A BATTLE FOR THE AGES IN THE DRAGON’S DEN

ASHTABULA, OH-The annual matchup between the Lakeside Dragons and Edgewood Warriors has produced some of Ashtabula county’s most thrilling and hard-fought games ever seen and Friday night was no exception. In this year’s rendition of the “Battle for the Bridge,” the Edgewood Warriors would come out on top with a 32-28 victory that would culminate with one last defensive stop at the 1-yard line.

The Warriors started the game in electric fashion with senior Christian Cunningham taking the opening kickoff on a 65-yard house call. The next score would come from the Warriors on a 21-yard pass from Ashtabula county’s leading passer, junior Tony Hall to Christian Cunningham followed by a two-point conversion to junior Jacob Ernst making the game score 14-0 Edgewood. The Lakeside Dragons offense would struggle throughout the first quarter and started the second quarter by throwing an interception caught by Edgewood’s Jacob Ernst. That turnover would develop into another touchdown for the Edgewood Warriors by way of a ten-yard connection between the Warriors Hall and Cunningham and an unsuccessful two-point conversion making the score 20-0. The Dragons would evade disaster after a fumble and pass interference would open the door for the visiting Warriors to potentially take a 4-score lead. The Dragons defense would step up and force a turnover on downs. That series would awaken the Lakeside offense as well and the Dragons rushing attack led by junior QB Alex DiSalvitore and sophomore Nate Bartone and would end in a 10-yard touchdown run by Bartone and two-point conversion to senior Kam Crockett making the new score 20-8. Lakeside would start the second half on fire gouging the Warriors defense for big gains both in the air on the ground resulting in a 12-yard pass from Disalvatore to Lakeside senior Malachi Matlock and an unsuccessful two-point conversion with a new score of 20-14. The Warriors offense would answer right back on the ensuing possession with a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior Logan Kray and unsuccessful two-point conversion for a new score of 26-14. The Lakeside offense would continue to find success on the ground on their next possession in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion run by Bartone and a new score of 26-22. The Edgewood Warriors responded with a 22-yard screen pass from Tony Hall to Jacob Ernst but could not convert the two-point conversion and a new score of 32-26.

Lakeside would not give up, answering with their own touchdown on a 1-yard run by Bartone with an unsuccessful two-point conversion and a new score of 32-28. The games final four minutes would result in some of the most exciting, back and forth, anxiety ridden football any fan could fathom. Lakeside following their score to put them down by just 4 points would get a successful onside kick giving them a chance to take the lead for the first time in the game. Lakeside’s offense would sputter and turn over the ball going four and out and giving the Warriors the ball with 2:37 on the clock.

The Dragons would have one final shot at keeping the Battle of the Bridge trophy after an interception caught by senior Angelo Collazo placed the Dragons on the 30-yard line with just under two minutes on the clock and no timeouts for either team. The final play of the game would come with just 7 seconds on the clock and would end in heartbreaking fashion for the Dragons as the Warriors would stop Lakeside’s Angelo Collazo on the 1-yard line in an ending that was reminiscent of Kevin Dyson’s outstretched hand in Super Bowl 34.

One of the points discussed in the pregame build-up was that in order for Edgewood to come out on top Warriors junior quarterback Tony Hall would have to place his stamp on this rivalry. His 4 touchdowns and 260-yard night did just that.  With playoff seeding on the line for both teams for the first time in the rivalries’ history this game was every bit as entertaining as advertised and will serve as motivation for both teams for years to come.

Points are still being divvied and assigned but at the time of this article, it appears both Lakeside and Edgewood will continue their seasons into week 11 with Lakeside most likely traveling to Riverside and Edgewood to play Struthers on the road unless Salem beats West Branch which would result in Edgewood playing Jefferson at Jefferson in a rematch.

Best of luck to both teams on their playoff journey.  

 

*Contributed by YSN/440 and Goal’s Sam Torres

RIDGE ESCAPES BATTLE IN WATERLOO

ATWATER OH- Mineral Ridge had to put up with a desperate Waterloo team needing a win to get into the playoffs on Friday night. After trailing 20-14, the Rams scored 14 unanswered points to walk away with the 28-20 victory.

Triston Valley had a great offensive output gaining 101 yards through the air and a touchdown, and 72 yards on the ground with another touchdown.  Ian Erb ran his way to 136 yards rushing.  Nate Rohman also contributed 70 rushing yards and a score.  He caught a touchdown as well.

