by The Solon Comets defeat the Medina Bees by a score of 29-21 at Ken Dukes Stadium in a thrilling regular season finale.
Both teams were able to vent their regular season frustrations in a hard hitting competitive bout that saw multiple lead changes and numerous high octane heart pounding plays until the Comets were ultimately able to pull away with a victory, improving to a .500 record of 5-5 on the year, while the Bees finish their season 2-8.
Neither program fielded the results they wanted this regular season, and that frustration was evident throughout the contest as the players ran hard and hit even harder, resulting in a competitive and immensely entertaining bout for all 48 minutes.
The lack of success for Medina this year prompted the coaching staff to call an extremely aggressive game, opening the contest with an onside kick attempt on kickoff which the Bees were quickly able to swarm on, recovering the ball deep in Solon territory. This gutsy play calling was rewarded as Medinas junior quarterback #10 Adam Barr hit wide receiver #7 over the middle for an efficient first possession touchdown.
Solon would respond with a field goal in the first quarter, cutting into the 6-3 Medina lead, but neither team could yield much offensive success due to sloppy penalties, and absolutely brutal turnovers.
Both teams would fumble the football twice in the first half alone, with all four fumbles being recovered by the defense. Solon linebacker Bryer Sickan and Medina edge Max Hilvert made some fantastic plays to force the turnovers for their respective teams, with both being attributed with a strip sack and fumble recovery.
As the game settled into a defensive slug fest, both teams would struggle to find an offensive identity. Medina found early success with their short to intermediate passing game led by receiver #6 Noah Brown, who hauled in multiple quick passes through extremely tight coverage. The Comets would eventually hone in on the Bees, fielding an out of this world defensive response, and generating turnovers.
Solon also struggled in the early goings as quarterback #25 Elijah Daiber was hurried and forced to settle for check downs, but he eventually was able to take the top off the defense after the running game recovered from the initial fumbles. Running back #2 Nama Sako bounced back big off his early fumble as he would control the ground game and pounded the rock through multiple hard nosed plays, picking up over 50 yards through incredibly strong running.
The first half ended with an offensive onslaught, as The Comets would break the stalemate and take a 10-6 lead off a 10 yard touchdown pass from Elijah Daiber to #33 senior tight end Brady Bush. Medina would respond in 5 plays as Adam Barr hit receiver #2 Nama Sako on a quick route that went 60 yards for a touchdown, taking a 13-10 lead.
Solon would then take the lead right back on a 84 yard kickoff return for a touchdown from #1 Bryer Pickan, making the score 17-13 in favor of the Comets before yet another fumble from the Bees on their on 35 allowed Solon to cash in for a field goal, extending their lead to 20-13 heading into halftime.
The second half saw fewer turnovers but similar offensive results. Both teams found a few explosive plays on offense as both quarterbacks were finally comfortable in the flow of the game, with Adam Barr finding his favorite target Noah Brown for multiple key chunk plays and drive sustaining catches throughout.
The junior receiver would finish with just under 85 yards on 6 receptions, and came up big every time his name was called, earning him tonight’s player of the game award for Medina.
Solon would open the second half by stopping the Bees after a single first down on their opening possession, before marching down the field on multiple methodical and time consuming drives, not all of which resulted in scoring, but they all served to kill clock and make Medinas hopes of staging a comeback all the more difficult.
Solon would eventually get back on the board after a nearly 10 minute drive, kicking a field goal to extend the lead to double digits at 23-13.
The Medina offense would retake the field after nearly half an hour of real time between drives and it was obvious they had lost their rhythm as they fumbled on their first play from scrimmage. The Bees would recover, but all for naught as the Comets defense held them to a three and out, forcing a turnover on a failed 4th down conversion.
The Comets would take full advantage of their field position, killing even more clock, absolutely dominating the time of possession in the fourth quarter, and ultimately cementing the win for Solon off a strong rushing touchdown, extending their lead to 29-13.
Solon found the majority of their offensive success off the arm of Elijah Daiber, but it simply wouldn’t have been possible without the establishment of a dominant run game led by #1 Bryer Pickan, who finished his night with a touchdown and nearly 200 all purpose yards, comfortably securing him the player of the game award for Solon.
The final game of the regular season saw two programs with nothing to lose duking it out on the turf at Medina for a grueling contest that saw both teams playing their hearts out on the field. It’s always bitter sweet to see seniors taking their final snaps in high school, but it was truly encouraging and inspiring to see how hard each and everyone of them competed for each other, their schools, and the game that they love.
The Medina Bees will enter the off season with multiple question marks as they look to continue this rebuild, but with the young talent on defense, their young receivers, and a very solid head coach, I think the Bees will battle back to success sooner rather than later.
The Solon Comets were able to finish their season at .500, not quite good enough to make the playoffs, but certainly not disappointing enough to raise alarm bells. I think the offensive stability and the coaching staffs ability to reign in the turnovers proves that this team could be a real threat next year with another season of development under their belts.
Players of the Game:
– Bryer Pickan, Solon
– Noah Brown, Medina
