by In the third week of the Division III, Region 10 OHSAA playoffs, the (5) Parma Padua Bruins faced off against the (8) Holy Name Green Wave.
In a shocking upset last week, the Green Wave stifled the number one seeded Norton Panthers 28-0. The Bruins did not have as easy of a week, as they barely won 13-10 against Mansfield Senior.
In this game, time of possession and ball control dominated the storylines. A quick start from the Bruins had the many Padua fans in attendance excited, but the Green Wave were not going to allow the noise to get to them.
First Half
Receiving the game’s opening kick were the Bruins. Though they began on their own 35 yard line, it only took one play for them to score. Off the legs of Marquise Hall, he rushed in a 65 yard touchdown that only took 8 seconds off the clock. After an extra point, the Bruins found an early 7-0 lead.
Though their drive took longer than the Bruins previous, it still only took four minutes for the Green Wave to score and answer back. After pulling off a couple impressive rushes, quarterback Jayvon Williams was able to sling a 37 yard touchdown to Eric Jones Jr. An extra point of their own tied this one at seven a piece.
The Bruins next drive ended in a punt, allowing Williams and the Green Wave to attempt and score again. They did, this time it was Williams doing it with his legs, rushing in a 26 yard touchdown after juking some defenders out of their shoes. Their extra point was blocked, only bringing their lead to six at 13-7.
Again on their next drive, the Brains were forced to punt the ball away. Despite their fast start offensively, they were not able to get much else going in the first quarter.
Williams showed off his speed again for the Green Wave yet again on the next drive, as a 32 yard rush set them up in Bruins territory quickly. However, they hit a lull, and could not convert on fourth and long — giving the Bruins the ball off a turnover.
They couldn’t take advantage of the turnover though, and were forced to punt yet again. Methodically driving the field and attempting to run out the clock, the Green Wave were deep within enemy territory with less than 30 seconds left in the first half but could not score.
The lead into halftime was 13-7 Green Wave.
Second Half
Because they deferred to the Bruins in the first half, the Green Wave got the ball to start the second — another chance to extend their lead.
After shaving almost five minutes off the clock to start the third quarter, the Green Wave were able to score again, this time off an eight yard touchdown rush from Kriztion Sanchez. They went for two, off a rollout pass from Williams to Jones Jr., and got it. Now leading 21-7, the Bruins needed to score their next drive to keep the game interesting.
They did, this time off another methodical drive. Though the first two quarters seemed to limit Bruins quarterback Tyler Tusai, the offense opened up for him this half. A long 38 yard pass set them up in enemy territory. However, it wasn’t Tusai who threw a touchdown this drive, but instead running back Marquise Hall threw an eight yard completion to Caden Acino — bringing the score to 21-13 after a blocked extra point.
Continuous punting from both teams was contagious in the first half of the fourth quarter.
In fact the next score of the game, coming with less than six minutes remaining, tied the game completely. Thanks to a 19 yard touchdown pass from Tusai to Benicio Roman and a two point conversion jump pass, the game was tied at 21-21.
With less than two minutes to play, the Green Wave were quickly running out of time to score. In a critical third down, Williams tossed a 42 yard pass to Jones Jr. – placing the Green Wave well within enemy territory. Williams followed that up with a 26 yard dash, getting them in the red zone with less than 30 seconds left.
As time expired, Williams threw a left corner of the endzone touchdown pass to Andrew Cole. After an extra point, it was this score that ended the game completely at 28-21 for the Green Wave.
Player of the Game:
Jayvon Williams – 96 Passing 2 TDs Passing; 204 Rushing 1 TD Rushing
