by Aurora, Ohio – In football, momentum can turn on a dime. All it takes is one play.
AJ Barner’s fumble recovery jump-started a rally by the Aurora Greenmen, and Anthony Gramm would add a go-ahead touchdown, helping Aurora rally from a 13-0 deficit to stun the visiting Padua Bruins, 14-13, in a non-conference tilt at Aurora Veterans Memorial Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, which featured stout defense from both teams, in the second quarter, Padua got on the board after a gutsy fake punt was converted into a first down. They would march down the field and cap off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Alec Buehner.
The Bruins added to the lead late in the second quarter utilizing the air attack. Junior quarterback Drew Butler found junior wide receiver Daniel Peterson in the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown reception. The point-after attempt was blocked. This would prove to be huge later in the game. Aurora tried to mount a drive to close out the first half, but the Bruin defense held their ground, and went into the locker room up 13-0.
After a scoreless third quarter, Aurora had a fourth down and short on the Padua 28. The Bruin defense made another big stop and got the ball back on downs.
Two plays after Padua got the ball, Aurora defensive end Lenny Galaska strip-sacked Drew Butler. Linebacker AJ Barner recovered the fumble and took it to the end zone to put the Greenmen on the board with 11:41 remaining. This play seemed to fire up the Aurora defense, and the offense as well. After another defensive stand, Anthony Gramm took a handoff and tied the game with a 55-yard touchdown run. The ensuing extra point was good, giving Aurora the lead with 8:12 left.
Two defensive stands later, Aurora looked to put the game away. However, the Padua defense recovered a fumble, and took over on offense, looking to take the lead back. But junior defensive back Ben Rogge came up with another huge defensive play. He picked off a pass to give the Greenmen the ball back. Aurora would set up shop with less than three minutes remaining and pick up two huge first downs. The first came on an offsides penalty by the Bruins, and the last on a face-mask penalty on second down. From there, they were able to run out the clock.
“Down 13-0 at halftime, we thought we did some things that were gonna help us. They kept plugging away and believed in our program. Obviously the sack and the scoop and score was big. It helped us get momentum back on our side. And (Anthony) Gramm had that huge run there. He refused to go down, and we just kept making plays there in the fourth quarter.” said Aurora head coach Bob Mihalik. “Veterans Stadium is a great place to play. We had the home-field advantage, and our crowd played a huge factor tonight.” he added.
Aurora senior running back Anthony Gramm had 12 carries for 111 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown. Senior defensive lineman Lenny Galaska had six tackles, including the strip-sack that changed the momentum for the Greenmen.
“When they got that big turnover touchdown, it really swung the momentum for them. We were playing a little tight there because they had taken the momentum. They’re a well-coached and well-disciplined team and were able to capitalize on the mistakes we made, and it ended up being a one-point game that didn’t go our way.” said Padua head coach Michael Polevich.
In a losing effort, Padua junior wide receiver Daniel Peterson had five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Aurora improves to 4-0 and travels to Tallmadge next Friday to open up Suburban League American Division play.
Padua drops to 1-3 and travels to Elyria Catholic to wrap up the non-conference slate of their season.
