by Medina, Ohio – The Medina Battling Bees hosted the Mentor Cardinals at Ken Dukes Stadium for both teams’ first conference matchup of the 2024 regular season. The Cardinals swooped in and snatched a 49-14 week-four win over the Battling Bees on the road.
Mentor started off the game with the ball on their own 43-yard line. The Cardinals glided down the field and scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jackson Farley to give Mentor an early 7-0 lead. The Battling Bees’ first drive was short-lived, resulting in a punt. Mentor’s next drive was an explosive one; Running back Jackson Farley yet again took off for a 61-yard rushing touchdown to give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead with 6:07 left in the first quarter. Luck was not on Medina’s side on their next drive, as the ball was intercepted by the Cardinals defense, giving Mentor good field position on the Battling Bees’ 38-yard line. Mentor’s running back Jackson Farley scored a “hat trick” 3rd rushing touchdown of the game (5-yard rush) to give the Cardinals a 21-0 lead with 3:55 left in the first quarter. The remainder of the first quarter was a Medina punt, Mentor muffed punt (which was recovered by the Battling Bees), and a Medina interception, which gave the ball back to the Cardinals to end the first quarter.
Mentor started the second quarter on their own 20-yard line. The Cardinals marched down the field, and scored a quick-strike passing touchdown from Scotty Fox to Justin Hodge for a 25-yard score, giving Mentor a 28-0 lead with 11:30 to go in the first half. The next set of drives from both Medina and Mentor resulted in punts, with the following two drives both resulting in respective interceptions. Medina got the ball back, and fought their way down the field for their first score of the game by a passing touchdown pass from Cason Diiulio to Brian Wuchter for 15-yards to make it a 28-7 Cardinals lead. Mentor, on their next drive, also marched down the field and scored another reception touchdown to wide receiver Justin Hodge from a 12-yard strike, giving the Cardinals a 35-7 lead with 0:54 seconds left in the first half. Medina had a strong drive but resulted in a turnover on downs, setting the Cardinals up with great field position. Mentor attempted a field goal with 0:04 seconds left in the half and it went wide right to end the first half.
The Battling Bees started the second half with the ball on their own 44-yard line. It was a short-lived drive, resulting in a punt. Mentor took advantage of this and scored a receiving touchdown from Austin Van Huss for a 16-yard strike from Scotty Fox to give the Cardinals a 42-7 lead with 6:15 left in the third quarter. Medina, then having their longest drive on the day, moved really well and was on the verge of punting, when there was a pass interference call on the 4th down attempt, keeping the Battling Bees’ drive alive. This sparked a 60-yard receiving touchdown from Sydney Lloyd on a dart from Cason Diiulio to cut the deficit to a 42-14 Cardinals lead with 2:56 left in the third quarter. The remaining drives of the quarter included a Mentor punt, Medina interception, and Mentor punt to end the third quarter.
Going into the fourth quarter, Medina had great field position on Mentor’s 34-yard line to try and cut the deficit to a more manageable score, but the Cardinals had other plans. The next play resulted in a Mentor pick-six by linebacker Xayvion Dunn for 80-yards, giving the Cardinals a 49-14 lead. The next two drives were both punts by both teams. Medina got the ball back trying to make the score a little more manageable, but it was intercepted a sixth time, which resulted in the Cardinals taking a knee to end the game. Both teams played great, and with the Greater Cleveland Conference play just beginning, the most exciting part of the young season is yet to come.
Next Week
The Medina Battling Bees (1-3) look to rebound from a tough loss as they travel to Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium to take on their conference rival, Brunswick Blue Devils; Kickoff at 7 PM on Thursday, August 19th.
The Mentor Cardinals (4-0) are looking to stay hot as they host their conference rivals, Cleveland Heights Tigers, at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium; Kickoff at 7 PM on Friday, September 20th.
Player of the Game:
Jackson Farley (RB)- Mentor: 12 rush attempts, 117 rush yards, 3 rush TD
Top Performers
Mentor Cardinals
Scotty Fox: 15-24, 259 pass yards, 3 pass TD, 1 INT
Justin Hodge: 8 receptions, 145 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD
Jackson Farley: 12 rush attempts, 117 rush yards, 3 rush TD
Medina Battling Bees
Sydney Lloyd: 60-yd reception TD
Brian Wuchter: 15-yd reception TD
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Mentor 9:21 – Jackson Farley, 1-yard run (kick good) (7-0 Mentor)
Mentor 6:07 – Jackson Farley, 61-yard run (kick good) (14-0 Mentor)
Mentor 3:55 – Jackson Farley, 5-yard run (kick good) (21-0 Mentor)
2nd Quarter
Mentor 11:30 – Scotty Fox to Justin Hodge, 25 yards (kick good) (28-0 Mentor)
Medina 3:18 – Cason Diiulio to Brian Wuchter, 15 yards (kick good) (28-7 Mentor)
Mentor 0:54 – Scotty Fox to Justin Hodge, 12 yards (kick good) (35-7 Mentor)
3rd Quarter
Mentor 6:15 – Scotty Fox to Austin Van Huss, 16 yards (kick good) (42-7 Mentor)
Medina 2:56 – Cason Diiulio to Sydney Lloyd, 60 yards (kick good) (42-14 Mentor)
4th Quarter
Mentor 11:00 – Xayvion Dunn, 80-yard pick-6 (kick good) (49-14 Mentor)
Re-watch the KEE On Sports Game of the Week here: Mentor @ Medina