Mineral Ridge finished the regular season 8-2 and will look forward to their OHSAA playoff destination. Stay tuned to YSN for all of your playoff football coverage.

SOUTHERN COMES THROUGH IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE

SALINEVILLE OH- It was a battle of conflicting styles on Friday night as United traveled to Southern for a week 10 bout. Southern and their defense imposed their will all night, and pitched a shutout. The Indians offense did enough to win 14-0.

Wyatt Morris ran like a freight train gaining 158 yards on 16 attempts.  Colton Soukup was right behind him gaining 155 yards on 10 rushes.  Those yards included a 35 yard touchdown.  Those two combined for 313 out of the Indians total 415.

Luke. Courtney was 16/27 through the air with 165 yards.  Half of his completions came from Grant Knight who gained 80 yards. Knight broke the career receiving yards record at United.  That record say at 1933.

Both teams look ahead to find out where they’ll be placed in the OHSAA playoffs. Stay tuned to YSN for all your football playoff coverage.

GARFIELD RESPONDS WITH CRUCIAL WIN

GARRETTSVILLE, OH- As we wrap up the regular season and get ready for postseason football, matchups in week 10 are always the most fun to watch. Garfield and Liberty faced off Friday night in a rematch from last season as the G-Men were looking to keep this season’s week 10 game more in their hands. Both teams started off hot with opening scores, but Garfield’s power would be too much for the Leopards as the G-Men walked away with a 56-27 victory. 

Liberty got off to a great start with 87-yard bomb by Tyson Lawrence-Watson who found Dwayne Moody for the opening score. Garfield roared right back with a 53-yard pass of their own when Eric Geddes lobbed one up to Deacon Sommer. But just like last year, the Leopards punched right back to regain the lead from a kickoff return after the G-Men tied it up. Unfortunately for Liberty, Garfield caught on to their game plan after that score and stopped the Leopards speed from hurting them. The G-Men’s defense locked it up for the remainder of the game to take home the prize of closing the regular season off with a win. 

Looking ahead into the playoffs, Liberty is not done yet as they are expected to settle into the 16th seed and possibly collide with South Range in the opening round. Garfield is expected to settle into the 8th seed and host Conneaut.

YSN will have both playoff games available along with many others with the Playoff Power Pass on October 28th.

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

CLIPPERS END THE SEASON WITH THREE STRAIGHT WINS

COLUMBIANA, OH- After having a tough season, it is always a great feeling to close out the regular season with a victory over a conference rival. For Columbiana, not only did they finish off with a win against Lisbon Friday night, they capped the season off with a 3-game winning streak. Although the Blue Devils struck first, the Clippers fought back in the second and third quarters to score twice in each to ultimately come away with a 27-6 victory over Lisbon.

Lisbon started the game off with an onside kick that they recovered and drove down to Columbiana’s 4-yard line. From there, Trevor Siefke found Austin Dailey in the endzone to go up 6-0. The pace would slow down going into the second quarter until Spencer Pruitt for Columbiana had an 18-yard run to put the Clippers on the board, then Joe Guido found Dylan Bregar for 26 yards to give them a 13-6 lead in the second quarter. In the third, Columbiana would just stack on more points thanks to Jesse Szmura who added a 4-yard rushing TD and Guido who scored on an 11-yard run and added the two-point conversion to finish the game off.

Lisbon has earned a playoff spot and will be on the road in round one. YSN will have the game available along with many others with the Playoff Power Pass on October 28th.

*Contributed by YSN’s Brendan Miller

SOUTHEAST CANT HANDLE THE EAGLES ATTACK

LIBERTY, OH- It was an all-around team win for Warren JFK in the regular season finale as they hosted Southeast Friday night. Both sides of the ball were on fire for the Eagles. Quick points, a deadly run game, and great defense propelled JFK to a shutout victory over the Pirates, 50-0.

It was all Eagles from start to finish, JFK’s offensive line carried the run game and allowed Thomas Easton and Antonio Smith to run wild. Easton opened the game up with a 47-yard rushing touchdown which opened the floodgates as JFK put up 28 points in the second quarter alone. They would not stop there as Smith unloaded with 3 of the touchdowns in the second quarter coming from him. The running back duo combined for 167 rushing yards, and scored 5 of the 7 touchdowns for the Eagles.

