by Strongsville – The road for the OHSAA division 2 playoffs makes a stop in Strongsville as the #1 ranked Avon Eagles (13-0) take on the #5 ranked Wadsworth Grizzlies (11-2) in the regional semifinals for region 6. The Eagles hot of a 52-35 victory over conference opponent #8 Olmsted Falls. The Grizzlies are themselves coming off a 21-10 victory over #4 North Ridgeville. The Eagles beat the Grizzlies by a score of 41 to 10.
First Half
The Grizzlies received the opening kickoff and started to drive down grabbing up a first down on the legs on of #26 Cooper Gray but could not get much further. On the ensuing punt the Eagles bobble and drop the ball but they were able to recover. They methodically drove down the field relying more on the passing game but mixing some runs in every now and then. The finisher would be a 25-yard touchdown pass from #5 Nolan Good to #12 Grant Barr.
The Grizzlies tried again to get some yardage but after a big hit from the #2 Aiden Atkins that forced a fumble the Eagle offense took over on the Grizzlies’ 19-yard line. After the pocket collapsed #5 Good scrambled for the 14-yard touchdown, but on the ensuing PAT the Grizzlies defense blocked the kick.
After this lackluster start the Grizzlies needed to get some momentum and find the Eagle’s weakness. They would find that with the run game, relying on the legs of #26 Gray and #2 Gavin Madigan. When quarterback #16 Brysen Hall dropped back to pass the pocket collapsed almost immediately, but Hall would find a way to escape and gain yardage. The Eagle defense proved to be too much though and they forced a turnover on downs. The Eagles would try to steal the plan, relying on the legs of #7 Quiante’ Smith and #21 Cam Wendell. After it seemed the Grizzlies were able to stop them, #7 Smith broke free on third down to punched it into the endzone from 32 yards out.
The Grizzlies started their drive deep in their side of the field but after a pair of 15-yard penalties, they moved down inside striking distance. They stuck the endzone for the first time with a 26-yard pass from #16 Hall to #26 Gray who was left unnoticed by the Eagle defense. The Eagles would drive down the field and try to match the score. #5 Good would pass it to #12 Barr who would try to break the plane, but before he could defensively back #10 Grady Huges punched the ball out of the back of the endzone, forcing a touchback.
The Grizzlies choose to attempt to drive down the field but would get stalled by the Eagle defense at midfield. The Grizzlies pinned the Eagles deep on the 19-yard with just over a minute left on the clock. The Eagles drove down making quick passes and a couple of runs. With three seconds left the Eagles would attempt a 31-yard field goal but the Grizzly defense blocked the kick. Going into the half, the Eagles would lead 20 to 7 over the Grizzlies.
Second Half
The Eagles got things started for the second half, driving down to midfield where the Grizzly defense held strong making the Eagles go for it on a fourth and a inch. The Grizzly defense could not hold much longer as the Eagles quarterback #5 Good would break free, grabbing the inch and 44 more yards for a touchdown. The Grizzlies tried to get something going offensively but before anything could happen they were intercepted by #2 Atkins. On the following play the Eagles fumbled the ball and gave it right back to the Grizzlies. Then after 2 more plays the Eagle defense intercepted it again. The Eagles ran it down the field, running out the clock in the process. They capped off the drive with a 4-yard run into the endzone by #16 Tyler Kaufmann.
The Grizzlies then got the ball back and tried to get further down the field, relying on the run game, but they were stalled just shy of midfield and were forced to punt. The Eagles would start to drive and got a big break for 50-yards but that would not matter as the Grizzlies would intercept it. To keep the season alive, the Grizzlie offense needed to convert and drive down the field, but that Eagle defensive would prove to be too much, forcing them to punt yet again. The Eagle offensive would start just shy of midfield. On the first play of their drive #35 Micheal Colburn broke free for a 47-yard touchdown rush.
The Grizzlies took over and with the clock bearing down on them they kept a fast-paced drive. With help from two 15-yard defensive penalties the Grizzlies would get stalled within the 5-yard line. Then they sent out kicker #42 Jack Dinwiddie to get 3 points on the 15-yard field goal. The Eagles would then kneel out the remaining time on the clock and take the game with a 41-10 victory.
Players of The Game:
The player of the game for the Grizzlies is #26 Cooper Gray on 17 carries he ran for 105 yards with his longest being a 26-yard run for a touchdown.
The player of the game for the Eagles was quarterback #5 Nolan Good who completed 14 of 20 passes for 133 yards and 1 passing touchdown. #5 Good also claimed 109 yards on the ground with 2 touchdowns.
#1 Avon (13-0) will face off against #2 Media Highland (13-0) in the region six regional championship game.
