Tag Archive for: High School Football

CRUSADER’S 2ND QUARTER TOO MUCH FOR THE HERALDS

Steubenville,OH- With one of the most action packed 2nd quarters you will ever see, the Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders cruised past the St. John Heralds, securing a decisive victory with a final score of 34-7.

The first quarter began with an impressive 7-yard touchdown run by Steubenville Catholic’s BJ Fallon, followed by a successful extra point kicked by Daniel Bolster, giving the Crusaders an early lead of 7-0. Both teams showcased strong defenses, preventing any further scoring in the opening quarter.

The second quarter saw Steubenville Catholic extending their lead, with BJ Fallon showcasing his skills once again, scoring two more touchdowns with runs of 10 and 50 yards. Bolster’s precise kicking game was instrumental, as he converted both extra points. Additionally, Tyler Ialenti added another touchdown with a 1-yard run, although the two-point conversion attempt failed. Tommy Pergi contributed with a 7-yard touchdown run, and Bolster remained consistent with extra point conversions. The Crusaders dominated the second quarter, ending it with a commanding lead of 34-0.

The third quarter remained scoreless as both teams continued to put up strong defensive efforts.

In the fourth quarter, St. John’s Vin Narducci connected with Will Anderson for an impressive 76-yard touchdown pass. Emanuele Fantozzi’s successful extra point put the Heralds on the board with a score of 34-7.

One of the game’s pivotal moments occurred in the second quarter when Daniel Bolster executed back-to-back kickoffs that stopped on the 1-yard line, forcing St. John to start their offensive series deep in their own territory.

Despite the loss, the St. John Heralds had some bright spots, including senior Hank Wagner grabbing his 3rd sack of the year, Vin Narducci’s 118 passing yards on 7 completions, and Will Anderson’s impressive performance with 4 receptions for 104 yards and 1 touchdown.

The final score remained Steubenville Catholic Central Crusaders 34 – St. John Heralds 7. The Crusaders improved to 4-0 and are set to face the Fairport Harding Skippers (1-3) in week 4, while the Heralds, now 1-3, will host the Chalker Wildcats (2-0) in their upcoming game.

KNIGHTS MARCH ON TO ANOTHER VICTORY

Hoban continued their dominant run with a resounding 39-0 victory over Akron East. The first quarter saw Ryan Burns kick a 23-yard field goal, giving Hoban an early 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, Hoban’s Caleb Jones made his presence felt with a 27-yard TD run, although the extra point was missed, resulting in a 9-0 lead. Tylan “Juice” Boykin extended the lead with a 13-yard QB run and a successful extra point, making it 16-0. Boykin then showcased his passing skills, connecting with Payton Cook for a 5-yard TD pass, but the XP was missed, putting Hoban up 22-0 at halftime.

The third quarter continued to favor Hoban as Boykin found Parker Falkenstein for a 6-yard TD pass, and Boykin’s 2-point conversion run was successful, extending the lead to 30-0. Hoban’s relentless defense created a safety, pushing the score to 32-0. The game concluded with Brayton Feister running for a 3-yard TD as time expired, resulting in an impressive 39-0 victory for Hoban. Their next challenge awaits with a trip to face St. Ignatius in Week 5, where Hoban will look to maintain their dominant form.

WARRIORS STUMBLE ON THE ROAD

Photo Credit: Edgewood Athletics

Gates Mills, OH- In an action-packed game, the Hawken Hawks clashed with the Edgewood Warriors in an exciting battle on the gridiron.

The first quarter saw the Hawken Hawks off to a blazing start, with Jordan Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown run and Julian Javoris’s successful extra point kick, giving them an early lead of 7-0. The Hawks continued to dominate with Donovan Moorhead connecting with Tommy Wright for a 2-yard touchdown pass, followed by another successful extra point, extending their lead to 14-0. The first quarter fireworks didn’t stop there as Jordan Johnson returned a punt for an impressive 50-yard touchdown, and with the extra point, the Hawks surged ahead 21-0. Edgewood finally got on the board when Tony Hall found Jacob Ernst with a 6-yard touchdown pass, but they missed the extra point, making it 21-6 in favor of the Hawks.

