by Medina – The Strongsville Mustangs traveled to Medina coming off a couple of big wins the last few weeks and looking for more. The Mustangs would ultimately come out on top by the score of 49-14 led by the stifling defense and explosive special teams plays.
The night started out with Medina receiving the opening kick and looking to strike first. They would go a quick three and out though. With the offense still on the field, they elected to have their QB #12 Cason Diiulio punt the ball away. The returner, #2 JJ Pleasant, let the ball bounce a couple of times before picking it up and taking it right sideline 87 yards to the house to open the scoring only 2 minutes in and give Strongsville a 7-0 lead.
The following drive, it looked like Medina would be driving but, on a chunk play to #6 Brian Wuchter, the ball was stripped and given right back to the Mustangs.
On the very next play, Strongsville tested the Battling Bees secondary with a deep 50-yd TD pass to make the game 14-0 with still 8:42 left in the 1st quarter.
Medina would get a first down on the next drive but would ultimately have to punt.
The Mustangs offense began to pick up more steam on their next possession by mixing in the run to march down the field. QB Nolan Beard faked the handoff left and rolled right to take the ball himself across the goal line for another Mustangs TD making it 21-0 late in the 1st.
A couple more drives from both teams ended with punts and a Turnover on downs would conclude an eventful 1st quarter.
The Battling Bees rolled down the field with some life from the passing game that would lead to a 4th down conversion on 4th and 12 that set up a 23-yd TD from #12 Cason Diiulio to #5 Sydney Lloyd with 10:46 left in the 2nd.
The Mustangs continued to run the ball effectively with both #38 Kendck Boddie and #27 Sam Dimacchia until they got to the redzone, where they were stopped short by the Battling Bees defense on a 4th down that gave some momentum in Medina’s favor.
Strongsville penalties on the next Medina drive kept them on the field and looking to strike again, but a costly INT in the endzone gave the ball back to Strongsville.
The Mustangs and the strong offensive line chose to force their way down the field on the ground yet again and after a long drive that had a fumble go out of bounds and a TD taken away from an inadvertent whistle, the Mustangs scored late in the half with a 4th down QB keeper that went 20-yd to the house. 28-7, Mustangs at the half
The second half started with a bang as #2 JJ Pleasant took the kickoff 80-yds to the endzone to extend the Mustangs lead to 35-7 only 13 seconds into the 2nd half.
Medina wouldn’t be able to get anything going on the next drive and would punt after a couple runs and an incompletion.
The Mustangs wanted to extend the lead even more but #17 Beard threw an interception that was taken back to the Mustangs 22 and setting up the Battling Bees in their best field position of the night. After a first down and couple penalties, the Battling Bees went for it on 4th down and found the endzone for the 2nd time of the night on a 2-yd toss sweep to the left pilon.
The ensuing Strongsville drive ended after three straight runs and the Medina offense was back out with some momentum. The Mustangs defense stood tall yet again though, as they picked off a ball that was a prayer. The momentum shifted back again to the Mustangs.
A long drive by Strongsville’s dominant rushing attack led the Mustangs into the endzone again with a 10-yard scamper from #17 Beard.
On the kickoff right after, Medina retained the ball only for the Mustangs to knock it free and take it all the way back for another touchdown to extend the lead to 49-14.
With the game out of reach and a running clock taking over with the lead where it was, both teams ran the ball until the clock hit zero. The Mustangs dominated in their win in all phases and extended their winning streak to 3 as Medina looks to bounce back in week 8.
Players of the game:
Medina WR Sydney Lloyd- 5 Rec, 53 yds, TD
Strongsville QB Nolan Beard- 3/6, 75 yds, 1 Pass TD, 7 Carries, 51 yds, 3 Rush TDs
Strongsville DB JJ Pleasant- 83-yd Punt Ret. TD, 80-yd Kickoff Ret. TD
