PRIDE OF THE PUP; BULLDOGS DREAM SEASON COMES TO AN END

MASSILLON, OH- Poland came into tonight’s game one game shy of the State Championship facing a tough Licking Valley Panther defense. The Bulldogs would find success early in the game through the running game with Running Back Josh Alessi going over 170 yards rushing during the day with Quarterback Jack Fulton and fellow Running Back Jake Rutana both finding the endzone from the rushing game. The Panthers would win this game through the fast pace offense they produced and through their passing game. Licking Valley beats Poland 25-24 late in the 4th quarter.

The Panthers scored first with a 22-yard field goal by Pennington to take the early 3-0 lead. Poland would answer in the second quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Kicker Mikey Kushner to tie the game at 3. Poland would score with a minute left in the half when Fulton found Wide Receiver Andrew Centofanti from 49 yards out to take the lead going into halftime, 10-3.

Licking Valley would tie the game with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Ricky Collins to make the game 10-10 in the third quarter.  The Bulldogs would add to their lead with a 5-yard touchdown run by Running Back Jake Rutana gave them a 16-10 lead. Bulldogs would increase their lead when Fulton ran a 5-yard touchdown into the endzone to make the game 24-10 after a 2 point conversion was successful. The last 6 minutes of the game would prove too much for the Bulldogs when the Panthers would score 15 unanswered points through their passing game. The Panthers would win this game and move on to the state championship next week in Canton.

On behalf of all of us at YSN, we want to congratulate Poland on a great year and thank them for a great season!  Best of luck in all your future endeavors!

*Contributed by YSN’s Anthony Melone

GAME PHOTOS: HERE