by Cleveland Heights defense and run game proved to be too much for Berea-Midpark in this week one matchup. The Tigers ran for 365 yards but that wasn’t the most impressive performance of the night. Their defense came to play forcing five turnovers and scoring two touchdowns in the win.
Cleveland Heights received the ball to kick off the first game of the season and established the ground game early. After a great kickoff return, Amaar Lakes capped off a ten-play drive of all runs by taking it in from one yard out to get the Tigers on the board.
It didn’t take long for the Titans to answer back as on the second play of the ensuing drive, Maddox Swisher found Austin Clay on a beautiful corner route for a 78-yard score. After a successful two-point conversion, Berea Midpark had an 8-7 lead with 5:41 to go in the first.
The Tigers next drive would be halted with a huge sack by Devyn Zahursky on second down. After a Tigers punt the Titans would take over at their own 25-yard line.
Three incomplete passes would force the Titans to send the punt unit onto the field. A low snap led to a block and Albert Green would take it in for a Tigers score. The PAT would be missed, and the Tigers grabbed the lead back at 13-8.
The Titans would not let the bad play hurt them as they responded with a six-play drive, finished off by an Adriel Mendez 5-yard run. With 43 seconds left in the first Berea-Midpark led Cleveland Heights 15-13.
A Tigers punt and two 15-yard penalties would lead to the Titans taking over just outside the red zone looking to add to their lead. However, the Tigers defense would again put points on the board as Marquise Davis jumped Maddox Swisher’s pass and took it back 80 yards for the score. After another failed two point attempt the Tigers were ahead 19-15.
The Tigers defense would once again make a play stopping the Titans on fourth and inches near midfield. Just two plays later Davis would make another electric play breaking four tackles and reversing field for a 61-yard score. With 6:54 left in the half the Tigers had a 25-15 lead.
Before the fans could even catch their breath, another touchdown was on the board. Austin Clay would take the ensuing kickoff back 85 yards to cut into the Tigers lead.
On the next drive, Cleveland Heights took the ball deep into Berea-Midpark territory, but a fumble would cut the drive short at the seven-yard line, but once again the Tiger defense made a stop. Josiah Jones made an acrobatic interception to give the Tigers the ball right back at the Titans 11-yard line. Marquise Davis would take the handoff right up the middle on the next play for his third score of the game. With just over two minutes left in the half the Tigers had a 32-21 lead.
Henry Perrymond would force yet another interception on the Titans next drive and keep the score at 32-21 heading to the locker rooms.
The fireworks slowed down in the second half as both teams traded punts on their first drives. The Titans next drive would start promising but Henry Perrymond would jump another Swisher pass for his second interception of the game.
The Tigers offense would take the ball into the red zone but would be stopped on downs, but once again the defense takes the ball away forcing a Titans fumble. Seven plays later, Marquise Davis would score his fourth touchdown of the game on a five-yard run. The Tigers now led 39-21 with 9:32 to go in the fourth.
Another Titans punt would lead to another Tigers rushing touchdown as this time it would be John Gordon Jr scoring from 41 yards out making it 46-21 Tigers with seven minutes to go.
On the next Titans drive, Marquise Davis would grab his second pick of the game, giving the ball back to the offense to run the clock out. The clock hit zero and Cleveland Heights started the season 1-0 winning 46-21 over Berea-Midpark.
Players of the Game
Cleveland Heights- Marquise Davis: 4 Carries 230 Yards 4 TD, 2 INTs
Berea Midpark- Austin Clay: 4 Catches 131 Yards 2 TD
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
6:28- #4 Amaar Lakes 1-yard run. PAT Good
5:41- #2 Maddox Swisher 78-yard pass to #3 Austin Clay. 2PT Good
2:24- #5 Albert Green 10-yard return. PAT No Good
0:43- #21 Adriel Mendez 5-yard run. PAT Good
2nd Quarter
9:16- #1 Marquise Davis 80-yard INT return. 2PT No Good
6:54- #1 Marquise Davis 61-yard run. 2PT No Good
6:39- #3 Austin Clay 85-yard return. PAT No Good
2:04- #1 Marquise Davis 11-yard run. PAT Good
3rd Quarter
NONE
4th Quarter
9:32- #1 Marquise Davis 5-yard run. PAT Good
7:19- #0 John Gordon Jr. 41-yard run. PAT Good