The first quarter ended with a bang when Kene Obi intercepted Tony Hall’s pass and raced 48 yards for a pick-six, followed by a successful 2-point conversion, giving the Hawks an imposing 29-6 lead.

The second quarter witnessed Edgewood’s Hunter Braat intercepting Donovan Moorhead’s pass and returning it 65 yards for a touchdown. Although they failed to convert the 2-point attempt, Edgewood closed the gap to 29-12. However, Hawken quickly responded with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Moorhead to Obi, accompanied by an extra point, reestablishing their dominance at 36-18. Jordan Johnson’s incredible 62-yard run for a touchdown, coupled with a successful extra point, extended Hawken’s lead to 43-18 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Edgewood making a valiant effort with Tony Hall connecting with Jacob Ernst for a 16-yard touchdown pass, but they couldn’t convert the 2-point attempt, leaving the score at 43-24. Hawken answered back with Lucas Brandt’s 16-yard touchdown run, followed by a good extra point, making it 50-24. Edgewood refused to back down, with Tony Hall finding Anthony Hunt for a 17-yard touchdown pass, along with a successful 2-point conversion, closing the gap to 50-32.

In the fourth quarter, Jordan Johnson added another touchdown for Hawken with a 10-yard run, although they missed the extra point, resulting in a score of 56-32. Edgewood rallied once more, with Tony Hall connecting with Anthony Hunt on a 52-yard touchdown pass, but the 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the final score at 56-38 in favor of the Hawken Hawks.

With this impressive victory, the Hawken Hawks improved to a 3-1 record, setting the stage for an exciting matchup against the Conneaut Spartans in week 4. Meanwhile, the Edgewood Warriors, also at 3-1, will prepare to host the Chagrin Falls Tigers in their upcoming contest

FITCH FINDS A WAY IN DOUBLE OVERTIME

AUSTINTOWN OH- In a thrilling matchup, Fitch continued a winning streak by narrowly outlasting St. Ignatius 24-21 in a gripping two-overtime battle. The first quarter was marked by both offenses struggling to find the end zone. However, the second quarter saw Fitch break the deadlock as Brady Evans caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from DeShawn Vaughn, capping an impressive 80-yard drive and giving Fitch a 7-0 lead at the half.

St. Ignatius responded in the third quarter when Max Woidke intercepted a pass and returned it 65 yards for a pick-six, leveling the score at 7-7. The fourth quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, with Grant Washington running for a 2-yard TD, putting St. Ignatius ahead 14-7. Fitch answered with a determined 13-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in Deon’Dray Richard’s 1-yard rushing TD, tying the game at 14-14 with just 3 seconds left on the clock.

Overtime brought more drama as DeShawn Vaughn powered his way into the end zone with an 8-yard rushing TD, putting Fitch ahead 21-14. St. Ignatius responded with Grant Washington’s 7-yard rushing TD, forcing a second overtime. In the second overtime period, Anthony Ruggles sealed the victory for Fitch with a 24-yard field goal, securing the dramatic 24-21 win.

Player of the game honors went to Fitch’s Dan Evans III, who had an interception and four tackles, while St. Ignatius’ Max Woidke stood out with two interceptions, including the crucial pick-six. This thrilling contest showcased the resilience and determination of both teams, with Fitch emerging victorious to maintain a 3-1 record.

POLAND FINALLY GETS THE BEST OF THE CARDINALS

POLAND OH- In a thrilling Battle of 224, the rivalry lived up to its reputation as Poland ended a six-game losing streak to Canfield with a hard-fought 10-7 victory. The first half showcased a defensive battle, with neither offense managing to score. It was Poland’s Jas Stefancin who broke the deadlock with a field goal, granting Poland a slim 3-0 lead at halftime.

