by Medina and Solon have had classic battles over the years.
2003 saw a highly respected Solon team play a Medina squad that wasn’t expected to win. A late field goal by then Medina kicker Matt Lofy would create an upset win for the Bees. It was a non-conference classic but it wouldn’t be the last time the two squads would meet on the gridiron.
Medina would eventually join the Greater Cleveland Conference with Solon and classic battles would begin.
In 2016, Solon pulled away with a 51-43 win over the Bees to win the Greater Cleveland Conference Title on Medina turf. Current Walsh University and former Solon running back Thomas Wilks finished the game with six touchdowns and tied a school record.
Two years later, the Bees would upset the Comets and stop them from taking another conference title on their own turf in 2018 on a cold and rainy night. The Bees kept the Comets in check all that evening as the heavens poured onto the field and Medina would take away Solon’s hopes for another conference title with a 27-24 upset win.
The two gridiron foes have a history of meeting each other late each season. The weather is usually cold, rain fills the air, and the two squads have lots to play for.
Medina came into the matchup 9-0 and number one in the region in computer points. Penn State recruit Drew Allar had 31 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions coming into this matchup as well as victories against Mentor and Stow.
Solon had a 4-5 record and wanted to finish the season .500. Not much had gone their way and this was an opportunity for an upset.
The Comets struggled and were forced to punt and Medina got the ball on the Solon 41-yard line.
Medina, which is known for its fast offense, wasted no time getting on the clock.
It took four plays and 41 yards for the Bees to strike first. Medina senior running back Matt Spatny would go in untouched from two-yards out to give Medina a 7-0 with 8:57 left in the first quarter.
The Comets next possession was short lived as Medina senior defensive back JaJaun Wagner would pick off a Charlie Bubonics pass and take it down to the Solon 6-yard line. Allar would eventually run it in to give the Bees a 14-0 lead with 8:05 left in the first quarter.
After a Solon punt, Medina had the ball on the Solon 26-yard line to being their third straight possession in Comets territory. The Bees would get to the four yard line and Allar would get his 32nd touchdown pass of the season as he found senior Michael Rodak for a four-yard touchdown pass. Medina led 21-0 with 3:38 left in the first quarter.
Allar wasn’t done yet as the Bees would find the endzone again with 1:35 left as he connected with Reid Kelps for a 14-yard score. The PAT gave Medina a 28-0 lead at that point.
Solon finished with -2 yards rushing in the first quarter and only 16 yards passing.
Bubonics would throw another interception on the Comets next possession Bees senior Andrew Delac picked it off with 7:32 left in the second.
Medina’s drive would stall and be forced to punt the ball back to the Comets. Solon junior running back EJ Taylor would start the drive with a 55-yard run to get the Comets to the Bees 25-yard line. The joy for the Comets was short lived as Bubonics lost a fumble that was recovered Medina sophomore Jeffrey Marshall.
The Bees would sting the Comets again as junior wide receiver Brennen Schramm would get his ninth touchdown of the season as he connected with Allar for a nine-yard score. With the PAT, Medina led 35-0 with 3:07 left in the second quarter.
After another Solon punt, Medina got the ball back with :42 left and had no time outs. Allar would drive the Bees down to Solon territory and connect with senior wide receiver Ben Butler for a 25-yard pass play. As :10 showed on the clock, Medina led 42-0 at that point.
Allar’s night would be done at halftime as he finished four touchdowns and was 17-26 for 254 yards passing.
Solon finished the half with 100 passing, 40 yards rushing, five fumbles with one lost, and two interceptions.
The Bees would sit Allar in the second half as the running clock rule was put into place. Medina would get on the board again as sophomore Austin Knowles had a touchdown catch from backup quarterback Dan Stoddard to put the Bees up 49-0 with 2:58 left in the third quarter.
As the fourth quarter ticked away, Solon would eventually get on the board as senior quarterback Andrew Mulvaney found junior Joel Kpassou for a 10-yard touchdown pass. It would be a 49-7 lead with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter.
Medina would kill the clock and the Bees would give head coach Larry Laird a Gatorade bath as victory was in the air. As Medina pulled away with a 49-7 win, they would capture a Greater Cleveland Conference title.
With the win, Medina finishes the season 10-0 and will await the final computer points to determine if they will be number one in the region.
Player of the Game:
Medina Quarterback Drew Allar – 254 yards passing, four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 17-26 passing, 35 touchdowns on the season.
