by North Ridgeville, Ohio – The North Ridgeville Rangers hosted the Berea-Midpark Titans at Ranger Stadium for a conference showdown. The Rangers went on to secure a 42-35 week seven win over the Titans at home.
North Ridgeville started off the game with the ball on their own 26-yard line. The Titans defense came out strong with a heavy blitz and forced a three and out. Berea-Midpark began their first drive on their own 9-yard line. The Titans offense methodically moved down the field. Quarterback Dylan Papushak took a deep shot to wide receiver Andre Alexander for a 67-yard reception touchdown, giving Berea-Midpark a 7-0 lead with 6:59 remaining in the first quarter.
North Ridgeville began their next drive on their own 35-yard line. The Rangers offense made quick work on the ground and advanced closer to midfield. The Titans defense held firm and forced a turnover on downs, setting their offense up on the Rangers’ 49-yard line. Berea-Midpark alternated the air and ground game and made it to the redzone. The Rangers defense made a huge defensive stop on the goal line to force a turnover on downs, setting the offense up on their own 2-yard line. North Ridgeville held onto possession of the ball for the remainder of the first quarter, down 7-0 at home.
The Rangers offense made good progress but was ultimately forced to punt. Berea-Midpark began their next drive on their own 15-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Dylan Papushak launched a 76-yard pass to set the Titans offense up on the North Ridgeville 9-yard line. On the next play, running back Xaviere Harden barreled into the endzone for a 9-yard rushing touchdown, making the score 14-0 Berea-Midpark with 10:34 remaining in the second quarter. North Ridgeville began their next drive on their own 39-yard line. The Rangers, wanting to gain momentum, took a lot of clock off from running the ball over and over. North Ridgeville slowly made their way to the red zone and ultimately punched in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Cole Miller. The extra point was blocked, resulting in a Berea-Midpark 14-6 lead with 4:43 remaining in the second quarter.
Berea-Midpark began their next drive on their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Dylan Papushak led the offense down the field with ease, resulting in a 29-yard reception touchdown from receiver Andre Alexander to give the Titans a 21-6 lead with 3:46 remaining in the first half. North Ridgeville started their next drive on their own 28-yard line. The Rangers, looking to answer back, kept the ball on the ground and marched all the way down to the end zone on a Cole Miller 1-yard rush. North Ridgeville went for two and converted on the try, making it a 21-14 Berea-Midpark lead with 0:25 remaining in the first half. Berea-Midpark started their next drive on their own 26-yard line. The Titans ran one play before the end of the first half, going into the locker rooms with a 21-14 lead on the road at halftime.
Berea-Midpark received the kick to start the second half, but an onside kick was recovered by the Rangers special teams to set North Ridgeville up on the Titans’ 48-yard line. The drive was short-lived after Berea-Midpark held firm and forced a turnover on downs, setting up the offense on their own 42-yard line. The Titans offensive drive was short-lived, resulting in a punt. North Ridgeville began their next drive on their own 26-yard line. The Rangers offense was moving down field and scored a 51-yard receiving touchdown from Dylan DeShazo to make the score tied 21-21 with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter. North Ridgeville kicked another onside kick and recovered the ball on the 50-yard line. The Rangers offense went to capitalize on the momentum but were halted by a strong defensive showing from the Titans defense to force a turnover on downs, setting Berea-Midpark up on their own 34-yard line.
