Tag Archive for: High School Football

UNITED STANDS TALL OVER BROOKFIELD

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By Ty Bartell 

HANOVERTON OH- The first week of the high school football playoffs in the state of Ohio is officially in the books and there were countless area matchups that provided plenty of entertainment in the first round. One of those matchups occurred between a pair of YSN schools in Division 6, Region 21 with the #4 seeded United Golden Eagles (9-1) hosting the #13 seeded Brookfield Warriors (5-5).

Brookfield started with possession early, but a fumble that was recovered by United with 9:30 left in the first quarter set up a 45-yard pass from Luke Courtney to Parker Newburn, flipping field position. Getting on the right side of the 50 yard line, translated into a 6-yard touchdown QB draw from Courtney to give Untied the 7-0 lead with 6:51 in the first quarter. The remainder of the opening quarter would be scoreless, until, with 11 minutes left in the second, The Warriors’ Kaiden Kirila blocked a punt that enabled a 39-yard touchdown return from Rico Smith to tie the game up 7-7! United would get the last laugh in the first half, getting into the red zone and scoring with, yet another, QB draw from Luke COurtney to put The Golden Eagles up 14-7 at halftime!

United would open up the scoring in the second half as well, with 5:35 in the third quarter, Luke Courtney nailed a 30-yard field goal to put The Eagles up by double digits at 17-7. The Warriors would not go away as the very next kickoff saw Rico Smith return it 55 yards to the house to cut into the deficit, trimming the United lead to 17-14. The final score came from The Eagles Luke Courtney on a 47-yard QB draw for a touchdown to retake the double digit lead at 24-14. A pair of United interceptions from Parker Newburn, his second of the day, and Logan Castro, iced the game for The Golden Eagles at 24-14!

Luke Courtney was Mr. Do-All as he was responsible for all the points in the United win with a passing touchdown, 2 rushing touchdowns and a field goal. United (10-1) will now play the #5 seeded Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves (9-1) on Friday, November 3rd with a 7 p.m. kickoff! Stay updated with all United Golden Eagle athletics stats, scores, stories and more on YSN!

G-MEN STORM THROUGH FIRST PLAYOFF TEST

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GARRETTSVILLE OH- Garfield put on a remarkable show in their home field finale, delivering an emphatic 56-13 victory over Conneaut in an electrifying football matchup.

Conneaut set the early tone by scoring in their first drive of the game. However, that was the last time they would find the end zone in this contest. Garfield’s response was nothing short of sensational, as they put up a staggering 49 unanswered points.

Leading the charge for Garfield was Eric Geddes, who had a standout performance. Geddes carried the ball 16 times for an impressive 181 yards, displaying his prowess on the ground. He was an unstoppable force in the first half, scoring five of Garfield’s six touchdowns. Four of his touchdowns came from his ground game, and he also showcased his versatility with one touchdown through the air.

The victory was particularly sweet for Garfield’s seniors, who had the privilege of concluding their home field journeys as victors in front of their home crowd. It was a fitting tribute to their dedication and hard work throughout their high school football careers.

With this convincing win, Garfield’s playoff journey continues to the next round of the OHSAA playoffs. They are set to face Harrison Central, and their stellar performance in this game surely fills them with confidence and momentum as they look ahead to the next challenge.

POLAND SETS UP SECOND MEETING WITH WILDCATS

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POLAND OH- Poland continued their blazing hot streak as they ventured into the playoffs, securing a resounding victory over East Liverpool with a final score of 42-14.

Right from the kickoff, Poland asserted their dominance, surging to a commanding 21-0 lead before East Liverpool could even catch their breath. The Bulldogs displayed their offensive prowess, amassing a total of 336 yards.

Quarterback Dom Pagano orchestrated the offense brilliantly, completing 9 of 10 passes for 164 yards and connecting for two crucial touchdowns. He didn’t stop there, contributing on the ground with a touchdown run of his own.

The ground game was equally impressive for Poland, with Cole Fulton and Danny Nittoli shouldering much of the workload. Both players found the end zone with rushing touchdowns, and Fulton led the way with an impressive 94 yards on just seven carries.