Canfield had their moments in the first half, moving the ball effectively, but Poland’s red-zone defense stood firm. A promising drive led by quarterback Paul Bindas and running back Danny Inglis reached the Bulldogs’ 23-yard line in the first quarter, but a Canfield fumble thwarted their efforts. Later in the half, running back Scottie Eaton’s big plays brought Canfield closer to field goal range, but miscues prevented them from making the kick.

Canfield came out strong in the second half, with Inglis breaking free for an impressive 87-yard run to Poland’s 10-yard line. Bindas capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a 5-yard touchdown run to put Canfield ahead 7-3. However, Poland responded with a 41-yard touchdown from Cole Fulton, taking a 10-7 lead.

In the final quarter, Poland executed a keep-away strategy to maintain their lead. Despite Canfield’s efforts, they couldn’t break through Poland’s defense again. The game concluded with a hard-fought 10-7 victory for Poland, marking a significant milestone as they snapped their losing streak against Canfield in a memorable Battle of 224 showdown.

WAKING A LEOPARD IS A BAD IDEA

LIBERTY OH- Liberty awoke with determination, securing their first victory of the season in a commanding fashion, overpowering Crestview with a final score of 41-6. The game kicked off with Crestview’s Jake Doling capping an impressive 73-yard opening drive with a 17-yard rushing TD, although the PAT was missed, giving Crestview an early 6-0 lead. Liberty quickly responded as Dawaun Moody burst through the defense for a stunning 48-yard rushing TD, tying the game at 6-6.

In the second quarter, Liberty’s Dwayne Moody showcased his explosive speed with an incredible 85-yard rushing TD, followed by a successful 2-point conversion by Tawann Tutwiler, resulting in a 14-6 lead for Liberty. Crestview mounted a promising drive, but it ended at the Liberty 10-yard line following a Dwayne Moody interception with just 27 seconds left in the half.

After halftime, Liberty’s defense tightened, with Ethan Kane intercepting Crestview’s pass at the Liberty 25-yard line. Crestview struggled to find their rhythm, resulting in a three-and-out. Liberty capitalized on their momentum, with Dwayne Moody adding an 18-yard rushing TD and Tawann Tutwiler connecting with Dawaun Moody for a 33-yard TD pass, although the PAT was blocked, extending the lead to 20-6.

The fourth quarter continued to favor Liberty as Tayon Sly intercepted a pass and returned it for a 61-yard pick-six, with the PAT good, making it 35-6. Crestview’s woes continued as they fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Liberty excellent field position. Tutwiler added to the lead with a 40-yard rushing TD, although the PAT was no good, sealing the deal with a final score of 41-6 in favor of Liberty. This decisive victory marked a turning point for Liberty’s season, and they look ahead to their next matchup at home against Brookfield, while Crestview will seek redemption at home against Campbell Memorial.

WESTERN RESERVE LANDS A BIG BLOW

MCDONALD OH- Western Reserve pulled off a remarkable victory, slowing down the previously undefeated McDonald team with a convincing 34-14 win. The first quarter saw Western Reserve’s quarterback, Luke Henning, making a statement with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a successful PAT by Andriy Chuta Suy, giving Western Reserve an early 7-0 lead. McDonald responded with a 15-yard TD pass from Kyle Puckett to Jordan Perry, and James Hipple’s PAT tied the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter, Western Reserve regained the lead with Jack Darney’s 5-yard rushing TD and Chuta Suy’s PAT, making it 14-7. Luke Henning then added to the lead with an electrifying 49-yard rushing TD, although McDonald blocked the PAT, leaving the score at 20-7 at halftime.

