Steubenville, Ohio -- The last game for seniors Jake McAvinew, Kodey Chance and Kyle Cramer wasn't a thing of beauty. In fact, the Mogadore trio has probably forgotten much of Friday's 28-13 Division VI state semifinal loss to Shadyside. But what the Wildcat seniors left was a measuring stick for the next class to live up to.
Steubenville, Ohio -- The last game for seniors Jake McAvinew, Kodey Chance and Kyle Cramer wasn't a thing of beauty.
In fact, the Mogadore trio has probably forgotten much of Friday's 28-13 Division VI state semifinal loss to Shadyside. But what the Wildcat seniors left was a measuring stick for the next class to live up to.
Mogadore didn't make it to next Friday's state final at Canton Fawcett Stadium against Delphos St. John's like it had hoped, but the senior class finished a four-year career with a 44-7 record.
Included in that were four postseason appearances and the school's first trip to the state semifinals since 2002.
"We gave it our all," said McAvinew, who starred for the Wildcats as a fullback and defensive end. "We did it for each other and gave each other everything we had. I knew in my heart we'd be this good."
The Wildcats won the close games, winning games decided by 10 points or less four times. They also proved to be a second-half team, outscoring the opposition, 51-14, in the third and fourth quarters of the postseason before Friday's game.
"It was a fantastic season," Mogadore coach Matt Adorni said. "We probably doubled the amount of wins most people thought we were going to have. To play in this venue against another great program, it's what we pride ourselves on at Mogadore."
It did sting as Chance and Cramer declined to be interviewed, too overcome with emotion. But that's because the Wildcats (13-1) didn't play like they were accustomed to playing. They committed three personal foul penalties, dropped eight passes and were whistled for four illegal procedure penalties.
But they lived up to the legacy Mogadore football has forged.
While this particular loss hurts, the senior class finished with a winning record in the postseason at 6-4 and left a thumbprint at a school that owns three state championships.
"We gave it all we had," McAvinew said. "[The junior class] will play hard. They'll play to the end and never give up."
The squad will do it without McAvinew, who gained 1,486 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. It won't have Chance, who had more than 650 yards total offense and 10 touchdowns.
But it will do it with pride.