by Aurora, Ohio – In front of a packed and raucous crowd at Veterans Stadium, the Aurora Greenmen defeated the visiting Euclid 63-21, in the season opener for both teams.
Early on, senior quarterback and third-year starter Alex Moore found Zach Mohan for a seven-yard touchdown reception. This put the Greenmen up 7-0 with 8:51 left in the first.
Euclid would respond thanks to junior running back Zeeon Thomas rushing for a one-yard touchdown to even the score up at 7.
In the second, the Greenmen made their move.
Junior running back Ryan Papesh ran for a one-yard touchdown early in the quarter to put the Greenmen up 14-7.
Senior two-way player Jack Cardaman, also one of the captains of the Greenmen, picked off a pass on the following possession. He would add a 51-yard TD reception to increase the lead to 21-7.
But the Greenmen defense wasn’t done. Senior defensive back Derek Blum picked off a pass and returned it to the house to increase the lead to 28-7.
After this 21 point swing, Euclid junior running back Leroy Billips ran for a one-yard touchdown to cut the Panther deficit in half with 3:23 left in the second.
But Jack Cardaman would take the ensuing kickoff to the house to swing the momentum back in favor of the Greenmen, 35-14.
On the ensuing possession, Euclid junior quarterback Deonte Rucker found senior Claishon Ivory for a first-down catch. Ivory then broke two tackles and sprinted to the house. It would be the final points for the Panthers on the evening.
With less than a minute left, senior quarterback Alex Moore put together a drive that included four completions in less than thirty seconds.
Three went to Aiden Henderson, and the last one went to Ryan Weber for a touchdown with 17 seconds left.
The Greenmen would go into the halftime break up 42-21.
On the first possession of the second half, Alex Moore led another scoring drive. He capped it off by rushing for a touchdown to increase the lead to 49-21.
But Jack Cardaman had one more big play in his bag of tricks.
He would secure his second interception on the ensuing possession. This one he took 52 yards to paydirt to increase the lead to 56-21, triggering the running clock.
In the final quarter, Aurora backup quarterback Matt Geier found Mate Orgovan for a four-yard touchdown for the final margin.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Senior WR/DB Jack Cardaman
To say that the senior two-way player had an impact Friday night is an understatement. Cardaman had an interception, a receiving touchdown, and a kick return touchdown, all in the second quarter.
Both teams will be headed on the road next week. The Panthers (0-1) will travel to Hudson next Friday. The Greenmen (1-0) will travel to Akron to take on St. Vincent-St. Mary’s.
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