by RECAP
Snow sprayed down on Twinsburg Tiger Stadium as the second-seeded Mogadore Wildcats got set to go against the sixth-seeded Cuyahoga Heights Redwolves in a Division VI third-round playoff showdown.
The cold and slippery conditions quickly translated onto the playing field as three different quarterbacks combined to throw five interceptions throughout the night. Inevitably, the key to success was a hard-nosed running attack.
In the end, Mogadore’s leading back, Mason Williams (listed at 6’4″, 245 and appeared to be every bit of that and more), proved too much for Heights. The Wildcats won their 13th consecutive game and secured a date with the top-seeded Kirtland Hornets next week. Both teams are 13-0 and will be looking to advance to the Division VI State Semifinals on Saturday, November 26th.
FIRST HALF
The Redwolves kept the game close for the majority of the opening half. They took an early 3-0 lead after a field goal from senior Noah Wilson, but quickly began to deteriorate defensively. By halftime, Williams had notched 147 yards and two touchdowns. His partner in crime, secondary back Collin Lehner, opened the second quarter with a 15-yard scramble over the goal line and gave the Wildcats a 7-3 lead. A pair of interceptions, a couple of punts, and a missed field goal attempt by the Redwolves helped Mogadore take a 21-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
SECOND HALF
The Wildcats received the second half’s opening kick and began the third quarter by going 60 yards on just four plays. Lehner capped the drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown after junior QB Zeke Cameron passed to WR Nick Stephenson for a pickup of 51 yards.
But the Redwolves did not go away quietly. Instead, they got crafty with their own rushing attack. Led by senior Andy Jakubczak, they quickly picked up three first downs on their following drive. A few plays later, the Redwolves’ starting quarterback, Devon Dzik, received a massive blow above the shoulders as he released the ball to pass. He remained down on the field and was taken out of the game. There was no penalty marker thrown for targeting.
Francis Connors, who caught two passes for a couple of short gains in the first half, stepped in to play QB. He looked immediately comfortable in his new role and, from just outside the redzone, connected with junior WR Anthony Coutouzis for a 22-yard score through the air. With five minutes remaining in the third, the score was 28-10, Wildcats.
Inside the next two minutes, the Wildcats staged a 5-play, 72-yard scoring drive and extinguished any doubt that may have remained. After Williams ran for a 49-yard gain, junior RB Austin Constantine found the endzone for a 4-yard score. Mogadore led 35-10.
The Wildcats tacked on an extra touchdown only because of a bad snap that allowed them to recover the ball right on the Redwolves’ 13-yard line. With mostly their JV squad on the field, Mogadore stretched their lead to 41-10 on a 5-yard rush into the endzone by sophomore Aaron Rumschlag.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
MOGADORE
RB/DE MASON WILLIAMS
201 RUSHING YARDS, 2 TD’S, 13.3YPC, 4.5 TACKLES
CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS
RB/SS SETH KUCIA
33 RUSHING YARDS, 3.7YPC, 9 TACKLES, 1 INT
