Kessler Field Goal Lifts Madison to 24-21 Upset Of Willoughby South

MADISON, Ohio – Madison Blue Streaks kicker CJ Kessler will never forget senior night 2019. The senior place kicker connected on a game winning 21-yard field goal with :03 seconds left to lift the Blue Streaks to a 24-21 upset victory over the visiting Willoughby South Rebels.

CJ Kessler Game Winning Field Goal with 3 seconds left. @MadFootball212 24 @WilloughbyRebel 21. Final. @KeeOnSports @WOIOSports pic.twitter.com/OueDSBY23O

— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) September 21, 2019

“It was kind of like a ‘Rudy’ moment,” Kessler said. “It’s just something I’d dream about. It was a little nerve racking but these coaches believe in me and I believe in myself. Just went out there and kicked it through the uprights and that’s game.”

Blue Streaks head coach Tim Willis also emphasized believing they can beat the Rebels in front of their home crowd at Dick Hamblin Field at Blue Streak Memorial Stadium Friday night.

“This is like a storybook here you know 3 seconds left and pumps it through,” Willis said. “A great ending story to this. Proud and happy for our school”

South opened up the scoring late in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Justin Grosel  connected with Danny Gallagher for a 65-yard touchdown. Blue Streak defenders tied to get Gallagher out of bounds, but the wide receiver stayed in the field of play and went the distance.

Alex Dragas 1-Yard Touchdown Run. @MadFootball212 7 @WilloughbyRebel 7. 7:05 left 2nd Quarter. @KeeOnSports @WOIOSports pic.twitter.com/BRqnSxV2yx

— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) September 20, 2019

2:35 left 2nd Quarter @MadFootball212 14 @WilloughbyRebel 7. Alex Dragas 2nd TD run of game. pic.twitter.com/GkeonwHAWq

— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) September 20, 2019

Blue Streaks would answer with a pair of touchdown runs by senior quarterback Alex Dragas in the second quarter. Madison would take a 14-7 lead.

1:02 left 2nd Quarter. @MadFootball212 14 @WilloughbyRebel 14. pic.twitter.com/V8MW96ddqa

— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) September 21, 2019

Rebels would score quickly to send the game to halftime tied at 14. Grosel finds his favorite target senior wide receiver Rico Small on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

6:23 left 3rd Quarter @MadFootball212 21 @WilloughbyRebel 14. 3-Yard Touchdown Run by Mitchell Polovic. pic.twitter.com/maV9BNsnPv

— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) September 21, 2019

Blue Streaks dominated the time of possession in the second half. Madison would cap off an over six minute drive to start the third quarter. Sophomore Mitchell Polovic would find the endzone from three yards out. Madison takes the lead back at 21-14.

Rebels answered quickly. In less than two minutes of game action, the game is tied again at 21. Ira Sampson would run the sweep to the left and find the endzone on a five yard touchdown run.

Madison would use up the majority of the third quarter clock on their next drive. Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks would turn the ball back to the Rebels with excellent field position.

Dragas would make the second biggest play of the game as he intercepted Grosel on the second play of that drive.

“You’ve got a division one wide receiver in Rico give a lot of respect to him he did a lot tonight,” Dragas said. “Threw the ball a little high and I went and made a play on it. That’s all we try to do is make plays out there.”

The game remained tied at 21 entering the 4th quarter. Madison would drive down into the red zone before turning the ball back to the Rebels on downs.

The ensuing Rebels possession resulted in a three and out. The drive stalled due to a huge holding penalty on third down that took away a nice gain by Small that would have been for a first down.

Blue Streaks would take over at the Rebels 36. Madison would take the remaining minutes to drive down for the eventual game winning field goal and the victory.

Madison improves to 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in the Western Reserve Conference. Blue Streaks travel to Painesville Riverside for a battle with the rival Beavers in week five.

Willoughby South falls to 3-1 on the season, 0-1 in the Western Reserve Conference. The Rebels will host their rivals the Eastlake North Rangers at Harry E. Winters Stadium in week five.

Scott Piker is the Indians beat writer for Kee On Sports Media Group. He has over 20 years of media experience in Northeast Ohio including six years of television sports producing for television stations WEWS and WOIO in Cleveland. Scott will cover Cleveland Sports at all levels and also serve as a Cleveland media insider. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport.