by The Amherst Steele Comets entered Week 3 of Friday Night Lights riding high after wins over Sandusky and Buckeye, and they showed exactly why they’ve been so hard to slow down. Hosting the Lorain Titans, who came in fresh off a rivalry win over Elyria, Amherst wasted no time asserting itself, scoring on every single possession and cruising to a 56-16 victory that improved the Comets to 3-0 while dropping Lorain to 1-2.
Amherst’s offense was in sync from the opening kickoff. Quarterback Anthony Passerrello connected with wide receiver Parker Bohannon on a 42-yard touchdown strike to open the scoring, then found wide receiver Bryce Colvin for another deep shot and a 24-yard touchdown just moments later. The Comets were finding soft spots in the seam all night, and their receivers made the most of it. Amherst added a third score on the ground when running back Ethan Layne punched one in, pushing the lead to 21-0 with 5:59 still remaining in the first quarter.
What made the Comets so difficult to contain was their balance. They weren’t just beating teams over the top — they were mixing in a physical rushing attack to keep Lorain’s defense off balance. Amherst turned to its wildcat package, and dual-threat quarterback Jack Coleman capped the drive with a 30-yard touchdown run. Lorain, meanwhile, couldn’t find any rhythm and turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, gifting Amherst short fields it happily converted into points. By the end of the opening quarter, the Comets had built a commanding 28-0 lead and showed no signs of slowing down.
The second quarter brought more of the same. Passerrello found his big tight end, Anthony Litz, for an easy 24-yard touchdown down the middle of the field. On the ensuing drive, Coleman took over on the ground, wearing down the Lorain defense with carry after carry before finishing the drive himself with another rushing touchdown. Amherst leaned heavily on the run to control the clock, methodically working down the field. Lorain continued to search for answers through the air, finding some success in the short passing and screen game, but nothing that could slow Amherst’s momentum. The highlight of the half for Lorain came on special teams, when Tyler Chapman broke off a 75-yard kickoff return, nearly taking it to the house before being tracked down at the 20-yard line. Still, Amherst carried a dominant 49-0 lead into halftime.
Lorain came out of the locker room with a spark, scoring quickly to open the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown run from Ja’Von Jackson. But Amherst answered right back, grinding out a clock-eating drive behind Ethan Layne, who broke off a 21-yard touchdown run to cap it. The score stood at 56-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lorain closed things out with one final scoring drive in the fourth quarter, finished off by a 4-yard touchdown run from Jazion Moore, but it was far too little, too late. The Comets held on for a 56-16 win, continuing their unbeaten start to the season.
Amherst’s dominance wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the ball. After halftime, the Comets’ defense completely shut Lorain out until the final quarter, forcing quick stops and turnovers while their offense continued to shorten the game by putting together efficient, clock-consuming drives. Lorain’s defense wore down as the game went on, unable to find an answer for Amherst’s ground attack.
Player of the Game
Amherst Comets Running back Ethan Layne, who carried the ball 16 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
Lorain Titans Quarterback Leonard McCall, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 71 yards and added 53 rushing yards on five carries.