Western Reserve continued their dominance in the third quarter with Jack Darney’s explosive 68-yard rushing TD, followed by Henning connecting with Dominic Ricciardi for a 12-yard passing TD, both with successful PATs, extending the lead to 34-7. In the fourth quarter, McDonald managed to find the end zone once more with Puckett’s 13-yard rushing TD, but it was not enough to mount a comeback. The game concluded with an impressive 34-14 victory for Western Reserve, ending McDonald’s undefeated streak. Western Reserve’s outstanding performance showcased their strength on the football field, leaving them with a memorable win.

UNITED FLEXES ON THE EOAC

COLUMBIANA OH- United made a resounding statement as they emphatically kicked off their EOAC play with a dominant 31-3 victory over Columbiana on the road. The first quarter set the tone for United’s strong performance as Luke Courtney orchestrated a 10-yard touchdown run, followed by his successful PAT, giving United an early 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Courtney showcased his versatility with a remarkable 47-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-0.

In the second quarter, Columbiana managed to get on the scoreboard with Aidan Radcliff’s 23-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 10-3, but that would be their only points of the game. At halftime, United held a comfortable lead, and their dominance continued in the third quarter when Luke Courtney added two more rushing touchdowns, from 3 yards and 13 yards respectively, both accompanied by successful PATs, making it 24-3. In the final quarter, Courtney secured his team’s victory with yet another 10-yard rushing TD, concluding the game with an impressive 31-3 triumph for United. Their strong performance served as a powerful start to their EOAC campaign, leaving Columbiana with no room to challenge their dominance.

STRUTHERS CONQUERS INDIANS IN ARROWHEAD

GIRARD OH- In a thrilling opening game of NE8 play, Struthers delivered an impressive road victory over Girard, securing a hard-fought 35-28 win. The game opened with a bang in the first quarter as Girard’s Domenico Simone caught a 17-yard passing touchdown from Tuff McConahy, followed by a successful extra point, putting Girard ahead 7-0. In the second quarter, Simone and McConahy struck again with a 19-yard passing TD, extending their lead to 14-0. Struthers fought back, with Anthony Carter scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown, and their extra point was good, narrowing the gap to 14-7. Girard responded with a 49-yard passing TD from McConahy to Anthony Bengala, leading 21-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Struthers showed their resilience as Anthony Carter broke free for a 30-yard rushing TD, although the extra point was missed, making it 21-13. In the fourth quarter, Girard extended their lead with another TD pass from McConahy to Bengala, making it 28-14. Struthers, refusing to back down, clawed their way back into the game. Jason Dukes ran for a 10-yard TD, and a successful two-point conversion closed the gap to 28-21. The game’s climax came when Devin Braham scored a 2-yard rushing TD with just 23 seconds left, sealing the deal with a successful extra point, resulting in an impressive 35-28 victory for Struthers. This hard-fought battle on the road marked an exceptional start to NE8 play for Struthers.

SOUTHERN KEEPS THE PACE

WELLSVILLE OH- Southern delivered a dominating performance on the road, showcasing their prowess in a commanding 42-7 victory over Wellsville. The first quarter saw Ryan Exline running for a 17-yard touchdown, putting Southern on the board, although the two-point conversion attempt fell short. In the second quarter, a snap over the quarterback’s head led to a safety, extending Southern’s lead to 8-0. Landon Heffner’s 33-yard rushing touchdown, followed by Wellsville’s Terrell Watkins’ 3-yard run, brought the score to 15-7 at halftime.

Southern continued their relentless assault in the third quarter, with Landon Heffner breaking free for a 46-yard TD run. Although the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, Southern maintained a 21-7 lead. Heffner added to his impressive night with a 31-yard rushing TD, followed by Ryan Exline’s 22-yard run, both with successful extra points from Brody Hamilton, making it 35-7. In the fourth quarter, Ryan Exline sealed the victory with a dazzling 61-yard rushing TD, resulting in a final score of 42-7 in favor of Southern. Their dominant road performance showcased their football prowess, leaving Wellsville with a challenging night on the gridiron.