by STORY BY MARK THEIS
Going into week four of the Northeast Ohio High School Football 2020 season, many things have been unusual. Many things have also been the same. Football is a game of power, speed, and athleticism.
If you have all three of those attributes, you will win a lot of football games. Holy Name has all three and they are a damn good football team.
It was a chilly night at Rocky River Stadium as the Pirates were hosting the Holy Name Green Wave just a mile from Lake Erie and it was a windy sign of a winter season coming.
Holy Name came out and set the tone on the first drive with a steady diet of running plays off tackle with amazing Sophomore standout RB Kriztion Sanchez.
At 230 pounds he just punished the Pirate defenders with his straight ahead running attack. The drive stalled at the seven yard line, and kicker Jonathan Stanislo converted a short field goal. This was a moral victory for the Pirate team at that time.
Rocky Rivers’ offense struggled on their first drive as Junior QB #10 Braedon Spies, and Junior RB # 13 Tommy Bebie tried to spark the offense to no avail. The teams traded short drives and the first quarter ended with Holy Name up 3-0.
Shortly after the quarter started another Green Wave Sophomore QB # 8 Jayvon Williams ran a left sweep behind great blocks from Sanchez for a 25 yard touchdown. This capped a 51 yard scoring drive with 10:26 left in the quarter.
On the Pirates’ next possession they started to show signs of life when Rivers’ QB Spies hits Senior WR # 7 Charlie Hudson on a beautiful deep out pattern for a 34 yard gain.
Then, on a crucial 4th and 2 from the Holy Name 38 yard line Sophomore RB Johnny Bebie could only muster one yard on a dive and River turned the ball over on possessions.
Next on the seventh series of the game Holy Name set out to pull away from the Pirates. With amazing speed and agility QB Williams runs and alludes defenders, followed by another punishing 31 yard run play from Sanchez.
Then on the very next play Williams hit Junior WR # 2 Eric Jones Jr. for an excellent wide open 20 yard touchdown. At this point the score was now 17-0 with 5:30 seconds left in the first half.
Rocky River had a problem. With Standout RB Bebie on the sideline with an apparent injury. His brother Sophomore # 47 John Bebie tried to fill the void, but despite a few great runs, penalties negated a few of his efforts.
The Pirates again punted. Green Wave RB Sanchez rumbled for a 20 yard screen pass, and two other runs that resulted in a 7 yard touchdown. The score was 24-7 at halftime.
In the second half the Pirates never gave up but with their best player now out of uniform on the bench, they just lacked the fire power to compete with a strong team like the Green Wave.
One bright spot near the end of the 3rd quarter was a brilliant interception from Senior DB # 8 Joey Pike, at their own 25 yard line.
Unfortunately for River that was their only highlight of the second half. Those cold winds off the lake were feeling even colder for the Pirate faithful.
Another Touchdown run from Sanchez and his evening was done as the Green Wave inserted Senior WR # 15 Garrett Sparks, and Junior RB # 5 Richard Jordan. Each of them made big plays for significant yardage and running the clock down in this lopsided game.
Holy name has three great players. A powerful 230 lb running back Sanchez that’s very difficult to stop, a quarterback with great speed and a great arm in Williams, and a great wide receiver Jones Jr., with great speed and hands.
The combination of those three offensive players was just a little too much for Rocky River to handle. Then towards the end of the first quarter Rocky River star running back Tommy Bebie goes out of the game with an apparent injury. Now Rocky River without their best player. Bebie’s brother Johnny was just too young and inexperienced to take over and be the star of the game the way his brother Tommy might have done.
The final score was Holy Name 31-0 over Rocky River shocking the Pirate fans. Several told me they could not remember a recent team ever being shutout.
With so many talented underclassmen on both teams the future is looking bright for both teams. Holy Name is certainly a team to watch the rest of this unusual season.
Holy Name Player of the Game: Kriztion Sanchez
Honorable Mention: Jayvon Williams, and Eric Jones Jr.
Mark, thanks for writing a nice fair article. Enjoyed talking with you at the game.