Dylan Crasi, Lucas Manderbach, Streetsboro line among Week 9 football game ball winners
It's time to hand out those Week 9 game balls:
Dylan Crasi, Aurora
The clip defies belief.
The Magics were looking to rally past the Greenmen at the end of a thrilling Suburban American game.
Their potential game-winning touchdown pass soars down the left sideline and past the pylon.
Except there's Aurora senior defensive back Dylan Crasi reaching back, his right arm extended and bringing the ball into his chest as he backflips to the purple turf.
Backflips? Yes, really.
The top play in the country that night, according to SportsCenter? Yes, really.
Lucas Manderbach, Aurora
Earlier that night, in the first quarter, there was a major hitch in the Greenmen's plans as star running back Enzo Catania was injured while scoring a touchdown.
It turned out Aurora was just fine with another very capable running back/linebacker able to fill his role.
Manderbach, who has been a defensive star all year, shone as the Greenmen's lead back after Catania's injury, gaining 132 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 35-33 win over the Magics.
Streetsboro's offensive line
Eight touchdowns on just 20 first-half snaps. It was a remarkably efficient performance by the Rockets, who immediately took control for a 76-6 win over Springfield.
And Streetsboro coach Pete Thompson was quick to point to his stalwarts up front: Arthur Scott, Leeland Darovich, Joey Neal, Alex Light and Cooper Richmond.
Per Thompson, "They are the foundation for everything we do offensively."
Jack Eye, Windham
The junior didn't just have the Bombers' lone touchdown in a 14-6 loss to Mathews.
Eye also accounted for a whopping 210 of Windham's 324 yards, including 91 rushing (on 14 carries), 63 passing (on just three throws) and 59 receiving.
Oh, and the junior also added 11 tackles, including three for loss.
Ayden Kneubel, Streetsboro
Just a sophomore, Kneubel worked his way into the starting lineup midway through the season and, according to Thompson, "has helped to solidify our defense these last several weeks." His efforts included 13 tackles and three sacks against the Spartans.
Keegan Sell, Garfield
Supermarket cookies often come by the half dozen.
Eggs are typically sold by the dozen.
And Keegan Sell tackles? Well, apparently they come by the double dozen.
Yes, the Garfield senior linebacker had a whopping 24 tackles to help his team clinch its third league title in the last four years with a 56-7 win over Crestview.
Oh, and the senior also plays both ways — and averaged a first down per carry with 100 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 rushes.
Eric Geddes, Garfield
Geddes was somehow even more efficient on offense, averaging more than 20 yards per carry (five rushes for 120 yards and three TDs).
The G-Men senior quarterback also completed 3 of 4 passes for 140 yards and two more touchdowns.
Rootstown secondary
Southeast has been highly successful throwing the ball this season.
The Rovers did well to shut down the Pirates' dangerous aerial attack Friday. Rootstown's secondary had three interceptions, two by Chris Cooper, and held Southeast to 8-of-22 passing for 55 yards in a 35-7 victory at Freedom Field.
"Coach [Alan] Vanderink has been running our secondary and has just done a great job preparing those kids as to what they're going to see out of every formation," Rovers coach Chris Knopick said. "They know what routes are coming ahead of time, they're able to communicate, but Cohen Schlaubach, Chris Cooper, Nick Malek, Will McEwuen [did] a fantastic job. Our biggest concern with those guys was them throwing the football. They've thrown the football really well."
Nick Malek, Rootstown
One could certainly argue that no one had a better day than Malek, including a remarkable play on which he raced over to the sideline toward a receiver he wasn't even covering to record an interception.
"It wasn't even his guy," Knopick said. "We bit — our corner bit — and Nick came across the field and saved a touchdown. He had a big game last year against Southeast. He's an eraser for us back there."
Malek also had a remarkable pass breakup in the end zone. For good measure, he also caught two touchdown passes, on a hitch route and a fourth-and-long corner route.
Dawson Morgan, Rootstown
And of course, one has to mention the Cleveland Browns High School Player of the Week: Dawson Morgan.
All the Rovers senior did was notch 230 rushing yards, including two touchdowns. Indeed, eight of his first nine carries went for 6-plus yards as he helped Rootstown set a tone for the night.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Crasi, Manderbach, Streetsboro line among Week 9 game ball winners
