by Granger, OH – It was close until it wasn’t.
In what was one of the most hyped up games in the state, the Highland Hornets (2-0) rolled through their home opener 32-0 over the Hudson Explorers (1-1).
After a 28-14 win over Austintown-Fitch the week prior, the Explorers had momentum on their side when Anthony Paolucci intercepted Grady Gibb on the Hornets first drive. However, the Explorers offense sputtered out on their first drive, a recurring theme that would haunt Hudson all game long.
Highland’s offense was likewise struggling for most of the first half. It wouldn’t be until midway through the second quarter when the Hornets offense woke up. It would be courtesy of some turnovers by their defense making two turnovers in the first half, with both of them being fumbles. The first fumble was recovered by Dan Miller after a big hit by Evan Foust and the second fumble was recovered by Cooper Zielinski.
Senior running back Casey Myser scored both second quarter touchdowns and after a Jameson Gordon sack, the Hornets grabbed a 14-0 lead at the half. They would keep their foot on the gas in the second half.
After capitalizing on two fumbles in the first half, the Hornets had two interceptions in the second half. One by Gordon early on the third quarter, and the other by Nick Dobkowski in the fourth. The offense would continue to go in the second half as Lucas Gerding scored a touchdown on a jet sweep in the third and Dylan Lazar joined the party with a touchdown run in the fourth. But it wasn’t until Jonah Kowza’s 34 yard field goal with 2:27 in the game that brought out the running clock till the end of the game.
The Highland Hornets will travel to Avon Lake next week to take on the Shoremen, and the Hudson Explorers will travel to Akron and play the St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish.
