by EUCLID, Ohio- Euclid junior wide receiver Armond Scott didn’t get the start Friday night. That didn’t stop him from scoring two touchdowns and collecting the game-ending interception for the Panthers to seal a 28-19 win over Massillon Jackson in the Division I, Region 1 quarterfinal game.
“[He’s] one of the most talented kids I know,” head coach Jeff Rotsky said after the game. “Our kids played hard and we now get another shot in week 12.”
Euclid headed into halftime with a 14-10 lead. After forcing the Polar Bears to punt the ball on their opening possession of the second half, that was the time the Panthers knew they had to open the game up.
They did just that as junior wide receiver Tyonn Parks took a jet sweep to the Jackson sideline and raced his way into the end zone to give the Panthers a 21-10 lead at the time.
Six minutes later, Armond Scott returned a Jackson punt 62 yards to give Euclid its biggest lead if the game, 28-10. From there, the Polar Bears were able to get a field goal and a late touchdown to get within nine points. The Panther defense was able to force the extra point wide left, leaving it a two possession game with just over nine minutes left in the game.
With the stout Euclid defense and patient offense from there on out, the Polar Bears can only watch as Euclid found themselves about to walk out of this game heading into week 12.
One key player on the offensive side of the ball who stepped up was junior running back Savion Jones. With star running back Jabir Mujihad sidelined with a leg injury, it was Jones that handled the bulk of the carries, including the run on 3rd and 18 that ultimately sealed the win for the Panthers with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“Our offensive line was very strong, they made holes and I just do what I had to do,” Jones said of his performance Friday night.
With St. Edward defeating Medina 73-38, that means Euclid will face off against the Eagles for the regional semifinal game next week. Coach Rotsky knows next week will be a test for his team, but the main emphasis for his team is to get healthy.
“We got to get healthy but the message is to come and grind again,” he said. “We got another chance next week. It’s not easy making it out of this region, we want a shot at this thing and we’re going to go after it.”
