WARRIORS LOCK IN PLAYOFFS,RECORDS, AND BRIDGE IN RIVALRY WIN
Edgewood, OH- In a rivalry game for the ages, the Edgewood Warriors emerged victorious against the Lakeside Dragons with a final score of 38-20. The Warriors (6-4, 2-3 CVC Lake Division) secured their spot in the OHSAA playoffs for the second consecutive year, while the Dragons (4-6, 2-3 CVC Lake Division) saw their season come to an end as they were mathematically eliminated from the postseason.
The game got off to a promising start for Edgewood in the first quarter, with Samuel Linder kicking a 12-yard field goal, giving the Warriors an early 3-0 lead. Edgewood continued to dominate as Zeke Lucas dashed for a 12-yard touchdown run, and Tony Hall connected with Jacob Ernst for a spectacular 67-yard touchdown pass. With successful extra points, the Warriors led 17-0.
Lakeside began to mount a comeback in the second quarter, with Nate Bartone scoring a 4-yard touchdown run and Devan Miller adding a 2-yard touchdown run, but their two-point conversion attempts fell short. This narrowed the gap to 17-12 in favor of Edgewood.
The third quarter saw a dramatic turn of events as Tony Hall, who had a standout night, threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Lakeside’s Matt Wagner. A successful two-point conversion gave Lakeside a 20-17 lead. However, Edgewood quickly regained the advantage as Tony Hall found Jacob Ernst with a 43-yard touchdown pass, putting the Warriors ahead 24-20.
In the fourth quarter, Hunter Braat intercepted Lakeside’s Alex DiSalvatore, providing Edgewood with a crucial defensive play. With the clock ticking down, Tony Hall showcased his skills once again, throwing a 45-yard touchdown pass to Riley Baldwin. The extra point was good, extending Edgewood’s lead to 31-20. Zeke Lucas put the icing on the cake with a 49-yard touchdown run, and the extra point made it 38-20, sealing the victory for the Warriors.
Tony Hall emerged as the star of the game, passing for three touchdowns and over 200 yards. With his performance, Hall became the Ashtabula County all-time single-season leader in both passing yards and touchdowns, with over 2,400 yards and 31 touchdowns. The previous records of 2,365 yards (held by Edgewood’s Zach Winchell in 2020) and 29 touchdown passes (set by Jefferson’s Lucas Hitchcock in 2014) were surpassed, cementing Hall’s place in both Edgewood’s and Ashtabula’s football history.
With this exciting win, the Edgewood Warriors look forward to the OHSAA playoffs and a potential matchup against the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals. Congratulations to the Edgewood Warriors for their impressive victory and Tony Hall for his record-breaking performance!
