STRUTHERS OH- Both teams were back in the playoffs with a winning record and both teams looked to prove to one another just who can come out on top and make noise in Division four region 13.  For Struthers, this was the first winning season under coach John Bayuk, who had coached this team from a one and four record all the way to a six and four regular season finish.  For Edgewood, coach Olajuwon Cooper gave the Warriors their first winning season since 2012 and looked to pull off the upset at the Laddie J Fedor Fieldhouse.  Struthers and Edgewood have bet four times before with the Wildcats outlasting them (48-22, 30-7, 35-0, and 59-6).  

Struthers got on the first big play in which they recovered the opening kickoff.  Few plays later and star senior Alec Grzyb took the QB option into the endzone for a touchdown going up 7-0 early.  Next possession, it was Tyler Sanchez, part of the three headed backs in the backfield who took the handoff from Grzyb and went five yard making it 14-0.  Grzyb scored two more times in the first half.  The first took one play before he made a few men miss, going 78-yards to the endzone, and then in the second quarter from 54-yards out making it 27-0.  To end the half, the ground and puns game continued with Anthony Carter who after only one play shot up the middle for an 86-yard touchdown as the score was now 34-0 at the half.  

Coach Cooper and the Warriors were in desperate need for a second half turnaround and tried to make the biggest comeback.  Unfortunately that thought was short-lived.  Most of the second team came into the game, getting some playoff experience for when some of these players take the starting roles next year.  Sanchez scored for his final play of the night making it 41-0 and even the young Kendis Macleod made some noise scoring a touchdown late going up 49-0.  Junior Najier Howard would come into play at quarterback  to get reps at this time too. 

Edgewood scored two late touchdowns, preventing a shutout.  Senior quarterback Tony Hall would find Austin Zak twice, one in the back of the endzone from 14-yards and the second for a gain of 45.  It would not be enough to make the comeback as the Warriors, with their best season since 2012 under coach Cooper, finished off the season with a 6-5 record, falling against the Wildcats 49-14.  This team has a bright future where they look to make noise in 2023.  

Struthers Stats: 

Alec Grzyb: 2 of 2 for 48 yards passing 

8 rushes, 163 yards and three touchdowns 

Tyler Sanchez: 8 rushes for 103 yards and three touchdowns 

Anthony Carter: 5 rushes for 116 yards and a touchdown. 

Kendis Macleod: 12 rushes for 41 yards, one touchdown. 

Devin Braham: two rushes for 16 yards. 

Chaz Ekoniak: two receptions for 48 yards. 

Edgewood stats: 

Tony Hall: 21 of 37 for 207 yards and two touchdowns. 

Zeke Lucas: 12 rushes for 46 yards 

Christian Cunningham: four receptions for 41 yards. 

Austin Zall: three receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns.  

Jacob Ernst: three receptions for 28 yards.  

Up Next: 

9th seeded Edgewood finished their season with a 6-5 record in DIV region 13 and will look to build off that success for the 2023 season.  

8th seeded Struthers (7-4, 5-2 in NE8) will make the trip to Clinton Heacock Stadium to take on the number one seeded West Branch Warriors (10-1, 5-0 in Northeastern Buckeye).  

After the game, YSNs Ian O’Brien caught up with the winning coach John Bayuk about his first playoff victory, and the way they were able to capitalize early on for the victory.  

*contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*