by MEDINA, OH – The Battling Bees once again played host to a familiar opponent in the Wadsworth Grizzlies. In a non-conference clash in week four, Medina traveled to Wadsworth and defeated the Grizzlies 45-35. Tonight, in the second round of the OHSAA playoffs, Wadsworth looked to pull off the upset at Ken Dukes Stadium and avenge the previous loss.
On the first play of the first drive of the game, Dan Stoddard hit Austin Knowles in stride for a 45-yard completion. As the Battling Bees continued to march down the field, they were aided by some overly physical defensive back play and a pass interference call in the end zone. That spotted the ball at the one-yard line and Stoddard punched it in on the QB sneak. The ensuing PAT was blocked making the score 6-0.
On Wadsworth’s first offensive possession they struck right back. Junior running back Kyle Figuray capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown. The made PAT following the touchdown gave the Grizzlies a one-point lead 7-6.
The Battling Bees bounced right back and reclaimed the lead on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Stoddard to Jack Wojciak. The offense remained on the field and Stoddard then found Carlos Corchado in the corner of the endzone for the two-point conversion. Medina was now holding a seven-point lead 14-7.
Medina’s defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs near the end of the first quarter. The offense then capitalized at the beginning of the second with a 13-yard TD completion from Stoddard to Brennan Schramm. With the score of 21-7 in favor of Medina, momentum was swinging the way of the home side and the game looked to have the potential of getting out of hand.
Following a Jack Wojciak interception of senior quarterback Luke Fischer and then a turnover on downs for Medina, the Grizzlies found themselves moving the ball well on the ground. Figuray found a hole off to the left of his line and scooted past the defense for his second rushing touchdown on the night. The 28-yard score made it a one possession game 21-14.
Despite sputtering on their last offensive drive and now facing a 4th and 10, the Battling Bees pulled a rabbit out of their hat. Schramm beat his defensive back down the middle of the field and Stoddard delivered the strike. Schramm strolled into the endzone untouched for the 49-yard touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the first half (28-14 Medina).
Only a mere 20 seconds later, the Grizzlies would respond thanks to a 35-yard completion from Fischer to Davis Nye which then set up a 23-yard rushing touchdown for Figuray. Still 44 seconds remained on the clock with the score now 28-21 Medina.
The Battling Bees did not run down all of the time on the clock and multiple incompletions led to a turnover on downs with three seconds remaining. Fischer gave one last heave to the endzone but the pass was picked off by Knowles to end the half. Medina and Wadsworth were in a battle at 28-21 and it appeared that this game would have a lot left in store for everyone watching. That it did.
On the first drive of the second half the Grizzlies came out with some purpose. They pieced together a 14-play scoring drive and drained about five minutes off the clock. Figuray’s 2-yard TD run not only tied the score up at 28 all, but it was also his fourth touchdown on the night.
Like most high scoring Medina games, they found a way to answer right back. After a sack and back-to-back incompletions in the red zone, Stoddard short-armed a pass to Wojciak in the corner. The talented receiver barely got his fingers underneath the ball and snagged the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown (35-28 Medina).
On the ensuing drive, Wadsworth went back to the well of running the ball with Figuray and Fischer finding Will Stack through the air. Both extremely common themes on the night. This time Fischer finished off the 11-play drive himself on a 2-yard QB keeper. The rushing touchdown had this heated battle once again tied 35 all.
Medina’s first punt of the night came in the fourth quarter but Wadsworth was unable to take advantage and had to punt immediately after.
Medina then tried to slow things down with some more runs and drain some clock themselves. They took the crucial lead 42-35 on a Stoddard 2-yard touchdown run with a couple minutes remaining in the game.
On the next drive, the Grizzlies needed a touchdown but on 4th and 3 Fischer was picked off by Schramm to truly seal the game. With the ball at the five-yard line following several dead ball penalties after the interceptions, Stoddard was able to put the cherry on top of the victory with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The 49-35 win moves the Medina Battling Bees to 11-1 on the year and sets them up for another matchup versus Greater Cleveland Conference foe in the Mentor Cardinals.
Wadsworth concludes their season with an overall record of 7-5.
Medina Stats
Passing
QB Dan Stoddard – 23/46 for 403 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing
QB Dan Stoddard – 3 TDs
Receiving
WR Jack Wojciak – 10 receptions, 107 yards and 2 TDs
WR Brennan Schramm – 3 receptions, 74 yards and 2 TDs
WR Austin Knowles – 4 receptions for 102 yards
Defense
Wojciak, Schramm and Knowles all had an interception
Wadsworth Stats
Passing
QB Luke Fischer – 27/43 for 283 yards and 3 INTs
Rushing
RB Kyle Figuray – 33 carries for 177 yards and 4 TDs
QB Luke Fischer – 1 TD
Receiving
WR Will Stack – 16 receptions for 141 yards
WR Aaron Keating – 4 receptions for 50 yards
Player of the Game: Dan Stoddard – 23/46 for 403 yards and 7 total TDs
