They may not be a bunch of sprinters, but the Amherst Comets will tell you that steady wins the race. It's how the undefeated Comets stayed on course for a league title as they won a rugged Southwestern Conference game against Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 28-14, on Friday night at Amherst Memorial Field.
Amherst's Jason Stump picks up a first down in the fourth quarter of the Comets' 28-14 victory over Brecksville on Friday night.
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(Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
They may not be a bunch of sprinters, but the Amherst Comets will tell you that steady wins the race.
It's how the undefeated Comets stayed on course for a league title as they won a rugged Southwestern Conference game against Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 28-14, on Friday night at Amherst Memorial Field.
Relying on the short passing game of junior quarterback Brennan Hosier and the punishing runs of senior Jason Stump, the Comets (8-0, 5-0) put together four consecutive scoring drives to hold off the stubborn Bees (5-3, 3-2).
"There were a lot of short passes into a lot of open spaces," said Hosier, who passed for 255 yards. "When you hit a couple, you know what you are doing. There is a rhythm."
Hosier, who scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter, definitely found it as he had only six incompletions in 31 attempts. He found senior Brad Block on 10 of his passes for 100 yards.
Also in a groove was Stump, who ground out 137 yards on 29 carries. He also scored on runs of 1, 2 and 5 yards.
"Give the offensive line credit," said Stump. "We kind of wore them out."
That's what the Comets had to do because the Bees, behind sophomore quarterback Tom Tupa, showed they had the goods to ruin a perfect season. Tupa was 13-of-15 for 140 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Bees forged a 14-14 tie.
But Amherst's defense began exacting a toll and the Brecksville offense could not continue to click. Tupa finished with 226 yards on 21-for-31 passing.
"Brecksville had a good plan," said Amherst coach Kevin Fell, whose club was ranked No. 15 in The Plain Dealer Top 25. "They kept our offense off the field. Our guys are kind of strong and kept coming. Offensively, when we can get moving we are pretty good."
The game came alive in the second quarter as each team scored two touchdowns.
The Bees put together a 10-play, 95-yard drive that was capped by a 4-yard rollout pass from Tupa to tight end Ryan Kelly. Tupa totaled 69 yards on six completions.
The Comets answered with a 75-yard drive, Stump going up the middle for the final 2 yards. Stump carried three times for 34 yards on the drive.
Brecksville answered in less than two minutes as Tupa connected with sophomore wide receiver Tyler Tarnowski on a 21-yard scoring play with 1:57 left in the half. The 35-yard drive was set up by a 50-yard kickoff return by junior Brian Colarik.
Amherst then covered 67 yards in nine plays. With the clock running, Stump went over from the 1 with 3.6 seconds remaining.
The Comets continued to move in the second half as they scored the first two times they had the ball, Hosier capping a 58-yard drive on a 2-yard run and Stump getting his third score on a 5-yard burst to complete an 80-yard drive with three minutes left in the third quarter.
The Bees had to play catch-up and the Amherst defense was equal to the task. Tupa threw his only interception late in the game when matters were settled.
Amherst, ranked eighth in the Division I, Region 2, computer standings, finishes on the road at Olmsted Falls and Avon Lake.