by Cover Photo by Biz Photography.
Elyria received the opening game kick and started their drive at their own 37-yard line. On one particular play, Senior QB Desmond Whitfield threw a beautiful pass to fellow Senior Running Back Jayden Redman for a 27 yard gain to the 7 yard line. After an illegal procedure penalty brought the ball back to the 12.
On the next play Whitfield handed off to Lance Glover who rumbled into the end zone off right tackle. After a converted extra point, the score was 7 to 0 Pioneers at the 6:01 mark of the first quarter. Nobody could have predicted at the time that it would be the only points for the Elyria squad of the night.
A big part of the reason that the Pioneers struggled to score points was the excellent defensive play of three Berea Midpark standouts. Seniors Julian Vigilante, Johnny Sellman, and Junior Linebacker Tommy Mordarski! On the second Pioneer series Vigilante had a sack for loss, and then Mordarski intercepted a Whitfield pass at the 39 yard line, but still no points for the Titans.
Both teams were racking up plenty of penalty yards and quite a few punts for sure. The score at the end of the first quarter was still Elyria 7 and Berea Midpark nothing. But that all changed on the first play of the second quarter when Borders ran in for a 4-yard TD with 11:55 on the second quarter clock. So after a missed extra point the score was Elyria 7 to BMP 6.
Then after several punts from each team, Devins hit Borders for a 6-yard pass catch for a TD. Since the Titans missed the first extra point, on the second touchdown they went for the two-point conversion and a hand off to Aquan Bell which was no good, the score now 12 to 7, Berea Midpark leading the Pioneers.
Elyria had some big plays and some success on the ground game, but penalties and big mistakes crushed their opportunities and the spirit of the Pioneer squad. At the end of the first half the score was still 12 to 7 Titan’s lead.
On the ninth series of the game Elyria’s first possession of the second half, they had some big plays, but penalties hurt those opportunities. In fact they had two personal fouls on one play.
Two plays later they had another personal foul. Once again another punt for the Pioneers. DeAngelo Borders didn’t have the big break away plays like he had last week, but with 6:40 to go in the 3rd quarter, Luke Devins hit Borders for a 22 yard TD in the back right corner of the end zone. Extra point was good this time, and score was 19 to 7. That would be the score at the end of the quarter.
Final score being 19 to 7. Berea Midpark wins back to back home games sending the students, parents, and fans home happy. It was a hard fought battle and a team victory on both sides of the ball!
Berea Midpark player of the game: LB Julian Vigilante 9 tackles
Elyria Player of the game: QB Desmond Whitfield
