by Week 4 of high school football kicked off Friday night in Nordonia with the North Royalton Bears taking on the Nordonia Knights. The Knights would come out on top 37-14. They were led by Senior Quarterback Joey Palinkas who went 21/27 with 354 yards and 2 TD’s. Palinkas also rushed 5 times for 17 yards and a score.
Palinkas was dishing the ball everywhere as three receivers had over 55 yards. Senior WR Devin Tufts had 6 catches for 60 yards. Fellow Senior wideout Tucker Rusk had 3 catches for 104 yards and a TD.
Finally, Junior wideout Israel Petite had 5 catches for 88 yards and scored on a kick off return TD. The Knights also got some rushing help from Senior RB Zach Zender. Zender had 17 carries for 56 yards and a TD.
North Royalton had some success from a couple of players themselves. Senior RB Sayed Abuuhamdeh had 19 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. The Bears Junior Quarterback, Joesph Kinney, went 7/17 with 74 yards and a TD.
The first quarter began with North Royalton finding success running early, but oils end up failing a 4th down conversion. Nordonia would get the ball and drive down the field behind Quarterback Joey Palinkas but would come up short of a touchdown. Nordonia settled for a field goal to take the lead 3-0. The rest of the quarter saw no scoring.
North Royalton would punt in the beginning of the second quarter but would get the ball back soon as Palinkas would fumble, and the Bears recovered. On the second play after the turnover, Bears QB Joseph Kinney would find Senior Tight End Logan Petit for a 46-yard touchdown pass. North Royalton went ahead 7-3.
On the ensuing kickoff, Israel Petite would receive it inside the 15 yard line and take it all the way back for a touchdown! Nordonia would miss the PAT, but still lead 9-7. This wild second quarter did not end there.
North Royalton was moving the ball steadily down field, That’s when Senior RB Sayed Abuhamdeh would take it to the house on a 57-yard rushing TD. The Bears would go ahead 14-9 for a short period of time.
On the first play of the next drive for Nordonia, Palinkas would find Senior WR Tucker Rusk for an 80 yard TD pass! The crowd erupted as this seems to be heading to a shootout. Nordonia took the lead 16-14.
But, the shootout would end. North Royalton would go three and out on their next possession and give the Knights the ball back. The Knights drive down the field again and would find pay dirt. Senior Running Back Zach Zender would get in the end zone with a 1-yard rushing TD. Nordonia expanded their lead to 23-14.
The Knights would get the ball back again before half and be in great position as they were bound to score on the 2 yard line. But, the Bears defense stood strong and Nordonia could not punch it in. At half, the Knights led 23-14 over the Bears.
The third quarter saw only one touchdown and that was early. On the first drive out of half, Palinkas drive them down the field. He was slinging the ball to everyone. Pali kaz would end up scoring on a 4 yard rushing TD to bring Nordonias lead to 30-14.
North Royalton could not get anything going on offense and we’re forced to punt again. The Knights would get the ball back and get to the 1 yard line but would be stuffed on 4th down and the Bears would take over deep in their own territory. North royalton was forced to punt and Nordonia took over with great field position. The end of the third quarter had the Knights leading 30-14.
To kick off the 4th quarter, Palinkas would drop back for a pass, but would be picked off by the Bears. The bears would then get tricky and succeed, a trick play pass from Senior WR Chase Dormody would go for 41 yards and get them to the 7 yard line. But, disaster would strike as on the very next play the Bears would cough the ball up on a fumble.
Both teams next possessions ended in punts, and when the Bears decided to punt to Senior WR for Nordonia, Devin Tufts, it was a mistake. Tufts would take the punt back all the way to the 5 yard line.
The Knights would capitalize off of it as Palinkas would find Senior WR Craig Aiken for an 8 yard touchdown pass. Nordonia went ahead 37-14. That would be the final score in this one.
The player of the game this week is Nordonia’s Senior QB Joey Palinkas as he went 21-27 for 354 passing yards and 2 Touchdowns. He also rushed 5 times for 17 yards and a Touchdown.
Nordonia takes on Twinsburg at home next week.
North Royalton will play at home against Akron East.
