by The Aurora Greenmen (8-1) raced out to an early 14-0 lead and held on as the Barberton (5-4) comeback attempt fell just short, coming away with a 35-33 victory. With just 1:29 to go in the game, the Magics recovered an onside kick, but their hopes were dashed when senior Dylan Crasi made a leaping interception in the end zone to seal the win.
Greenmen Defense Shines Early
Barberton received the opening kick but would not have the ball long as Zach Pannetti snagged an interception on the game’s second play to give the Greenmen the ball near midfield. Aurora drove into the Magics’ red zone but were stopped on fourth down.
Forcing a punt on the ensuing Barberton drive, a big return from Ben Lukasik set the Greenmen up at the Magics’ 14, and two plays later, Enzo Catania took the handoff from five yards out to put Aurora up 7-0.
Early in the second, the Magics turned the ball over a second time and gave the Greenmen the ball at the Barberton 49. Aurora played smash-mouth ball on the drive, running it nine times for 40 yards, capped off by a 3-yard run from Lukasik to make it 14-0.
With time running out in the first half, the Magics took to the air, going 80 yards over the final minute and change to draw closer at 14-7 as time expired on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Wilson to Angelo Harper.
Late Game Shootout
Aurora came out of the break and wasted no time responding to the Barberton score when QB Brandon Liepins hooked up with Cooper Carnahan for a 23-yard score, extending the Greenmen lead to 21-7.
In response, the Magics put together their longest drive of the game, going 76 yards in 13 plays and finding the end zone on a nine-yard keeper from Wilson to make it 21-13 midway through the third.
One play after their defense forced a fumble, Wilson took to the air again, this time finding Harper for the 40-yard score, drawing Barberton closer at 21-19. The Greenmen responded immediately with a 10-play drive that found paydirt on an eight-yard keeper from Liepins to push it to 28-19.
Just over two minutes later, Barberton would strike once again on a two-yard keeper Wilson, making the score 28-26 Aurora with five minutes remaining. Starting the drive from their 36-yard line, the Greenmen handed Lucas Manderbach the ball four straight times for 64 yards and a touchdown with just under three minutes to go, Aurora leading 35-26.
With their backs against the wall, the Magics refused to back down. Barberton put together its second 13-play drive of the half, scoring on a four-yard run from Dominic Wilson.
Trailing 35-33 with 1:29 remaining, Barberton needed to recover the onside kick, and they did just that, jumping on the ball at the Greenmen 48. Dominic Wilson threw the ball up in the corner of the end zone, and Aurora’s Dylan Crasi made a leaping interception to end the threat.
Two kneel-downs later, the Greenmen came away with a massive 35-33 victory over the Magics, setting up a Week 10 showdown for the Suburban-American championship.
Keys to the Game
After starting RB Enzo Catania left the game in the first quarter, Lucas Manderbach stepped up and did not miss a beat, rushing for 138 yards, including a big drive in the fourth quarter where he carried the ball all four times for 64 yards and a score. Defensively, Aurora held Barberton senior RB Xzavier Macon to just 48 yards in the contest and shut down any running game for the Magics.
Senior QB Dominic Wilson had a big game for Barberton, going 24-37 through the air for 293 yards, two touchdowns, and three scores on the ground, keeping the Magics upset bid alive until the end.
Next Week
Though the loss knocked them from the Suburban-American race, Barberton will look for momentum heading into the postseason when they travel to Cuyahoga Falls (2-7). The Black Tigers lost to Highland 58-7 in Week 9.
Aurora’s victory sets up a massive Week 10 clash for the Suburban-American crown at Highland against the Hornets (8-1). The Greenmen currently hold the #4 seed in Region 9, according to JoeEitel.com.
Top Performers
Aurora Greenmen
Brandon Liepins: 9-18 131 yards TD 5 carries 32 yards 2 TD
Lucas Manderbach: 22 carries 138 yards TD
Ben Lukasik: 3 catches 37 yards 5 carries 24 yards TD
Barberton Magics
Dominic Wilson: 24-37 293 yards 2 TD 2 INT
Xzavier Macon: 10 carries 48 yards
Angelo Harper: 8 catches 78 yards 2 TD
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Aurora 3:32- Enzo Cantania, 5-yard run (kick good)
2nd Quarter
Aurora 7:34- Ben Lukasik, 3-yard run (kick good)
Barberton 0:00- Dominic Wilson to Angelo Harper, 8 yards (kick good)
3rd Quarter
Aurora 9:13- Brandon Liepins to Cooper Carnahan, 23 yards (kick good)
Barberton 4:08- Dominic Wilson, 9-yard run (kick no good)
4th Quarter
Barberton 11:35- Dominic Wilson to Angelo Harper, 40 yards (2pt. No good)
Aurora 7:28- Brandon Liepins, 8-yard run (kick good)
Barberton 5:07- Dominic Wilson, 2-yard run (kick good)
Aurora 2:57- Lucas Manderbach, 41-yard run (kick good)
Barberton 1:29- Dominic Wilson, 4-yard run (kick good)
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL | |
| Aurora | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Barberton | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 33 |
