Akron-area OHSAA football playoff recaps: Buchtel, Twinsburg, Walsh, Hudson advance
Division IV, Region 13
Buchtel 26, Cardinal Mooney 16
The ninth-seeded Griffins (6-5) relied on big plays on offense and defense to earn a first-round win over the eight-seeded Cardinals (5-6) at Mineral Ridge's Joe Land Sports Complex on Friday night.
Buchtel senior Justin Hill ran for two touchdowns, junior Stevie Diamond threw a TD pass to senior JaeSon Anderson and senior Zyaire Lewis returned an interception for a TD. Senior Damien Johnson Jr. added a two-point conversion.
"We have a resilient group," Buchtel coach Bryan Williams said. "Everything about our year has been up and down and the fight that they put in their heart tonight was impressive. A lot of the guys matured and grew up on the field tonight, and that includes the coaches.
"... Our whole defense was absolutely amazing. We had five takeaways. The defense stood tall when we needed them the most. They had a big-time stop on the goal line that led to a missed field goal by Mooney and that changed the whole dynamic of the game."
Lewis, junior Arman Gable and sophomore Durean Johnson each grabbed an interception. Senior Antwan Hunt forced a fumble and sophomore Jordan Holloway recovered a fumble forced by Durean Johnson.
Buchtel has won three games in a row after finishing the regular season with shutout victories over North (46-0) and Firestone (31-0). Hill had two TD runs last week against Firestone, Diamond had a TD pass to Demetrice Coates and Damien Johnson Jr. returned an interception for a TD.
Division II, Region 5
Twinsburg 22, Nordonia 10
The 12th-seeded Tigers (7-4) got their rematch and made the most of it. A seven-point loser to the Knights (8-3) in Week 6, Twinsburg executed coach Charles Saulter's game plan to perfection and got its revenge against fifth-seeded Nordonia.
"I've got so many emotions," Saulter said. "I'm so thrilled for our staff and for our kids. Our entire community showed up there and it was amazing. They were loud from the start of the game. It was an unbelievable game."
Joey Pollock was 20-of-24 passing for 196 yards and threw touchdown passes to Jaden Dye (six catches, 93 yards) and Cam Wright (five, 31).
Aiden Stuczynski was solid as well with 83 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for Twinsburg, which ended the regular season with wins over Brush, North Royalton, Brecksville and Stow.
Ben Chesser (7-of-20 passing, 79 yards) threw a touchdown pass to Mike Ebert (five, 43) to account for Nordonia's touchdown. Knights linebacker Caleb Aiken had six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Walsh Jesuit 37, Firestone 14
The second-seeded Warriors (10-1) blitzed the 15th-seeded Falcons (5-6) for 37 straight points to open the postseason.
Brock Sherman returned from injury and ran the ball twice for 48 yards and a touchdown. John Keough had three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown and Keller Moten was 6-of-10 passing for 74 yards with a TD.
Cade Romanini and David Ternosky ran for TDs, and Adam Bentley caught a TD pass from Trent Hayden for Walsh, which next plays 10th-seeded Austintown-Fitch.
Firestone's Daniel Peterson and Dionte Younger each ran for a TD.
Hudson 20, Benedictine 19 (OT)
Fourth-quarter touchdowns by Peyton Neher (13 carries, 46 yards, two TDs) with 11:47 remaining in regulation and Teagan O’Guinn (17, 133, TD) with 3:01 sent the game into overtime.
The third-seeded Explorers (9-2) fell behind in overtime, but their defense stopped a two-point conversion by the Bengals (4-7).
When Hudson got the ball in the extra session, Neher went in from 2 yards out and Brad Masiella was good on the extra point to lift the Explorers to a regional quarterfinal against 11th-seeded Warren Harding (5-6).
Hudson's Lou Castellarin and Nathan Judy each grabbed an interception.
Barberton 48, Shaker Heights 41
The eighth-seeded Magics (8-3) amassed 594 yards of offense at Rudy Sharkey Stadium to set up a regional quarterfinal with top-seeded Hoban (9-1) next week.
Dominic Wilson (15-of-20 passing, 230 yards) threw touchdown passes to Robert Davis (four catches, 94 yards) and Kenny Larry (four, 61). Wilson also ran for a TD.
Xzavier Macon (26 carries, 272 yards, three TDs) and Noah DeHart (three, 18, TD) accounted for the other rushing scores. Kamran Walton made 6 of 7 extra points.
