TWINSBURG, Ohio — It was difficult not to view Friday night's Division VI regional semifinal in terms of David and Goliath. After all, it was big, bad Mogadore, with its three state titles and 23 playoffs appearances --including 12 in a row -- taking on Ledgemont, which won its first playoff game a week ago.
TWINSBURG, Ohio — It was difficult not to view Friday night's Division VI regional semifinal in terms of David and Goliath.
After all, it was big, bad Mogadore, with its three state titles and 23 playoffs appearances --including 12 in a row -- taking on Ledgemont, which won its first playoff game a week ago.
But when it was all said and done, it was just two evenly matched teams that played their guts out, with Mogadore holding on for a 17-12 victory at Twinsburg High School. The outcome was in doubt with a minute to go, when the Wildcats got a first down on fourth-and-1 from the Ledgemont 41.
"Who would have thought we'd give Mogadore a run for their money?" Ledgemont coach Joe LaRosa said. "It's been an incredible ride for us."
It was a very physical game, as Ledgemont lost two players to injury--sophomore linebacker Kyle LaRosa broke a rib in the third quarter and senior tight end Derek Cantrell was carted off in the fourth quarter with a suspected neck injury, but he was back on the sideline when the game ended.
"That's a very good team," Mogadore coach Matt Adorni said of the Redskins. "They played very hard and they were very physical."
The 12-0 Wildcats were clinging to a 7-6 lead at the half, having been outgained, 178-103. But things started to turn in the third quarter, as Mogadore began flexing its muscles with its power ground attack, putting together a 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard run by Kodey Chance, who scored both Mogadore TDs.
"That's Mogadore football," said senior Jake McAvinew, who teamed with Chance and Gary Strain to form a three-headed running attack. "We just line up and run over people."
In the meantime, Mogadore also shut down Ledgemont's vaunted offense, which gained only 32 yards in the second half. Tailback Dan LaRosa, who entered the game with more than 1,400 yards in 11 games, was held to 65 yards on 16 carries.
"Our defense did a great job, especially in the second half," Adorni said. "They did some things to us early, but then we settled down and buckled down."
Things got interesting late in the game, as LaRosa returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown with 3:09 to play, making it 17-12. LaRosa also scored on a 55-yard screen pass from Shane Ritts in the second quarter.
"That punt was supposed to go out of bounds," Adorni said. "But I can't get too mad [at punter/kicker Alex Roebken]. That field goal he made was very important."
Not only did Roebken hit a 35-yard field goal midway through the final quarter, but he also recovered Ledgemont's onside kick with 3:04 to play, getting absolutely leveled in the process.