by The first week of Ohio High School Football Playoffs kicked off Friday night in Nordonia. The Garfield Heights Bulldogs looked to come into the Nordonia Knights house and secure a win. Nordonia was led by Senior RB/LB Jeremy Olszko who had 9 rushes for 66 yards and a touchdown. He also had an interception on defense. Senior wideout Devin Tufts who had 4 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Garfield was led by their Senior running back JaMykle Benison. Benison had 12 rushes for 40 yards. Nordonia came out on top 30-0 in this game.
In the first quarter the Knights started with the ball and displayed a beautiful first drive that was led by Senior QB Joey Palinkas. Palinkas would end the drive in points as he found his favorite target, Senior wideout Devin Tufts. Tufts would walk into the end zone untouched as he brought in the 25 yard passing touchdown. Nordonia led 7-0 with 6:39 remaining in the quarter.
The Bulldogs first drive did not go as planned as Nordonia’s defense forces them to punt. On the punt, there was a terrible snap and Mordonia was able to fall on it on the Bulldogs seven yard line! From there, Palinkas would score his second touchdown as he found Junior wideout Mike Ebert for a nine yard receiving touchdown. Nordonia led 14-0 with 3:47 remaining in the quarter.
Garfield’s offense couldn’t do anything once again. As the Bulldogs went to punt, the punter would drop the snap this time! Nordonia would take over at the nine yard line! A disaster for Garfield Heights as on the next play, Sophomore running back Rocco DeLorenzo would score a nine yard rushing touchdown. Nordonia expanded its lead to 21-0 with 1:09 remaining in the quarter. The score would stay the same entering the second quarter, 21-0 Nordonia.
The second quarter began with Garfield in punt formation once again near mid field. The Bulldogs would end up faking the punt, but being stopped short of the first down. Nordonia took over at Garfield’s 49 yard line. But, the Bulldog’s defense would come up with their first stop of the game forcing Nordonia to go three and out. Garfield would then put up their best drive of the night so far. The Bulldogs got to the Knights 30 yard line, but would end up turning the ball over on downs. Nordonia’s offense seemed to have gone cold and they would be forced to punt. But, the Knoghts punter would drop the ball now! Special teams were a mess for both teams this half and the Bulldogs took over at the 30 yard line. Garfield would lose a bunch of yards after being sacked and were forced to punt again. Nordonia got the ball, but could not score before half. Nordonia still led 21-0 at halftime.
Coming out of the half Nordonia surprised Garfield by onside kicking the opening kickoff and recovered it! But, Nordonia’s offense stayed cold as they could do nothing with that momentum and would turn the ball over on downs. Garfield’s offense did the exact same and would once again drop a punt! The Knights took over at the Bulldogs 29 yard line.
Both teams were struggling to move the ball. The Bulldogs forced the Knights to kick a field goal after the miscue on special teams. But, the Knights would miss it and Garfield took possession. Garfield finally had a huge play when Senior Quarterback Noah Werman found Senior wideout Cameron Smith for a 49 yard gain to put them in the red zone. Nordonia’s defense would stand their ground though and force a fourth and long. On that fourth and long, the Knights defense would force a turnover on downs.
The quarter would end still being 21-0, but the Knights were driving.
The final quarter of play started with Nordonia’s Senior running back Jeremy Olszko scoring on a nine yard rushing touchdown. The Knights get on the board for the first time since late in the first quarter. Nordonia’s lead was now 28-0 with 11 minutes remaining. Both teams did nothing with their next possession. But Garfield had the ball with 6:10 left and threw an interception to Nordonia linebacker Jeremy Olszko! Olszko was everywhere on the field tonight. The sloppy play continued though, Nordonia would fumble on the very next play and the Bulldogs recovered! But, the Bulldogs would be stopped and forced to punt. On the punt you can guess what happened… Another bad snap! This one ended up in a safety and Nordonia led 30-0 with five minutes left. That would end up being the final score of the game, Nordonia wins 30-0 over Garfield Heights.
The player of the game was Nordonia’s Senior running back/ linebacker Jeremy Olszko. Olszko had 9 rushes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Olszko also had an interception on defense.
Nordonia will go on to play Riverside next week.
