by Packed student section? Check.
Echoes of the band as you pull into the parking lot? Check.
The smell of hot dogs and popcorn mixed with the warm summer air? Check.
That’s right, Friday Night Football is back!
Week one of high-school football kicks off at the home of the Sons of Black Beard, Rocky River High School. The Pirates celebrated their 105th season by welcoming in the Midview Middies on a perfect Friday night for football.
After what was an unusual and short year in 2020 for High School football, both the Pirates and Middies fans filled the stands for what proved to be a highly anticipated matchup.
It was the home crowd that was treated to a hot start, however. After failing to convert a third down on their first drive – the Middies punted to #47 John Bebie, who returned it 42 yards – setting up the Pirates on their side of the field.
After the great return, Pirates QB #10 Braedon Spies took no time to put his team on top after a 17 yard corner-of-the-endzone touchdown to WR #22 Stan Heuler.
After an extra point by the Pirates, the Middies found themselves down seven points. Middies QB #15 Ethan Surdock did his best to drive down the field, finding WR #10 Bryce Newton with a 44 yard pass down the middle of the field that put them in the red zone. Unfortunately for the Middies, Surdock went down on the very next play – out for the game.
After a 22 yard field goal from the Middies – it was the Pirates chance to take an even bigger lead. That attempt fell apart on the first play after DB #11 Kaiden Koch picked off Spies for a 25 yard pick-six. After the point after, the Middies found themselves with a 10-7 lead to end the first quarter.
The Pirates, facing a deficit, continued to be aggressive with their playcalling. Despite the turnover on his previous pass attempt, Spies shook it off on this drive, as two passes totalling 48 yards put his team within striking distance. Within a few plays, #13 RB Tommy Bebie capped off the drive with a one yard touchdown run, putting the Pirates back on top 14-10.
This was only the beginning of what ended up becoming an ugly first half for the Middies. With a couple minutes taken off the clock since their last score, the Pirates drove down the field yet again – finishing off with a one yard touchdown rush from Spies. Halfway through the second quarter, the Pirates obtained a 20-10 lead.
With another turnover on downs from the Middies, the Pirates got the ball back – subsequently driving down the field again. This time, Spies launched a 28 yard touchdown pass on the money to Hueler once again, who stretched out completely to make the grab. After a two-point conversion from Hueler, the Pirates entered the locker room at halftime with a commanding 28-10 lead.
After receiving the second half kickoff, the swashbuckling Pirates continued their domination over the Middies. Set up by another big 57 yard throw from Spies to WR #3 Mack Massad, the drive was capped off by an eight yard touchdown from Spies.
The Middies, down 35-10 and without their starting quarterback, found themselves in a rough spot. Despite their lackluster performance to this point, it only took them one play to score a touchdown on their next drive, as backup QB #25 Marc Reed launched a 70 yard touchdown bomb to WR #10 Newton.
Almost as if fortunes changed at halftime, the Middies found a way to continue clawing back in the second half. Down 35-17, they drove the field once again, as Reed ran in a five yard touchdown to bring the Middies within two scores, 35-24 at the start of the fourth.
The Pirates weren’t going to allow the Middies to pillage this game away from them that easily, as #13 RB Bebie accelerated 49 yards for his second touchdown of the night on the very next drive. Mid-way through the fourth, the Sons of Blackbeard held a 42-24 lead and did not look back.
Unfortunately for the opposition, the combination of Braedon Spies, Tommy Bebie and Stan Heuler proved too much for the Middies. After a couple more scores from the Bebie bothers (55 yard run by #13 and subsequent pick six from #47), the Pirates finished the game winning 56-24.
For the Middies, they look to bounce back next week as they face off against Strongsville. Rocky River will take their momentum into next week as they face Firelands Oberlin in a Non-Conference matchup.
Players of the Game (Rocky River): QB #10 Braedon Spies 7/10 180 yds (passing) 2 TD 1 INT
RB #13 Tommy Bebie: 110 yds rushing 3 TDs
(Midview): Marc Reed
Excellent work with the writing. Feel like I was there watching Bebie and Spies
Excellent for article Christian Hinton! Love, Aunt Shelly!