by November football has arrived which means week 1 of the OHSAA playoffs for the Amherst Comets, who visited the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs Friday night. Nerves were shown in the opening 12 minutes as the two teams combined for 2 turnovers, 2 turnovers on downs, and 0 total points.
A defensive masterclass from both sides saw the first quarter draw 0-0. The nerves would not last much longer however, as on the opening drive of the second quarter Olmsted Falls QB Jimmy Rosol found his RB Owen Singleton for a 22 yard touchdown which capped off a 99 yard drive to open up a 7-0 bulldog lead.
The Falls defense continued to give Amherst QB Cole Norris issues in the second quarter, as his opening drive of the period saw him go 0/3 for an 18 second 3 & out. Rosol kept the hot hand rolling with a 68 yard touchdown drive capped off by calling his own number on a QB sneak to double the lead for Olmsted Falls.
14-0 would be the advantage the bulldogs took into the locker room, hoping to maintain a shutout win at home. This hope would not last long however, as Rosol threw his first interception to the Comets’ Tyler Denn, setting up a 54 yard field. Amherst would take advantage of their field position with a touchdown drive lead by and capped off with RB J.R. Bires from 2 yards away. Amherst cut the lead in half just 4 minutes into the second half, and a momentum shift seemed inevitable. Amherst defense forced a punt on the following drive, and Amherst was set to tie the game.
That was until the Comets got too cute with a WR pass that was picked off by the bulldogs’ Charlie Krupta at the Amherst 39. A short field was a recipe for success for Falls, as they found the endzone on a rush from 18 yards away to reestablish a 14 point advantage at 21-7. With the fourth quarter now underway, the Comets were feeling the pressure of the situation, and the Olmsted Falls defensive line, as a sack ended their drive short forcing a punt.
Owen Singleton would take over at this point, leading the next two Falls drives with 2 touchdowns, from 12 and 14 yards out to set the final score at 35-7. For Amherst, their season comes to a close in the opening round of the playoffs, not quite the way they had envisioned. As for Olmsted Falls, they take one step closer to the title game, as they will meet with the Avon Eagles next Friday night for the chance to survive and advance once again.
