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Few stories are going to be better tonight then the one of North Olmsted senior running back Sammy Capps. This young man has overcome multiple knee surgeries in his career and has never given up any hope. He just keeps working hard and it showed tonight in the 41-20 victory over the Westlake Demons.
Capps had a masterful second half performance to help the Eagles pull away in a GLC game. Capps would finish with 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns to put the game away. He also had a blocked field goal attempt earlier in the night. With Capps added to the Bryson Burgess backfield, they become a lethal one two punch!
Speaking of Burgess, he compiled 47 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown. Quarterback Xavier Balson added to the running game with 47 yards on 11 carries. He also threw for 120 yards on 8 of 19 passing.
Despite the loss, the Demons had some serious talent on the field who flashed it several times. Cooper Rummel caught two passes for 70 yards and also had a pick six at a critical point in the second half. Rummel is very fast and I can see him stealing a lot of bases come baseball season this spring.
Will Ostrowski continued his big season with 68 yards rushing on 9 carries with a touchdown. He also threw a pass for 25 yards and caught 3 passes for 26 yards. Josh Bauer had 4 catches for 27 yards and Arrington Taylor had 60 yards on 11 carries.
Westlake Demons quarterback Mackey Keenan returned tonight and went 9 of 18 for 96 yards with a pick. He also ran the ball for 32 yards on 9 carries.
For the second time in the last two home games, the Eagles returned the game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown. This time it was a 95-yard burst from Eric Wasen to put the Eagles up 7-0 seconds into the game. The Demons would try to answer with a very nice drive of their own, but their field goal attempt was blocked by Sammy Capps.
A few possessions later it was the Demons starting around midfield again and putting together another nice drive. It was a mix of passing and rushing, both very effective with the big play coming on a 19-yard pitch and catch from Mackey Keenan to Will Ostrowski to set up shop deep in Eagle territory. A few plays later it was Arrington Taylor punching it in from 5 yards out to tie the game as the first quarter came to a close.
A big throw on the scramble by Xavier Balson to Dominic Costello of 27 yards was the highlight play of the next Eagles drive as the attempted to answer. The play put them inside the Demons 10-yard line. A few moments later, Xavier Balson would turn a botched play into a 7-yard touchdown run. This heads-up play placed the Eagles back on top 14-7 with 8:25 to play in the first half.
The Demons, pinned back at their 10, would explode for back-to-back plays of 45 yards each, to tie the game in the blink of an eye. The first was a beautiful 45-yard launch from Mackey Keenan to a diving Cooper Rummel to cross midfield. The next was a misdirection run that sprung Ostrowski loose for 45 yards as he broke several tackles on his way to the endzone tying the game.
With 3:33 to go in the first half, North Olmsted got their second huge special teams play of the first half as Brian Shackelton and Jio Rodriguez blocked a punt and the Eagles took over at the Demons 4-yard line. It only took one play for Bryson Burgess to take a pitch in and make it 21-14 Eagles. North Olmsted would score one more time before half on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Balson to Brady Haug to send the game into half 27-14 as the extra point was botched.
Late into the third quarter with it still 27-14 Eagles, the Demons defense struck as a 37-yard pick six by Cooper Rummel put the Demons right back into a one score game. The extra point would be blocked, and the score remained 27-20 with 2:25 to go in the third quarter.
On the ensuing Eagles drive, a solid Maldanado kick return would allow the Eagles to start at midfield. It was then that the Sammy Capps show began as the rugged and hardworking senior ran the ball 7 straight times, bruising up the middle for 46 yards to close the third quarter. On the opening play of the 4rth it was Capps taking the very first snap 9 more yards to pay dirt to account for all 54 yards on the drive. The kick was good and it was 34-20 North Olmsted with 11:56 to play in the ballgame.
After a punt that sailed out of bounce at the Demons 18, the Eagles took over in the redzone yet again. This time it only took two back to back runs by Capps to punch it in, and make it 41-20 with 10:49 to play.
Down 41-20 late, the Demons attempted a comeback but an interception by Sam Giola would seal it for good for the Eagles.
With the win, the Eagles are now 5-1 on the season. Next week they look to stay hot as they travel to Bay Village in hopes of winning their 5th straight game. Meanwhile, Westlake falls to 2-4 on the season and will look to bounce back next week as they Elyria Catholic.
The players of the Game are
North Olmsted running back Sammy Capps with 99 yards, 2 touchdowns and a blocked FG
Westlake WR 2 catches for 70 yards and a pick six