Poland’s defense was relentless for the majority of the game, keeping East Liverpool’s offensive efforts at bay for three quarters. The Bulldogs’ defensive starters yielded little to their opponents, limiting their progress.

Although East Liverpool managed to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns, with Gavin Wright connecting with Blake Adkins and Dorian Burchett, Poland’s defense proved dominant throughout. The Potters were restricted to just 167 total yards, including a mere 34 rushing yards.

With this decisive win, Poland advanced to face Struthers, who narrowly defeated Girard 21-16 in their recent matchup. The Bulldogs had already squared off against Struthers in the regular season finale, narrowly edging out a thrilling 28-27 overtime victory. The playoffs promise even more exciting matchups, and Poland’s impressive form carries them into the next round with high hopes.

THE SECOND ROUND IS IN THE CARDS

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By Ty Bartell

 

AKRON OH- When the high school football playoffs start in the state of Ohio, oftentimes it is about the
stories of the teams who got there that bring as much intrigue as the game itself. How did these teams get here? What adversity did they face? Are they ready? Just a few questions that swirl around prior to week 11. The story of the Division 3 defending State Champions, The Canfield Cardinals has been one about getting respect back that they feel they never should have lost! After losing 20+ seniors a season ago and going 1-3 in their first four games, some thought that The Cardinals were a flash in the pan, a one year wonder. 6 straight wins later and a playoff berth as the #9 seed in Region 9. Meaning Canfield Would be on the road against #8  seeded Akron East Dragons who sported a great 8-2 record on the year!

With the stage set for a great 8 vs. 9 matchup, both teams would similarly play on the backs of their potent defenses like they have all season. Defense would get on the board first with Canfield’s Anthony Mazzella grabbing a 6-yard scoop and score fumble recovery. A blocked PAT by Akron East would keep the extra point off the board, giving Canfield the 6-0 advantage with 6:20 to go in the first quarter. Offense was also in The Cards as in the final seconds of the first half Paul Bindas found Scottie Eaton for 77 yards on the touchdown with 11 seconds left in the first half! A missed PAT would take another extra point opportunity away from Canfield, with The Cardinals leading 12-0 at halftime.

The third quarter almost went scoreless, until Scottie Eaton’s number was called again, this time on the ground, as Eaton rattled off a 25-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. A successful 2-point conversion attempt on a pass from Enzo Cocca to Angelo DeLucia extended the Canfield lead to 20-0. Desperately needing a score, The Dragons put together a quick, but effective, 3 play, 70 yard touchdown drive together to cut The Cardinals lead down to a baker’s dozen at 20-7. A Canfield fumble in their own territory looked like it was going to set Akron East up on the comeback trail; however, as they have done all season, The Cardinal defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs to ice the game 20-7!

The win for Canfield (7-3) will now set them up, in a rematch from a year ago, against the #1 seeded Ursuline Fighting Irish (11-0) on Friday, November 3rd with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Keep updated with both The Fighting Irish and The Cardinals on YSN!

HOBAN QUICKLY MOVES ON TO NEXT ROUND

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By Ty Bartell

 

AKRON OH- It is little to no secret, when you look at highschool football playoffs in the state of Ohio, no team rocks Region 5 quite like The Archbishop Hoban Knights! Coming off another successful regular season at 9-1, The Knights rolled into the playoffs as the #1 seed in Region 5 and were looking to make it back to Canton. The team standing in their way for the first round? A fellow team from Akron, The Ellet Orangemen who were 3-7 in the regular season. Despite this being a mismatch on paper, there is always intrigue when two Akron schools go against one another because there is no fear, only respect amongst the squads.

Hoban opened up the scoring in the first quarter when Tylan “Juice” Boykin connected with senior wide receiver Jalen Hightower from 14 yards out, giving Hoban the initial 7-0 advantage with 6:43 left in the first quarter. The Knights Defense would then pitch in with some scoring of their own, recording a safety less than a minute later, at 6:06 left in the quarter to go up 9-0. Back on the offensive side, The Knight got it working on the ground when Deon Rodgers broke the plane with a 4-yard rushing touchdown with 4:12 to go in the opening quarter.

