by Shaker Heights, Ohio – The Maple Heights Mustangs defeated host Shaker Heights, 36-21, on Saturday afternoon at Russell H. Rupp Field.
Maple Heights came into Saturday’s matchup 15th in Division II, Region 5 according to JoeEitel.com. Shaker Heights came in not too far behind, in 17th, in the same division and region.
Ed Robinson III took a handoff 34 yards to the house to kick off the scoring for Maple Heights. Dawon King converted the two-point try, and the Mustangs led 8-0 early on.
Shaker answered back when junior quarterback Abdullah Ahmad found sophomore Trey McNutt in the back corner of the end zone for an 11-yard score. This cut the Red Raider deficit to 8-7 at the close of the first quarter.
After a Maple Heights punt, Ahmad found Damion Cunnigham for a long gainer to put the Red Raider offense in Mustang territory.
On fourth down, senior running back Jabriel Washington took a handoff 13 yards to the house. This increased the Shaker Heights lead to 14-8.
After recovering an onside kick, the Raiders were back in business once more. Abdullah Ahmad found Trey McNutt for another touchdown toss to further pad the Red Raider lead to 21-8.
Maple responded once again with another scoring drive of their own. Senior quarterback Dawon King found senior wide receiver David Collins for a 36-yard touchdown reception. A successful two-point try cut the Mustang deficit to 21-16.
The Mustangs would take the lead before the end of the first half when Dawon King found Robinson III on a 40-yard touchdown toss. After a successful two-point try, Maple Heights led 24-21 at the half.
The two teams traded interceptions early in the third quarter.
First, Kamren Jackson picked off a Dawon King pass for Shaker Heights. On the very next play, Ashton Pugh picked off an Aiden Diaz pass for Maple Heights. Pugh would be the recipient of a 36-yard touchdown toss from King, and the Mustangs would increase their lead to 30-21.
Shaker got inside the ten yard line, looking to answer with a score of their own, but the Maple Heights defense turned them away.
Maple would go on an 8+ minute drive and cap it off with a Dawon King to Myles Russell with 4:42 to play, to increase the lead to 36-21.
Ashton Pugh would pick off his second pass of the game, and the Mustangs would run the clock out.
Shaker Heights (3-6, 3-2 LEL) travels to rival Cleveland Heights to finish the regular season.
Maple Heights (5-4, 3-2 LEL) hosts Bedford to finish the regular season.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Dawon King (Sr.) Maple Heights
The four-year starter tossed four touchdown passes, and even showed his speed on a late-game touchdown run that got called back due to holding.
Ashton Pugh (Sr.) Maple Heights
Pugh caught a touchdown pass and picked off two passes.
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