to help by giving up a pair of fumbles. The second turnover led to a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Bret Baughman, giving the...
Copley's C.J. Chatman outruns Wadsworth's Bret Baughman and Anthony Pappas (3) on a pass reception in the second quarter Thursday in Wadsworth.
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(Mike Cardew / Akron Beacon Journal)
WADSWORTH, Ohio — Late in the second quarter, host Wadsworth was hanging tough with 20th-ranked Copley.
The Grizzlies' running game was finding its stride, moving the ball with authority, and Copley's high-powered offense seemed eager to help by giving up a pair of fumbles. The second turnover led to a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Bret Baughman, giving the Grizzlies a 7-0 lead.
The score was the wake-up call Copley needed.
The Indians grabbed control of the game with a monster minute and never looked back, ticking off 21 points in 59 seconds en route to a 35-21 win over Wadsworth in Suburban League action Thursday.
"That was pretty much a whirlwind," Copley head coach Ron Viscounte said of the 59-second onslaught, which featured a pair of Lou Gigliotti-to-Shawn Taylor touchdown passes sandwiched around an Isiah Wheeler interception return for a score. "That really put the momentum in our favor."
Copley's three-headed monster of quarterback Gigliotti, running back Aregeros Turner and wide receiver Taylor was simply too much for the Grizzlies. Gigliotti and Taylor hooked up for touchdown passes of 15, 45, and 44 yards, while Turner added a 62-yard touchdown run to pace the Copley attack.
"They just have so many weapons," Wadsworth head coach Greg Dennison said. "They have speed everywhere. They have guys who can make plays everywhere.
"You stop one area and they're going to get you in another area."
Copley (7-0, 4-0) needed just seven plays to answer Baughman's touchdown and tie the score at 7-7. Three plays into Wadsworth's ensuing possession, Wheeler picked off a pass and scored easily from 15 yards out.
The Indians forced a fumble on the kickoff, and on the next play Gigliotti and Taylor hooked up again, this time from 45 yards out, giving Copley a 21-7 advantage.
Wadsworth (2-5, 2-2) managed to run out the clock to end the first half, but the damage was done. Three touchdowns had turned Wadsworth's seven-point lead into a 14-point deficit.
"We knew we were going to play a good team in Wadsworth," Viscounte said. "They're physical, and we saw on tape they were able to move the ball on everybody, and we knew that we were going to be in for a battle.
"We figured they were going to be able to poke some holes in our line and make some plays, and we ultimately had to make sure we stood toe-to-toe with them, slugged it out, and we were able to do that."
Wadsworth's rushing attack was paced by Baughman, who scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, and freshman tailback Martice Jackson, who rushed for the Grizzlies' other score.
Bill Mayville is a freelance writer in Parma Heights.