The second quarter continued with much of the same from Hoban, who executed a beautiful drive that ended with a 13-yard strike from Juice Boykin to Tayte Crable for a touchdown, another made extra point by Ryan Burns and The Knights were up 23-0 with 6:34 left in the half. A little over two minutes later, Boykin was tossing dimes again, this time a 30-yard find to Elbert Hill IV, pushing The Knights lead to 30-0 prior to halftime. Brayton Feister kept Hoban’s offense working in the second half when he punched it through the endzone from a yard out, extending The Knights lead further to 37-0 with 7:43 left in the third. From the point of the Feister touchdown, neither team would score for the remainder of the third.

Hoban would add a couple more points to the board when their defense recorded their second safety of the game, with 11:37 left in the fourth, giving the Knights a commanding 39-0 advantage and continuing to enforce the running clock. Not going to be disrespected with a goose egg, The Orangemen’s KeyShawn Staphens recovered a Hoban fumble and returned it 55 yards to the house to get Ellet on the board with 10:20 left in the game. That would be the final score as The Knight salted away the rest of the clock to walk out of the first round 39-7 winners over Akron Ellet.

The win for Hoban (10-1) now sets them up with the #8 seeded Barberton Magics (7-4) on Friday, November 3rd at Dowed Field of Archbishop Hoban High School, slated for a 7 p.m. start time. Do not forget to keep updated with all Archbishop Hoban athletics scores, stats, stories and more on YSN

HORNETS HAVE NO STING AGAINST FITCH

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By Ty Bartell

CLEVELAND OH- Week one of the Ohio high school playoffs for football has officially begun! As countless teams embark on their journey to their ultimate goal, half of the remaining teams will say goodbye in the coming weeks until seven teams will stand tall as State Champions for 2023. Heading into the Division 2, Region 5 playoffs there was an intriguing matchup between the #7 seeded Cleveland John Hay Hornets (5-4) hosting the #10 seeded Austintown-Fitch Falcons (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs at The Collinwood Athletic Complex in East Cleveland, Ohio.

The Falcons struck first taking their first drive of the game down the field a full 80 yards on 9 plays while heavily featuring sophomore running back Junie Higgs, who capped the drive off with a 2 yard rushing touchdown, making it 7-0 Fitch with 2:11 in the first quarter. Fitch quickly transitioned to the air attack their next drive, as opening the second quarter, Fitch would run two plays, a 37-yard pass to Dom Perry and a 25-yard touchdown strike to Dan Evans III, Anthony Ruggles mad another PAT, making it 14-0 Austintown with 11:20 in the second.

A three and out would follow for The Hornets the very next drive, with a fourth down blocked punt by Fitch setting The Falcons up with excellent field position to start their third drive. Starting the drive on The Hornets 12 yard line, it only took Fitch one play, as with 10:07 left in the second, a 12 yard touchdown pass to Dom Perry helped make it 21-0! The offense was as potent as DeShawn Vaughn Jr. orchestrated a great 6 play, 52 yard drive that ended with himself in the endzone from a yard out on a designed quarterback run, giving Fitch the 28-0 lead with 6:40 left in the first half. Like the Vince Carter meme, Vaughn had one more in him, putting together another great drive in the waning moments of the second quarter, Vaughn would lead The Falcons 68 yards down the field on 9 plays as the freshman Christian Mahone capped it off with a touchdown! Extending the score to 35-0 in favor of Austintown going into the halftime locker room.

With a running clock being implemented in the second half, it just came down to The Falcons being able to salt time away, and with the second unit in, they did just that! As Davanzo Tate took the intialt possession of the second half right down the field, burning over 10 minutes of game clock in driving Fitch down the field 75 yards on 13 plays with a beautiful 23 yard dime to Brady Evans, a PAT by Jaxon Faulkner and The Falcons sealed the first round a 42-0 winner over John Hay.

