Observers who had any doubts concerning Padua and its ability to win the big game, got plenty of answers Friday night. The Bruins (5-2) outscored host Elyria Catholic, 21-6, in the second half for a 41-23 North Coast League crossover-game win.
Observers who had any doubts concerning Padua and its ability to win the big game, got plenty of answers Friday night.
The Bruins (5-2) outscored host Elyria Catholic, 21-6, in the second half for a 41-23 North Coast League crossover-game win.
Padua got a 181-yard, 3-touchdown effort from Xavier Means while quarterback Jim Solano rushed for 70 yards and touchdown and also passed for 101 yards and a touchdown while making good on 6 of 12 attempts.
The previously unbeaten Panthers (6-1), ranked No. 11 in The Plain Dealer and first in the Division IV state poll, had quarterback Danny Reaser complete 27 of 48 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite receiver was Zach Rogers, who accounted for 10 catches, 180 yards and a touchdown.
Glenville 46, Lincoln West 0 The Tarblooders (7-0, 4-0), ranked No. 1 in the area and the Division I state poll, No. 4 in the ESPN/Rise Fab 50 and 11th in the USA Today Super 25 national polls, pitched its second Senate Athletic League shutout thanks to Antwan Crutcher's six tackles. Quarterback Cardale Jones completed 11 of 15 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Da'Twane Harris. Harris finished with three receptions, good for 77 yards.
Solon 27, Brunswick 0 The undefeated Comets, ranked No. 2 in the area and eighth in the Division I state poll, found their rhythm in the second half of the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game. Solon (7-0, 2-0) expanded on its 7-0 halftime lead by scoring touchdowns on each of its first two possessions in the third quarter. Quarterback/defensive back Chris Humphrey was 9-of-12 passing for 104 yards and returned an 18-yard interception in the second quarter for the Comets' first score. Brunswick dropped to 4-3, 1-1.
St. Edward 62, Columbus St. Francis DeSales 0 The unbeaten Eagles (7-0), just keep flying over anyone who gets in their way. St. Edward, ranked No. 3 in the area and fourth in the Division I state poll, registered its second consecutive shutout, this time against the No. 7-ranked team in Division III as the trio of Reggie Terrell, Kevin Burke and Quincy Jones helped corral the Stallions (4-3). Burke completed 10 of 14 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, one going to Jones, who had three receptions for 68 yards and tacked on a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown. Terrell gained 145 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
Lake Catholic 38, NDCL 0 Bryan Blondeaux completed 6 of 9 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars (6-1, 2-0), who are ranked No. 5 in the area and sixth in the Division II state poll. The team's standout running back Richie Sanders injured his leg midway through the second quarter. He walked off the field but did not return. Tommy Michals had two catches for 98 yards and two scores.
Twinsburg 49, Cuyahoga Falls 7 The John Barton/Aaron Macer duo proved unstoppable for Twinsburg (7-0, 2-0) in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division romp. Barton rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown, and had 61 yards in receptions while Macer passed for 80 yards, ran for 43 yards and two touchdowns, and scored a 6-yard fumble recovery.
Aurora 50, Wickliffe 14 The 14th-ranked Greenmen (5-1, 4-0) kept its lead in the Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division by doing most of its damage through the air. Quarterback Blake Calcei made good on 10 of 13 passes for 22 yards and touchdown aerials of 20, 37 and 54 yards to Anthony Melchiori. Melchiori finished with six receptions for 146 yards.
Amherst 47, Midpark 20 The 17th-ranked Comets (7-0, 4-0) remained unbeaten behind quarterback Brennan Hosier, who lit it up by completing 20 of 40 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns in the Southwestern Conference victory. Tyler Parrish grabbed five passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, followed by Brad Block's six receptions, 113 yards and a touchdown and Jason Stump's five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Parma 17, Normandy 14 The 18th-ranked Redmen (6-1, 2-0) got all they could handle from their neighborhood rivals before a 27-yard field goal by Joe Glover with two seconds remaining decided the NOC Lake Division game. Quarterback Joe Pullman rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns while also passing for 139 yards with Dylan Kurtz cashing in four receptions for 65 yards.
Strongsville 28, Mayfield 0 The 19th-ranked Mustangs (5-2, 2-0) won their fifth straight game and earned their first shutout of the year to stay in the thick of the NOC Valley Division championship race. Quarterback Austin Pritchard was back at the controls, completing 10 of 16 passes for 160 yards and touchdown passes to three different receivers, including Iowa recruit Ray Hamilton, who had three receptions for 89 yards. Tailback Matt Bianco added 96 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
West Geauga 48, Orange 24 Joe Drenski had a huge game and the Wolverines shut down the host Lions in the second half during the CVC Chagrin Division homecoming game. Drenski rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard run in the third quarter when the Wolverines (6-1, 3-1), ranked 22nd in the area and 13th in the Division II state poll, put the game away. Drenski also threw two touchdowns. Orange was led by Ryan Bitzer, who threw for 379 yards and two touchdowns. Julian Turner caught seven passes for 177 yards and a score.
Kenston 28, Perry 14 Kenston (5-2, 3-1) remained in the CVC Chagrin Division title race by defeating the Pirates (5-2, 2-2), who were ranked No. 23 in the area and 11th in the Division IV state poll.
