by It was a competitive dog fight in Grafton as Berea Midpark was able to scrape by with a 40-26 win over Midview. The Titans determination and ability to come back from a punch is what made them the winner tonight.
From the first drive, Midview made sure that it was not going to be a blowout. Middies quarterback Brennen Newton and running back Jace Wright were able to get the offense off to a good start. Passes to Owen Underwood and Robert Flachbart were able to get yards. But the Titans’ defense was able to get the stops they needed as a Newton Sack and a Peyton Ansel reception that did not go to the first down line were able to get the ball in good field position
Titans’ receiver Nick Reece caught a nine-yard pass to get the offense started. Then running back Xaviere Harden got a 35-yard run inside the red zone to get the Titans in the red zone. After a Reece 14-yard gain to the one-yard line, Quarterback Dylan Papushak punched it in the end zone to give the Titans a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
After a quick Midview three and out, Reece would take a Middies punt and take it to the house for a 62-yard punt return touchdown to give the Titans a bigger cushion at 13-0 with the failed extra point. Midview would take the ball back and got short and consistent chunks from the air and the ground that would set up a Newton to Kellen Desemone touchdown from 31 yards out to cut the deficit to 13-7. The Titans first play after the kickoff, Dylan Papushak would find receiver Denym Gray for a 71-yard pass to end the first quarter at 20-7.
The Middies would use Newton and Wright to run the ball effectively to gain yards and churn clock so that the shorthanded Middies could get more rest for them to be ready for the end of the game. Along with good running from Owen Underwood as well for 5-10 yard gains every time, Newton would take a QB sneak and score to cut the lead even more to 20-14.
Berea Midpark responded with good command and plays from Papushak to give the Titans some good yards. But a Middies’ pick from Logan Winkler would give the ball right back to the Middies. Newton kept on running and a pass to Peyton Ansel set the Middies into a good rhythm on offense. On a long run from Owen Underwood, before he went down, Titans defender Andre Alexander stripped the ball out and gave the ball right back to Berea Midpark.
Reece and Harden got the Titans offense going and with a minute to go in the half, Papushak found Harden for a 41-yard touchdown pass to give the Titans a 27 14 lead into the half
The Titans received the opening kickoff of the second half and got them into good field position. After two Papushak to Reece connections, Harden would catch an 8-yard pass to give them a 33-14 lead.
Wright and Newton got the Middies right back into it, along with Winkler for some big runs as the passing game could not get going all night. After a 20-yard run from Winkler, a couple plays later Newton would find the end zone on the ground for a second time on the night for a 33-20 ball game.
Harden got the ball after the kickoff and got some good runs going, as well with a Reece reception got the Titans with some momentum. Then a Gray fumble would give the Middies the ball right back.
The Middies did what they did all night and ran the ball, this time with Wright getting most of the touches. A Robert Flachbart catch on fourth down would give a chance for Midview to get going, as Wright would get the Middies close to scoring. Then, Newton scored for the third time rushing for a 33-26 deficit.
The Titans fed Harden the ball for many runs on their possession to start the fourth quarter. This set up a fourth down conversion through the air to Adonis Shider to keep their drive going. After a big pass to Reece for 25 yards, Papushak would find Shider again for a 9-yard touchdown pass to give BMHS a 40-26 lead.
The Middies then fed Wright the ball a lot, but the passing game never kept their end of the bargain up as Midview would stall out. Then the Titans fed their RB1 of Harden for a lot of good gains of 10 yards plus on the ground, but their possession stalled out as well.
The Middies passing game did get going as Newton would find Desemone and Kellen Rivera for 10-yard gains in the air. After three straight incompletions, Ansel dropped a Newton pass from the back of the end zone to give the Titans the ball back and seal the win.
Players of the game
BMHS- Xaviere Harden- 156 yards rushing and three touchdowns, with one coming from the air. His hard runs gave the Titans better position to get their offense into a rhythm.
Midview- Brennen Newton- 200+ all purpose yards as well as four total touchdowns. Kept the Middies in the game and was hard to stop with the ball in his hands on the ground or dropping back to pass.
Berea Midpark will travel to Avon and Midview will travel to North Ridgeville to continue SWC play for both teams in week six.