Big performers for Fitch included Junie Higgs, as the sophomore ran for 75 yards on 11 carries and grabbed a touchdown, all in the first half. Dome Perry also had a monster first half, reeling in 4 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, DeShawn Vaughn Jr. had an excellent day slinging the rock, going 10/12 in completions with 207 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Dan Evans III also had a nice 5 catch, 68 yard performance as he got his 6th receiving touchdown of the season.

Fitch (7-3) will now advance to the next round where they will meet the #2 seeded Walsh-Jesuit Warriors (10-1) on Friday, November 3rd at Walsh Jesuit with a 7 p.m. start time. Stay up-to-date with all Austintown-Fitch athletics scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

WILDCATS TAKE REMATCH WITH GIRARD

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STRUTHERS OH- Struthers kicked off their playoff journey in thrilling fashion with a hard-fought victory over Northeast Eight (NE8) rival Girard, ending with a final score of 21-16.

The first quarter began with Ahmad Curd-Stephens of Girard setting the tone, running for a 5-yard touchdown at 5:29. A successful PAT gave Girard an early lead of 7-0.

In the second quarter, Struthers mounted their response. Devin Braham made a critical 3-yard touchdown run at 3:51, and Struthers’ PAT tied the game at 7-7. Girard wasn’t to be outdone, as Zachary Morris showcased his kicking skills with a 35-yard field goal at 1:31, giving Girard a narrow 10-7 lead. However, Struthers roared back just before the half ended, with Jason Dukes connecting with Robert Carcelli on a 17-yard touchdown pass at the last seconds. The successful PAT put Struthers ahead 14-10.

The third quarter brought more action as AC Carter ran for a 22-yard touchdown at 3:51, and Struthers’ PAT was good, extending their lead to 21-10.

In the final quarter, Girard made a spirited comeback effort as Stephen Sims scored a 1-yard touchdown run at 3:57. However, the 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and the score stood at 21-16.

Ultimately, Struthers held on to secure their playoff win in round one with a final score of 21-16. This victory showcased their resilience and determination in a challenging contest against a NE8 rival, setting a promising tone for the rest of their playoff journey.

LEOPARDS LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD

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Liberty put up a valiant fight, but ultimately, Norwayne emerged victorious with a final score of 56-27 in a thrilling football matchup.

In the first quarter, Dillon Morlock of Norwayne set the tone with a 5-yard touchdown run at 6:55, giving his team an early lead of 7-0. Liberty quickly responded as Dwayne Moody returned the kickoff for an impressive 75-yard touchdown at 6:50, narrowing the gap to 7-6. Norwayne continued their offensive prowess, with Jaxon Siegenthaler connecting with Mason Saal for a 43-yard touchdown pass at 4:30, extending their lead to 13-6.

The second quarter featured more action, with Siegenthaler finding Dylan Smith for a 43-yard touchdown pass, making it 20-6. Liberty fought back as Tawann Tutwiler ran for a 12-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 20-13. A crucial interception from Liberty’s Brashawn Hicks at the 1-yard line prevented Norwayne from adding more points.

The third quarter saw a flurry of scoring. Morlock ran for a 1-yard touchdown at 9:30, followed by Moyer’s 6-yard touchdown run at 7:25, extending Norwayne’s lead to 33-13. Daqaun Moody gave Liberty hope with a fumble recovery and a 65-yard touchdown return at 7:02, making it 33-20. Dylan Smith ran for a 12-yard touchdown at 2:49 for Norwayne, pushing the score to 40-20. Liberty fought back as Tawann Tutwiler connected with Dwayne Moody on a 55-yard touchdown pass at 2:39, bringing the score to 40-27.

In the final quarter, Norwayne’s Siegenthaler ran for a 3-yard touchdown at 9:45, expanding their lead to 47-27. A pivotal moment came with Brayden Hostettler blocking a punt, resulting in a safety for Norwayne at 8:22, and a score of 49-27. Logan Hackworth added a 10-yard touchdown run for Norwayne at 4:47, sealing the victory with a final score of 56-27.