Easton finished with a perfect stat line of 65 yards and 2 TDs on 2 carries. Smith finished with 102 yards and 3 TDs. In total, JFK put up 358 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and had 31 yards in the air. Caleb Hadley and Chris Campana each added a TD for the Eagles.

Looking forward into the playoffs for JFK, they are expected to match up with Fairport Harding in the first round. YSN will have the game available along with many others with the Playoff Power Pass on October 28th.

 

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

 

REBELS RUNNING THE RIGHT WAY

COLUMBIANA, OH- Coming into week 10, some teams have already locked down a spot in the playoffs, but for some, week 10 makes or breaks your season. That was the case for Crestview as they hosted Newton Falls Friday night. An outstanding running performance by Roclen Bettura and great defense helped propel the Rebels to a shutout victory over the Tigers, 20-0.

The Rebels came out flying with the run game and forced the Tigers on their heels. Bettura opened the scoring late in the first with a 2-yard run. On the ensuing drive for Newton Falls, the Rebels came up with a forced fumble and gave it right back to Bettura for his second score from 8 yards out to put the Rebels up 13-0. The pace would change as Crestview locked up the Tigers defense in the first half. But late in the third, Newton Falls would fumble once again which led to another touchdown for Bettura, this time from 18-yards out to ultimately put the game away. 

Bettura finished with 136 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 25 carries. Dominic Yerkey added 5 carries for 41 yards, along with 4 receptions for 56 yards.

Looking forward, although the Rebels closed out the regular season with a victory, they will still have to wait until this weekend to see if their efforts were enough for them to earn a spot in the playoffs. YSN will have playoff games available with the Playoff Power Pass on October 28th.

*Contributed By YSN’s Brendan Miller

 

BEAVERS COMPLETE MONSTER COMEBACK

EAST LIVERPOOL OH- The Beavers won one of the most thrilling games of the season, as they defeated the Wheeling Central Catholic Maroon Knights 49-35 on Friday night.

 

The Knights got the scoring started with a 46 yard TD pass from Payton Hildebrand to Lorenzo Ferrera. The Beavers responded quickly with an Austin Cline TD pass to Caden Foster from 26 out, and it was an early track meet at Pastore Field. The Knights got the next 2 scores thanks to a 42 yard TD pass from Hildebrand to Paxton Marling and a 18 yard TD run from Lorenzo Ferrera. The Beavers were able to keep pace before the half, as Blake Lucas scored from 8 yards out to stay within a score. Another Ferrera TD put the Knights up 28-14, but the Beavers scored before the half with an Austin Cline TD run. The score would be 28-21 at halftime.

 

The third quarter slowed down a lot, as both defenses came out playing well and neither team scored in the third quarter, but they saved the excitement for the 4th. On a 4th and 7, Hildebrand found Eli Tucker from 27 out to put the Knights up 35-21 with 8:15 left, seemingly putting the dagger in the Beavers. But Caleb White had other plans, as he returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to the house to pull the Beavers back 35-28. Beaver Local then rolled the dice on their kickoff, and it worked as Kaleb Mays executed a pooch kick that was recovered by Taylor Johnston, and the Beavers were back in business again. Austin Cline ran another one in from 21 out, 35 all, and the Beavers were back from the dead. Caden Foster then capitalized on a tip pass, picking it off and bringing it back to the Knight 46. With a chance to take their first lead of the game, Austin Cline once again used his legs on the first play of the drive to reach the end zone for a third time on the ground, and in the blink of an eye the Beavers were up 42-35. With Pastore Field rocking, louder than it has been all year, the Beavers got a stop on 4th and 2 to get the ball back and seal the deal. For good measure, Caleb White ran another one in from 9 out, and the Beavers put the final touches on an unforgettable 49-35 senior night win to head into the playoffs with a full head of steam.

 

They will host an opponent TBD next Friday night at Pastore Field.

*Contributed By YSN’s Mike McKenzie

GIRARD HOLDS ON TIGHT TO KEEP VICTORY

GIRARD OH- One of the most historical rivalries since the 80s is underrated in the Battle of 422 between two Trumbull county neighbors in the Girard Indians and Niles McKinley Red Dragons.  This season Girard finished their first nine games on the winning end with a 6-3 record, but the Dragons weren’t as fortunate as they came in with a two and seven record.  However just like all rivalries, you’re either one a 0 or 0 and one at the end of the night.  Niles had beat Girard the last three seasons, but this time the Indians were looking to end that streak.  Big names have played in this game in the past like Mark Waid and Chris Parry, but only one can come out on top.  

