HUSKIES HOLD ON LATE AGAINST MUSTANGS
Story Credit: Tyler Hartz
Photo Credit: Joclyn Nicholas
Middlefield, Ohio- The Cardinal Huskies played host tonight during week 3 of high school football to the Grand Valley Mustangs in a high scoring battle that came down to the wire. Reese Soltis of the Huskies housed the opening kickoff 80 yards for a quick 7-0 lead. Grand Valley’s first possession also resulted in a touchdown as Andrew Soltis found his way in the endzone on a 4 yard run, but the Mustangs extra point attempt was blocked, and the Huskies would lead 7-6 at the end of quarter number 1.
The second quarter was an all time classic, both teams trading touchdowns back and forth prior to halftime. Grand Valley’s Lane Gallagher, scored his first touchdown of the year on a 10 yard jet sweep handoff to put the Mustangs back up top. The following possession, the Mustangs defense would stand tall on 4th down and force a turnover of downs, and with their next possession Andrew Soltis would find paydirt again to put Grand Valley up 21-7. However, the Huskies would not go away without a fight. Quarterback Cal Ciminello and receiver Reese Soltis connected over the middle on a 55 yard touchdown to bring the deficit within 7. The Huskies defense forced a 4 and out and got the ball back with two minutes remaining and Ciminello connected with Soltis AGAIN on a 24 yard touchdown to bring put the Huskies down just 1. But with 58 seconds before halftime, Grand Valley marched the ball downfield in 33 seconds and scored before going to break as Mason Kocab wrestled the ball away from a defender on a 35 yard touchdown pass. Going into halftime the Mustangs would lead 27-20.
Coming out of the break, Grand Valley got the ball and went straight to work as senior running back Andrew Soltis found paydirt for his third touchdown of the game and put Grand Valley up 33-20, however the 2pt attempt was unsuccessful. The next two possessions for Cardinal Ciminello linked up with Reese Soltis two times for a 23 yard touchdown and a 30 yard touchdown to give the Huskies the lead 34-33. Pinned deep inside their own 5 yard line, on fourth down GV intentionally chose to take a safety and rely on the defense to get the ball back. Huskies would go up 36-33 with the intentional safety. With 6 minutes remaining, Grand Valley had two more chances to respond but unfortunately fell short here in week 3.
Moving ahead to week 4 action, Grand Valley is back at home as they play host to Warren JFK. As for the Cardinal Huskies they take on the Wickliffe Blue Devils at home