Rhodes 32, John Marshall 6 The Rams (5-2, 3-2) got 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns out of LaKeith Walls and 105 yards on the ground and two touchdowns from Justin Sangster in the SAL win. Sangster also had a interception which stopped a Marshall drive late in the first half.
John Hay 27, Collinwood 21 The Hornets (5-2, 3-1) pulled out the SAL victory on Leonard Jackson's 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Jackson finished with 77 yards rushing with two touchdowns and passed for 86 yards. The 1-2 tailback tandem of Donald Cofield and Brandon Sipp teamed up for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Sipp also had 67 yards in receptions and a pair of interceptions.
Kirtland 42, Cardinal 0 The Hornets (7-0, 4-0), ranked No. 2 in the Division V state poll, kept their hold of first place in the CVC Valley Division thanks to quarterback Paul Guhde, who ran for 92 yards and a touchdown and passed for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Damon Washington was on the receiving end of two touchdowns, totaling 112 yards.
Independence 34, Hawken 14 The Blue Devils (6-1, 4-0) scored 21 unanswered points to put the finishing touches on the CVC Metro Division win. Quarterback Sam Stretar turned in another stellar effort, running for 143 yards and a touchdown, and also completed 10 of 13 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Stow 41, Lakewood 0 The Bulldogs (2-5, 1-1) raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back in the NOC River Division win. Tailback Duane Mitchell garnered 123 yards on the ground and three touchdowns while quarterback Mike Greenwell was 9-of-12 passing, good for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Revere 14, Barberton 7 The Minutemen (2-5, 1-3) did all their scoring in the first quarter of the Suburban League victory. Joe D'Amico led the charge with 83 yards on the ground and a touchdown while quarterback Eric Smith completed 7 of 8 passes for 82 yards and he ran for the winning touchdown via a 2-yard scamper.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 34, Tuscarawas Valley 7 Senior Alex Utley ran for a school-record 398 yards on the ground and two touchdowns and also collected nine tackles, including four stops for a loss, as the Royals (4-3, 3-1) prevailed in the Principals Athletic Conference game. Nathan Rosenberger grinded out 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns as CVCA grabbed 571 yards of its 596 yards in total offense on the ground.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights 25, North Olmsted 22 Matt Galland gained 248 yards on 36 carries and scored three touchdowns when the Bees (5-2, 2-1) stung North Olmsted for the Southwestern Conference win. The Eagles has Marc Remy run for 143 yards.
John Adams 14, JFK 12 Rebels quarterback Tevin Griffin threw touchdown passes of 47 and 50 yards in the third quarter at Collinwood as John Adams moved to 2-5 overall, 2-2 in the SAL. Griffin, who was 11-of-20 passing for 181 yards, had his touchdown go to John Kyles and Errol Jamerson. JFK (4-3, 3-2) was led by quarterback Antonio Howard, who completed 17-of-24 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Howard also had a touchdown run of 18 yards.
Rocky River 53, Bay 34 Senior quarterback Robbie Plagens threw for five touchdowns and ran in another score during the Pirates' WSC road win. Plagens was 23 of 29 for 216 yards. Ben Hofecker ran for two touchdowns and had 149 yards rushing for Rocky River (4-3, 3-1). Bay's Nathan Baumgard returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a score.
Holy Name 13, Archbishop Hoban 7 First-year Green Wave coach Mark Pinzone will remember his first North Coast League Blue Division victory for a while, as his team knocked off the area's No. 16 team. R.J. Frazier broke a 7-7 tie in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run for the Green Wave (4-3, 1-1). Hoban dropped to 3-4, 1-1.
VASJ 24, Trinity 17 The Vikings got 153 yards rushing from Clinton James, and defensive back Mike Brately had a 26-yard fumble recovery in the first quarter as the Vikings (3-4, 1-1) won the NCL White Division game.
North Royalton 29, Brush 21 Logan Pearce rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns to lead the winners in the NOC Lake Division game. The host Arcs, celebrating homecoming, trailed, 29-7, with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. They got close following Kevin Houchins' 18-yard touchdown run with 3:26 left, and Pharoah Brown's 25-yard touchdown pass to Robert Johnson with less than 90 seconds to play. The Arcs attempted an onside kick, but North Royalton's Evan Adams recovered and the Bears (6-1, 2-0) ran out the clock for the win.
Garfield Heights 35, Valley Forge 7 James Bennett made his varsity starting debut under center a good one as the Garfield Heights (3-4, 1-1) sophomore completed 8 of 13 passes for 162 yards, including a pair of touchdowns to Lloyd Henry, in the NOC Lake Division win.
Madison 62, Chardon 39 Chardon couldn't overcome a 48-25 halftime deficit in the Premier Athletic Conference contest as Madison (4-3, 1-1) had tailback Josh March carry the ball 24 times, gain 324 yards and score six touchdowns.
University School 35, Geneva 20 Quarterback Tyler Eden passed for 149 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Preppers (5-2) won the nonleague game. Tailback Kevin Smith helped open up the passing game by rushing for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Garrettsville Garfield 67, Woodridge 24 Quarterback Sabastian Neikirk completed 13 of 25 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns for the G-Men (5-2, 3-1) during the Portage Trail Conference County Division win. Bobby Bright was on the receiving end of six of those aerials for 171 yards and four touchdowns.
Southeast 35, Coventry 7 Running backs Damian Pennington and Sean Stone combined to gain 109 yards and five touchdowns for the Pirates (3-4, 2-2) during the PTC Metro Division trouncing.