The Titans offense methodically drove down the field and scored a 6-yard receiving touchdown from quarterback Vince Weaver to wide receiver Nick Reece to make it a 28-21 Berea-Midpark lead with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter. North Ridgeville began their next drive on their own 40-yard line. The Rangers offense looked to capitalize and respond to the Titans’ last score. North Ridgeville scored a 28-yard receiving touchdown from wide receiver Cole Allison to tie the game up at 28-28 with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter. Berea-Midpark started their next drive on their own 27-yard line and held onto possession for the remainder of the third quarter, tied 28-28.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Titans offense marched down the field into Ranger territory, but the momentum was stopped after the North Ridgeville defense forced a turnover on downs, setting their offense up on their own 32-yard line. The Ranger offensive drive was stopped by the Titans’ strong secondary, resulting in a quick punt. Berea-Midpark began their next drive on their own 25-yard line. On the first play of the drive, quarterback Dylan Papushak launched a deep throw to wide receiver Nick Reece for a 75-yard touchdown, giving Berea-Midpark a 35-28 lead with 10:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. North Ridgeville began their next drive on their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Cole Miller was making great progress moving the offense downfield, but on a quarterback draw lost control of the ball and fumbled it into a Titan defender, setting the Berea-Midpark offense up on their own 28-yard line. The Titans drive was short-lived and resulted in a punt, setting the North Ridgeville offense up on their own 43-yard line. The Rangers offense wanted to capitalize on the missed opportunity from their last drive, which ended up resulting in a Cole Miller 34-yard passing touchdown to wide receiver Dylan DeShazo to tie the score at 35-35 with 6:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Berea-Midpark began their next drive on their own 24-yard line. The Titans offense made good progress and marched into North Ridgeville territory. The Rangers defense put up their most impressive stand of the night, forcing a turnover on downs to set the offense up on the Berea-Midpark 40-yard line. Cole Miller orchestrated a run-heavy offense, which moved the Rangers into the red zone and led to a Cole Miller 3-yard rushing touchdown to give North Ridgeville a 42-35 lead with 1:38 remaining in the game. Berea-Midpark started their next drive on their own 39-yard line. Quarterback Dylan Papushak kept composure and moved the Titans down the field into the red zone with seconds left. It came down to the final play on the 6-yard line, where a pass was broken up on fourth down by the Rangers defense, forcing a turnover on downs and running out the clock to secure a 15-point comeback and a homecoming victory for their home fans. Both teams played an amazing game and should be proud of the work left on the field. This instant classic will be one not forgotten for a long time between conference rivals.
Next Week
The Berea-Midpark Titans (4-3) look to rebound from a hard-fought loss as they host conference rivals Olmsted Falls Bulldogs at George Finne Stadium; Kickoff at 7 PM on Friday, October 10th.
The North Ridgeville Rangers (6-1) are looking to stay hot as they travel to Avon Lake Memorial Stadium to take on conference rivals Avon Lake Shoremen; Kickoff at 7 PM on Friday, October 10th.
Player of the Game:
Cole Miller (QB)- North Ridgeville: 200+ rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, 3 passing TDs
Top Performers
Berea-Midpark Titans
Nick Reece: 2 reception TDs (6 yds, 75 yds)
Andre Alexander: 2 reception TDs (67 yds, 29 yds)
Xaviere Harden: 1 rushing TD
Dylan Papushak: 3 passing TDs
Vince Weaver: 1 passing TD
North Ridgeville Rangers
Cole Miller: 200+ rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, 3 passing TDs
Dylan DeShazo: 2 reception TDs (51 yds, 34 yds)
Cole Allison: 1 reception TD (28 yds)
Finley Keller: 2 onside kicks (2 recoveries)
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Berea-Midpark 6:59 – Dylan Papushak to Andre Alexander, 67 yards (kick good) (7-0 Berea-Midpark)
2nd Quarter
Berea-Midpark 10:34 – Xaviere Harden, 9-yard run (kick good) (14-0 Berea-Midpark)
North Ridgeville 4:43 – Cole Miller, 1-yard run (kick blocked) (14-6 Berea-Midpark)
Berea-Midpark 3:46 – Dylan Papushak to Andre Alexander, 29 yards (kick good) (21-6 Berea-Midpark)
North Ridgeville 0:25 – Cole Miller, 1-yard run (2-pt good) (21-14 Berea-Midpark)
3rd Quarter
North Ridgeville 5:00 – Cole Miller to Dylan DeShazo, 51 yards (kick good) (tied 21-21)
Berea-Midpark 3:51 – Vince Weaver to Nick Reece, 6 yards (kick good) (28-21 Berea-Midpark)
North Ridgeville 2:41 – Cole Miller to Cole Allison, 28 yards (kick good) (tied 28-28)
4th Quarter
Berea-Midpark 10:00 – Dylan Papushak to Nick Reece, 75 yards (kick good) (35-28 Berea-Midpark)
North Ridgeville 6:26 – Cole Miller pitch to Dylan DeShazo, 34 yards (kick good) (tied 35-35)
North Ridgeville 1:38 – Cole Miller, 3-yard run (kick good) (42-35 North Ridgeville)
Re-watch the KEE On Sports Game of the Week here: North Ridgeville Vs. Berea-Midpark
