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The Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers hosted the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs for the home opener. However the game was all Bulldogs as they beat the Tigers 58-7. The Bulldogs looked sharp through the entire game, but the stars were running back Sal Romito, freshman quarterback Jacob Harrington, and linebacker Gavin Rice.
Romito went over 100 total yards on the day and rushed for 2 touchdowns, giving Stow’s offense an explosive start to the game. Harrington threw an interception early on, but remained confident scoring three touchdowns during the big win.
“I just had to be confident in myself,” Harrington said. “I focused in, looked for the right read, and made my plays.”
Rice intercepted a tipped pass for a touchdown which fired the defense up for the rest of the game.
Cuyahoga Falls struggled to have many big plays, but two players shined. Linebacker Jaydon Graffius and wide receiver Cargil Valentino.
Graffius had an early interception which gave the team some hope, while being their leading rusher during the second half, showing grit. Valentino showed grit too as he caught for more than 50 yards on the day, despite the offenses limited playmaking.
Stow received the kick to start the game. Stow’s freshman quarterback Jacob Harrington’s first drive of his high school career started off with a bang as Sal Romito took the opening carry 40 yards. Romito immediately followed it by a 15-yard touchdown as Stow went up 7-0 with 11:23 in the first quarter.
Cuyahoga Falls followed it up with a sloppy first drive, going three and out with a short run, penalty and two incompletions, losing 4 total yards.
Stow then had an 8-play drive that ended in Evan Walker scoring a 4-yard touchdown, putting Stow up 14-0 with 7:07 in the first quarter.
After another Cuyahoga Falls three and out, Stow’s Harrington showed his inexperience, he threw an interception to Jaydon Graffius over the middle.
Cuyahoga Falls’ Alex Golden returned the favor on their drive, throwing an interception to Stow’s Mike Murtauh who took the ball down to the 8-yard line.
Stow’s offense made them pay by scoring a 6-yard touchdown by Romito, his second on the day. Stow led 21-0 with 2:10 left in the first quarter.
The first quarter only got worse for Cuyahoga Falls as Golden’s pass was tipped at the line and got intercepted by Gavin Rice who took it 34 yards for a pick-six, putting Stow up 28-0 right at the end of the quarter.
Stow’s first drive of the second quarter started out with a 32-yard catch and run by Romito. Harrington followed it with a 7-yard read option for a touchdown, the first of his career, putting Stow up 35-0 with 10:13 in the second quarter.
Stow kept on rolling as Harrington had his first career touchdown pass to Jaiden Williams from 7-yards out, putting Stow up 42-0 with 5:01 before the half.
On Stow’s final drive of the half Harrington looked composed running the two-minute drill. He led Stow 40 yards on the drive. He had a 23-yard catch by Brayden Gabele and finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rider Spath, putting them up 49-0 with 13 seconds left in the half.
The second half did not go any better for the Tigers as they started out with two high snaps, the ladder of which led to a safety as the ball sailed over punter Lahai Kennah’s head, leading to a safety. Stow led 51-0 with 9:04 left in the third.
Stow started the second half with backup quarterback Brayden Marazzi who faced an early 3rd and medium before finding Casy Keller for 27 yards. Marazzi found Paul Biltz for a 23-yard touchdown a few plays later putting Stow up 58-0 with 4:51 in the third.
Cuyahoga Falls had their best drive of the day going after a 24-yard pass from Golden to Cargil Valentino. The drive ended up with an 18-yard touchdown catch by Damian Smith, finally putting the Tigers on the board 58-7 with 11:43 left in the game.
Stow wouldn’t make the same mistakes twice though. On the Tiger’s next drive, Golden threw his third interception of the day to freshman Andrew Rickleman to end the game.
The player of the game was Sal Romito. Romito dominated the first half with explosive plays, ending with over 100 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns.
Cuyahoga Falls will look to regroup next week at home against Parma Normandy.
Stow will go on to play Barberton at home next week as they hope to continue their hot start.
