by OLMSTED FALLS, OHIO– The Olmsted Falls Bulldogs welcomed in the Berea-Midpark Titans on the cusp of riding a four-game winning streak. They used their furious run game to bite the Titan defense on their way to a 62-49 victory in a game that lasted longer than most celebrity marriages.
The game saw 129 plays from scrimmage for 1,154 total yards combined. Sixteen total touchdowns were scored for a combined 111 points. It came close to matching last year’s incredible 75-38 slugfest point total.
If it wasn’t for the games two missed extra points, it would have matched that 113-point total. On a separate note, (and one that still has this sportswriter scratching his head) the game also saw a sickening 11 personal fouls. A shocking stat for two well-coached, normally disciplined teams.
The big win improved the Bulldogs record to 6-1, with that sole loss coming to the unbeaten No. 1 ranked Avon Eagles back in Week 2. The Titans have now dropped three straight and fallen to 3-4 on the season.
Olmsted Falls has been known for running the ball the last two seasons on their way to several wins along the way. Tonight, they used multiple backs to get the job done once again.
It was Jack Spellacy running for 87 yards on 15 carries, while scoring twice. Luke Lombardo was the Bulldogs star of the game as he carried the ball 12 times for an incredible 157 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Nick Dailey chipped in with 128 yards on just eight carries while scoring twice himself.
Their multi-talented quarterback Teddy Grendzynski also joined the mix with 85 yards on six carries, scoring a touchdown as well. The Bulldogs as a team, with the addition of the yards by Michael Howard (32) finished with 494 combined rushing yards on 51 carries. They only threw the ball four times, all of the completions for Grendzynski who compiled 108 yards on those completions with a touchdown.
Remarkably, despite the nonstop barrage of Bulldog points, yards and big plays, the player with the best stats in the game came from the losing team. Berea-Midpark running back Bryce “The Beast” Agnew finished with an outstanding 181 yards on 18 carries with touchdown runs of 45, two and 53 yards. Those my friends, are something we like to refer to as video game stats.
The Bulldogs pounded the ball on the ground early and often, to the tune of three first quarter touchdowns that allowed them to build a 21-point lead.
The Titans managed to get a key turnover to stop the bleeding late in the opening quarter after some crafty downhill running by the ever-hungry Agnew got them into scoring position. It was Trevor Bycznski on a quarterback rumble from seven yards out to get the Titan attack on the board. I cannot stress this enough, Agnew drove with his legs to break several tackles on that drive and kept the Titans in it.
The Bulldogs wasted no time answering the Berea-Midpark score with one of their own. This time it was the very speedy Luke Lombardo flying in from 26 yards out. Lombardo showed the speed of a track star and has the jets that scouts at the NFL combine look for. The Titans then showed the heart they are known for as Bycznski capped off a multi-play drive to strike right back with a 13-yard touchdown toss to Omar Siggers to make it 28-14 at the half.
The Bulldogs wasted no time yet again, taking the opening drive of the second half into the end zone. Once again, it was Nick Dailey with the honors on a first and goal from the 20, taking it to pay dirt for the Bulldog fifth rushing touchdown of the night.
If the game was over, someone forget to tell Agnew however, as he rumbled in from 45 yards out on the very next Berea-Midpark possession. Lombardo for the Bulldogs then took his turn, scoring from nine yards out to give Olmsted Falls their three touchdown lead back at 41-21.
From there they would slug it out a little bit more, to the tune of six total touchdowns by the end of the third quarter which saw Olmsted Falls build the lead to 49-28 by the time the quarter was over.
Down 21 points to start the fourth quarter, Bryce “The Cannonball” Agnew, steamed down the field like a rocket, ripping off a 53-yard touchdown run leaving Bulldogs yards behind panting to catch up. From there both teams would continue to fire away with touchdowns at will but Berea-Midpark was never able to close the gap closer than 13 points.
Next week the Avon Lake Shoremen come to George Finnie Stadium to battle the Titans. Meanwhile, Olmsted Falls travels to take on Midview in what will surely be one of the biggest games on the ledger for the entire state of Ohio next weekend.
Box Score
OF 21 7 21 13 = 62
BMP 0 14 14 21 = 49
Score Summary
1Q 16-yard TD run Dailey. XP Good @7:51
1Q 56-yard TD run Grendzynski. XP Good @6:47
1Q 38-yard TD run Spellacy. XP Good @4:30
2Q 7-yard TD run Bycznski. 2 pt conversation Good @10:56
2Q 26-yard TD run Lombardo. XP Good @9:57
2Q 13-yard TD pass Bycznski to Sigger. XP failed @2:59
3Q 20-yard TD run Dailey. XP Good. @8:24
3Q 45-yard run by Agnew. XP Good. @7:22
3Q 9- yard run by Lombardo. XP Good @6:41
3Q 3-yard TD run Bycznski. XP Good. @4:58
3Q 19-yard TD pass Grendzynski to Galaska. XP Good. @3:49
4Q 53-yard TD run Agnew. XP Good. @10:05
4Q 2-yard TD run Spellacy. XP no good. @6:58
4Q 33-yard TD pass Bycznski. XP Good @5:07
4Q 3-yard TD run by Lombardo. XP Good @1:50
4Q 2-yard TD run by Agnew. XP Good. @0:45
