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WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – The Willoughby South Rebels improved to 3-0 overall on Friday (Sept. 4) night at Harry E. Winters Stadium. The Rebels took down the Maple Heights Mustangs 31-14 in a non-conference battle.
South and Maple Heights exchanged scoring drives in the first quarter but the Rebels defense stepped up afterwards and gave the Rebels a spark, leading to 24 unanswered second quarter points for South.
“The defense really stepped up for us in the first quarter,” said South head coach Matt Duffy. “After giving up the long touchdown early, they showed that they can be super dangerous on defense. For the fact that they reeled #3 [Robinson] and the quarterback [King] in, that was a special job because those kids have a ton of athleticism and speed.”
Neither team was able to move the ball forward on their first drives, both going three and out.
South found their mojo on the second drive with a scoring drive of seven plays, 83 yards. Colin Quinlan connected with Ryan Dondrea on a 59-yard touchdown pass as South drew first blood with 7:20 to go. (Note: I tweeted the wrong name below).
Colin Quinlan hits Bryce Figler for a 59-yard TD pass. South leads 7-0 with 7:20 left to go in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/B08N9QryH2
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
The Mustangs quickly answered as Ed Robinson broke off a long touchdown run of 73 yards two plays later. The extra point was no good as it was 7-6 South one minute later. That wasn’t the only time that Robinson wrecked havoc.
Maple Heights punted on their next drive and South managed to find enough momentum to spark a 24-0 run over the next 14 minutes. South used the final 2:43 of the first quarter to drive near the redzone. A personal foul by the Mustangs put the Rebels on the edge of the endzone as the second quarter began.
Two plays into the frame, Quinlan completed a touchdown throw to David McClain from 15 yards as South’s lead grew to 14-6.
Colin Quinlan to David McClain from 15-yards out. Willoughby South has a 14-6 lead with 11:08 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/RCuaLBHQB5
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
The South defense used two interceptions on the next two possessions as they turned Maple Heights miscues into touchdowns.
First, Delond Moss jumped the route and picked off Dawon King’s pass. Two plays later, Quinlan threw his third touchdown of the game, this time to Ira Sampson from 14 yards away.
Delond Moss picks off the first play for Maple Heights. pic.twitter.com/6XXFRqRdD5
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
Two plays later, Quinlan finds Ira Sampson on a 14-yard screen pass. Willoughby South has opened a 21-6 lead two minutes into the second quarter. pic.twitter.com/fwFHdo2QsI
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
On a third and really long for the next drive, Carson VanSeggern hauled in an interception on the Maple Heights sideline near midfield.
Carson VanSeggern takes one away from Dawon King. Rebels take over at midfield with 8 minutes and counting to go in second quarter. pic.twitter.com/qZAzxIoSDd
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
Sampson put the game away early with a two-yard rushing touchdown with 5:28 left in the half. South’s lead was 28-6 with Maple Heights having no momentum at all.
Carson VanSeggern takes one away from Dawon King. Rebels take over at midfield with 8 minutes and counting to go in second quarter. pic.twitter.com/qZAzxIoSDd
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 3, 2021
Sam Patrizi added a 27-yard field goal at the end of the half, making it a 31-6 halftime score.
Sam Patrizi nails a 27-yard field goal at time expires. 31-6 Rebels as we hit halftime in Willoughby. pic.twitter.com/dCpwFfJN47
— Tyler Stotsky (@tstotskySID) September 4, 2021
Robinson broke through the defensive line with 5:05 left on a 69-yard touchdown run, the second of the game for the junior. The Mustangs added a two-point conversion to make the score 31-14, which was the final.
“This team has shown quite a bit of toughness over the first three weeks of the year.” Toughness is one of my favorite qualities to see in these young men, and this group plays the game the right way. They find something each and every week to improve on and work towards,” added Duffy.
South compiled 357 yards of total offense in the contest with 205 rushing yards and 152 in the air (149 in the first half). Most of the offense ran through Quinlan, who tallied 152 passing yards on 11-of-20 passing and another 103 yards on the ground on 13 carries. The junior quarterback accounted for three touchdowns. Anthony Osagie-Erese added 94 yards rushing in place of Tyrone Singleton. Dondrea had the most receiving yards with 82 on just two catches.
Maple Heights’ offense struggled outside of two big plays, totaling 222 yards overall. Robinson accounted for 142 yards on his two touchdown runs and 169 yards for the night. King was seven-of-11 with 56 yards passing.
South will take on Madison on the road next Friday to open Western Reserve Conference play. Maple Heights will host Shaw next week.
Player of the Game (South): Colin Quinlan, QB – 11-20 passing, 152 yards, 3 TD, 14 carries, 103 rushing yards
Player of the Game (Maple Heights): Ed Robinson, RB – 9 carries, 169 yards, 2 TD (69 and 73 yards), 3 catches for 35 yards