 

The first half was a high back and forth scoring spree.  It started with Girard going to the bag of tricks as Bobby Alejars found Connor Strain in the end zone off a Philly Indians special making it 7 to 0.  Niles would not go away however as Antuan Gardner, still wearing that cast in his right arm powered through from two years out making it tied at seven.  Gardner continued his comeback tour as this time he took it 20-yards, evading a couple tackles making it 14-7.  But the Indians would not go away as Dominick Tollone found Anthony Bengala showing off his Randy Moss hopps and taking it for a big touchdown tying it all at 14.  Niles would end the first quarter with a score too when Anthony Budak found Nathan Coots on a hitch in which he invaded a couple tacklers and headed to pader making it 21-14. 

 

Girard moved down the field to start their part of the second half, as Michael Palmer took it in from one-yard, tying it back up at 21 all.  Gardner broke through again with his third touchdown of the night from four-yards out, but the extra point was no good by Keyshon Talley making it 27-21. That is when Palmer took it in for another touchdown and with the Zachary Morris extra point, it was now a one point 28-27 lead heading into the half.  The second half did not see a scoring frenzy as the second half had. Alejars would score in the endzone for Girard with the PAT making it an eight point 35-27 lead.  Niles came back with a touchdown of their own in the middle of the fourth, but the failed two point conversion off the trick play made it 35-33.  Niles would not get the ball back as Girard wasted time and got the first down making the final 35-33 and winning back to back seasons against the Red Dragons for the first time since 2017-2018.  

 

Stats: 

Dom Tollone 260 yards passing 3 Touchdowns. 

 

Michael Palmer: 209 rushing yards touchdown.  

 

Anthony Budak: 137 passing yards and a touchdown.  

 

Antuan Gardner: 178 rushing yards and four touchdowns.  

 

Up next: 

Niles finishes their season 2-8 and 0-7 in Northeast 8 and will get ready for off season lifting to prepare themselves for 2023. Girard finishes the regular season 7-3 and 4-3 in the NE8 and will await their team in the playoffs. 

 

After the game, YSNs Ian O’Brien caught up with coach Pat Pearson about the big victory and their mindset looking forward to the playoffs. This will be coach Pearsona sixth playoff appearance since taking over as head coach in 2014.  

 

*contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*

 

 

URSULINE OWNS THE NIGHT; HOLDS OFF MOONEY

YOUNGSTOWN, OH- There’s not much that Ursuline can do these days that they haven’t done before.  Last night was not one of those nights, as the Irish did defeat Cardinal Mooney for the fourth consecutive time- a feat that had not been accomplished in the nearly seven decades leading up to this year’s matchup by a final score of 13-7.

However, it wasn’t easy.

These games rarely are.

Ursuline came out looking like they were going to roll their cross-town rivals jumping out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter.  Jack Ericson scampered up the middle for 20-yards to put the Irish up 2 scores in the opening stanza, and the way it would remain all the way to the second half.

Coming out of the locker room, Mooney had a spark.  Following an electric kickoff return by the Cardinals, Junior QB Ashton O’Brien quickly connected with Alec Delsignore to get him involved in the offense, which would include a 15-yard strike from AOB to Delsignore to bring the game within 3.  O’Brien would finish 13-21 for 151 yards with that score, and three interceptions.

Ursuline would rack up 358 yards of offense, but was held to only one trip to the endzone in the contest- something that was out of the ordinary for this up-tempo offensive juggernaut.

Mooney would have opportunities to tie or take the lead throughout the second half, but the stout Irish defense led by Ty’Req Donlow would stomp out the flames that the Cardinals continued to fan.  Donlow supplied one of the biggest plays of the game late in the contest when he chased down Ashton O’Brien on a third and short for a loss of 13.

The Irish finish the season 8-2 and await finalization of the bracket with West Branch and Salem’s contest on Saturday night which has secondary point implications for Canfield and other teams in the region.  Mooney finishes a tough schedule at 4-6 and projects to be in the playoffs on the road next Friday night.

YSN will have both playoff games available along with many others with the Playoff Power Pass on October 28th.