by Berea-Midpark received the opening kick, and this Battle of Bagley was underway. The Titans wasted no time getting into the endzone. It took them just five plays to take it 72 yards for a score. Noah Silva ran It in from 20 yards out and gave the Titans a 7-0 lead.
Olmsted Falls went to work in their triple-option offense looking to tie this game up, but they could only put together one first down before having to punt the ball right back to Berea-Midpark. The Titans would pick up right where they left off on the first drive and take it right down the field for another score. Devyn Zahursky took the direct snap and powered his way in from three yards out. With 2:14 to go in the first quarter, the Titans led 14-0.
The Bulldogs once again were unable to get anything going and had to punt it away. Two plays later Noah Silva would burst through the middle and gallop 51 yards to the house extending the Titan’s lead even more. It was 21-0 with 39 seconds left in the first quarter.
Olmsted Falls would finally be able to put a drive together and get back into this game. After a few big runs from Owen Singleton, the Bulldogs would finally find the endzone. Jimmy Rosol dropped back and threw a perfect ball to Trent Hrabnicky in the back of the endzone. The PAT would be blocked, and the score was now 21-6.
Olmsted Falls needed a stop on defense and that’s exactly what they did. On fourth down a huge hit forced the Daniel Bowser pass to hit the ground and the Bulldogs took over at their own 40-yard line. The drive did not go according to plan as on the very first play they would put the ball on the turf and Andrew Hanchuk was on it for the Titans.
The Bulldog defense stepped up once again forcing a three and out and Jalen Ball jogged onto the field for the punt. He would hit a beauty of a ball and it would be downed at the one-yard line.
The Bulldogs took over on what seemed like inches from their own goal line and could do nothing but give their punter some room. Austin Clay would catch the punt and returned it all the way down to the Bulldogs 15 and the Titans were threatening once again. One play later Zahursky would find the endzone again, this time through the air. Daniel Bowser hit him from 15 yards out for the score. With 4:03 left in the half, the Titans led 28-6.
Jalen Ball would once again make an impact on special teams. His kickoff went over the head of the returner and would check up at the three-yard line. Trent Hrabnicky could do nothing but fall on it and the Bulldogs were backed up once again. They would be able to put together one first down but had to punt it away once again.
Berea-Midpark took over at the 46-yard line and had 1:51 to try and extend this lead. Steven Goodnough was not going to let it get any bigger as he jumped Bowser’s pass and ended the Titan’s drive. The teams headed to the locker room with the Titans leading 28-6.
Olmsted Falls came out of the locker room as a completely different team. On the opening drive of the half, the Bulldogs took it right down the field and scored. Derek Neckar carried what seemed like the entire Titans defense into the endzone from 20 yards out. After a two-point conversion, the Titan lead was now just 28-14.
The defense for Olmsted Falls would step up as well and they forced a quick punt from Berea-Midpark. The run game was starting to dominate as again the Bulldogs took it down the field and scored. Neckar would score again this time from 13 yards out and all of a sudden, we had a ball game. It was 28-21 with 49 seconds left in the third.
The Bulldog defense once again made a play to get the ball back to their offense. Steven Goodnough snagged his second interception of the game, and the Bulldogs had the ball at their own 17 with a chance to tie.
Berea-Midpark’s defense finally calmed down and forced an Olmsted Falls punt. Austin Clay would return it to the house, and it looked like this game was over. Instead, a holding call brought it back. Still, a few first downs from the offense could end the game but instead, they turned it over. Anthony Salamah jumped on the loose ball and the Bulldogs had the ball with another chance to tie it up.
The Bulldogs would take a deep shot on second down and ten and it would fall incomplete. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct call made the third and ten a third and 25. They were unable to pick that up and had to punt it away and hope for a stop with 4:08 left and all their timeouts remaining.
Needing just a first down to win this rivalry game the Titans turned to their workhorse Noah Silva. He took the handoff and sprinted 62 yards for his third score of the night to put this one on ice. The PAT made it 35-21 with 2:18 to go.
A sack by Mitchell Hausler on fourth down gave the Titans the ball back and a few kneel downs ended this one. Noah Silva ran for 208 yards and three scores on 20 carries to give Berea-Midpark the 35-21 win over crosstown rival Olmsted Falls.
Players of the Game
Berea-Midpark- Noah Silva 20 carries 208 yards 3 TDs
Olmsted Falls- Derek Neckar 11 carries 73 yards 2 TDs
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
9:23- #28 Noah Silva 20-yard run. #95 Jalen Ball PAT Good
2:14- #10 Devyn Zahursky 3-yard run. #95 Jalen Ball PAT Good
0:39- #28 Noah Silva 51-yard run. #95 Jalen Ball PAT Good
2nd Quarter
10:44- #9 Jimmy Rosol 27-yard pass to #23 Trent Hrabnicky. PAT No Good
4:03- #6 Daniel Bowser 15-yard pass to #10 Devyn Zahursky. #95 Jalen Ball PAT Good
3rd Quarter
8:49- #2 Derek Neckar 20-yard run. #23 Trent Hrabnicky 2PT Good
0:49- #2 Derek Neckar 13-yard run. #16 Jack Birch PAT Good
4th Quarter
2:18- #28 Noah Silva 62-yard run. #95 Jalen Ball PAT Good
