by Tallmadge, Ohio – Copley junior running back Preston Taylor had 27 carries for 189 yards and four touchdowns Thursday night to propel Copley to a 47-14 victory and their first 3-0 start since 2015.
The Copley defense and offense worked in sync throughout the entire game. It all started in the first quarter.
Taking advantage of an interception, the Indians drove down the field and capped it off with a an Antoine Campbell Jr. 24-yard touchdown reception. This put Copley up 7-0 early on.
Early in the second quarter, senior running back Preston Taylor rushed for a touchdown to increase the Indians’ lead to 14-0.
The defense would come up with a couple big stops in the second quarter, including blocking a field goal to go into the halftime break up 14-0.
They would do so once more in the third quarter.
After Tallmadge sophomore quarterback Ty Hurst found Mason Dexter for a fourth-down completion to move the Blue Devils inside the five-yard line, the Indians defense held firm with a huge goal-line stand.
After a Dylan Phelps interception return for touchdown late in the third to cut the Copley lead to 14-7, the Indians responded.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Copley ground game.
After a key first-down conversion on fourth down to keep the Copley drive alive, his next carry took him 18 yards into the end zone to increase the lead to 20-7.
But Tallmadge responded, when Ty Hurst found Johnny Dixon for a 57-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 20-14.
Once again, Copley would respond, this time calling senior running back Darryl Pringle’s number to increase their lead to 27-14.
They would add to their lead thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns by Preston Taylor, also in the fourth quarter.
Pringle would later scramble for a 50-yard touchdown run with about five minutes left to cap the scoring and trigger a running clock.
Pringle had five carries for 101 yards and two scores to aid the winning effort. In total, Copley outgained Tallmadge 336-14 on the ground.
“We have a lot of guys playing both ways, so one side feeds off the other. When we make big stops, momentum tends to carry. In the fourth quarter, the offensive line really helped us.” said Copley head coach Jake Parsons. “We’re playing well right now, and it’s a matter of keeping everyone healthy and focused on the team instead of individual goals.” he added.
Copley improves to 3-0 overall and hosts Kent Roosevelt Saturday afternoon to continue Suburban League American Division play.
“Not punching it in early in the third was a huge momentum swing. We did bounce back with the pick-six, and cutting the deficit to 20-14, but we just got outplayed in the fourth.” said Tallmadge head coach Mike Hay.
In a losing effort, sophomore quarterback Ty Hurst went 18 of 43 passing for 222 yards, throwing for a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Collin Dixon had seven receptions for 99 yards and a score, and Mason Dexter had five receptions for 73 yards.
Tallmadge drops to 0-3 overall and travels to Twinsburg next Friday night.
Player of the Game: Junior Running Back Preston Taylor
Taylor’s final statline: 27 carries for 189 yards and four touchdowns.