Warren Harding 35, St. Vincent-St. Mary 0
The 11th-seeded Raiders (5-6) got revenge for a 14-point Week 4 loss to the Fighting Irish (5-6).
Harding's Chaz Coleman ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Javontae Jones ran for a TD and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD. Antonnio Smith added 94 yards and a TD on nine carries and Jake Daugherty made 5 of 5 extra points.
Harding ran for 299 yards on 29 carries and STVM managed 49 yards on 19 carries.
Division II, Region 6
Highland 49, Midview 7
Casey Myser ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries to guide the third-seeded Hornets (9-2) past the 14th-seeded Middies (4-7).
Highland quarterback Peyton Janickas added 58 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Matt Ciryak. Garrett Phillips returned an interception 39 yards for a TD, Josh Arvanetes ran for a TD and Carson Kwiatkowski made 7 of 7 extra points.
Highland's Jack Howard and Chase Crutchley also grabbed interceptions.
Division I, Region 1
Wadsworth 45, Brunswick 14
Will Stack rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and was 6-of-14 passing for 131 yards and three touchdowns to lift the third-seeded Grizzlies (9-2) over the 14th-seeded Blue Devils at Art Wright Stadium.
Wadsworth's Kyle Figuray (16 carries, 95 yards) had a rushing and receiving touchdown and Gavin Madigan (two catches, 84 yards) hauled in two touchdowns. Jack Dinwiddie made 6 of 6 extra points and one field goal.
The win sets up a Week 3 rematch with Medina, a 40-23 winner over Wadsworth in Week 3.
Division I, Region 1
Medina 70, John Marshall 40
Quarterback Danny Stoddard completed 18 of 26 passes for 306 yards and six touchdowns and Finn Kelps made 10 of 10 extra points to lead the sixth-seeded Bees (8-3) over the 11th-seeded Lawyers (4-6).
Medina's Jack Wojciak and Dylan Whitehill each caught two TD passes, and Nathan Angus and Camryn Hathaway caught one apiece. Brayden Walker had five catches for 116 yards.
Medina's Tallen Hulvey grabbed two interceptions, the second of which he returned 64 yards for a touchdown. Bees backup QB Chris DePasquale (8-of-13 passing, 114 yards) threw a TD pass to Hayden Chenevey and Sydney Lloyd (seven catches, 94 yards). Third-string QB Beckett Vogrin (7-of-12 passing, 106 yards) threw a TD pass to Jackson Riffle.
Division II, Region 7
Green 44, Col. St. Charles 14
Jorden Beyl ran for 165 of Green's 345 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the third-seeded Bulldogs over the 14th-seeded Cardinals.
Liam Short and Antonio Martin each contributed a rushing TD for the Bulldogs (8-3), who scored two TDs on passes by Tyson Hunka and Samino Manson.
Division III, Region 9
Chardon 42, CVCA 0
The seventh-seeded Hilltoppers (8-3) picked up three touchdowns from Vinny Colombi and rushing scores from Jayden Buth, Caleb Hewitt and Will Francis to take out the 10th-seeded Royals (8-3).
Chardon moves on to play second-seeded Geneva (9-1).
Division IV, Region 13
West Branch 33, Woodridge 20
Quarterback Beau Alazaus threw three touchdown passes to guide fourth-seeded West Branch (10-1) past 13th-seeded Woodridge (5-6).
West Branch's Jeremiah Thomas, Cooper Anderson and Joey Jackson caught TD passes from Alazaus. Thomas and Garin Harlan added TD runs.
Woodridge's Charlie Lambes ran for a touchdown and threw a TD pass to Jack Novak. Taysear Williams-Clay ran for a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
Division VI, Region 21
Mogadore 28, LaBrae 0
Coach Matt Adorni won his 200th game as Mogadore football coach as the third-seeded Wildcats (9-2) dispatched the 14th-seeded Vikings (5-6). Adorni has been Mogadore's coach since 2004.
Ezekiel "Zeke" Cameron threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Layne Miller, Aaron Rumschlag ran for a 1-yard TD, Austin Constantine ran for a 2-yard TD and Karson Jaber ran for a 7-yard TD.
— Compiled by Brad Bournival, Don Coughlin and Michael Beaven
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Big plays lift Buchtel, Twinsburg gets revenge in OHSAA first round