The game showcased the determination of both teams, but Norwayne’s consistent offense and pivotal plays secured their win in this hard-fought contest.

TIGERS BEGIN A NEW PLAYOFF PUSH

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NEW MIDDLETOWN OH- Springfield kicked off their playoff journey in impressive fashion with a 35-21 victory over Monroeville, setting the stage for an exciting postseason run.

In the first quarter, Dante Gentile led the charge for Springfield, running for a 5-yard touchdown with 6:04 on the clock. Kaesen Kosek’s successful extra point made it 7-0 in favor of Springfield.

The second quarter saw Monroeville respond, as Evan Benfer dashed for a 23-yard touchdown run, and Landon Stein’s extra point tied the game at 7-7. However, Springfield wasn’t to be outdone, and Kolten Ruark connected with Sean Guerriero on a 17-yard touchdown pass with just 51 seconds left in the quarter. Kaesen Kosek’s extra point put Springfield ahead 14-7 at halftime.

Springfield continued to build their lead in the third quarter, with Dante Gentile scoring his second touchdown of the game, this time with a 3-yard run. Kosek’s extra point extended Springfield’s lead to 21-7.

The fourth quarter brought further excitement. Dante Gentile showcased his speed and agility with a spectacular 58-yard touchdown run, and Kosek’s extra point made it 28-7 in favor of Springfield. Monroeville mounted a comeback effort, with Evan Benfer connecting with Derek Ackerman for two touchdown passes, one from 12 yards out and another from 18 yards away. Landon Stein’s successful extra points narrowed the gap to 28-21.

However, Springfield’s Dante Gentile wasn’t finished yet, capping off his exceptional performance with a 59-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left in the game. Kaesen Kosek’s extra point sealed the victory with a final score of 35-21 in favor of Springfield.

This playoff victory marked a strong start to Springfield’s postseason journey, and it promises an exciting path ahead as they continue to chase their championship aspirations.

BULLDOGS SHOW HEART IN SEASON ENDING LOSS

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CORTLAND OH- In a thrilling OHSAA playoff matchup, Lakeview’s remarkable season came to a close on their home turf as they battled fiercely against Sandy Valley. The final score told the story, with Sandy Valley emerging victorious 42-21.

The first quarter saw both teams trading blows. Lakeview struck first as QB Boom Gillis showcased his agility, running for a 14-yard touchdown with 8:32 left on the clock. Easton Bradley’s successful extra point made it 7-0 in favor of Lakeview. Sandy Valley responded quickly, with QB Nick Petro handing off to RB Chad Davis for a 37-yard touchdown. Cohen Mace’s accurate PAT knotted the score at 7-7. Lakeview was not to be outdone, as Boom Gillis orchestrated another scoring drive, this time running it in from 1 yard out with 1:54 to go. Bradley’s extra point was good, giving Lakeview a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Chad Davis answered for Sandy Valley with a 1-yard touchdown run, but the extra point was blocked by Lakeview’s Sam Balest. Lakeview’s Boom Gillis continued to impress, recording a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 6:17 remaining in the quarter, and Bradley’s PAT was good, putting Lakeview ahead 21-13. Sandy Valley, however, mounted a comeback, with Nick Petro running for a 15-yard touchdown and then connecting with Lukas Gilland for a successful 2-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21. The second quarter ended dramatically as Petro intercepted a pass and returned it 80 yards for a pick-6. Cohen Mace’s extra point extended Sandy Valley’s lead to 28-21.

The third quarter saw Sandy Valley further solidify their lead, with Nick Petro running for a 5-yard touchdown, and Cohen Mace adding another successful PAT, making it 35-21.

The fourth quarter was a testament to Sandy Valley’s strength, as Nick Petro sealed the victory with a 16-yard touchdown run. Cohen Mace’s consistent kicking capped the scoring, resulting in a final score of 42-21 in favor of Sandy Valley. Lakeview’s incredible season ended with a hard-fought contest against a formidable opponent.