'Here to help': Adrion 'Milk' Burt overcomes flu, leads GlenOak football to playoff win
CANTON — It was the GlenOak Golden Eagles’ first football home playoff appearance in 11 years, and the eighth-seeded team was missing one of its marquee players. At least in the first half.
GlenOak’s quarterback Adrion “Milk” Burt battled the flu all week. It led to the junior sitting at home for the start of the Division I, Region 1 first-round game against No. 9 Lorain on Friday.
While Burt was sitting at home recovering, someone sent the junior a video link of the game. When Lorain’s Joseph Gaines intercepted a GlenOak pass, Burt looked at the home sideline on his phone and saw how defeated his teammates looked. The Golden Eagles were on their way to a scoreless first half.
That was enough for Burt to convince his parents and then GlenOak coach Scott Garcia that he was ready to play in the second half. After some medicine and additional fluids, Burt headed to Bob Cummings Field to suit up and play the entire second half, helping lead GlenOak to a 16-7 victory over the Titans.
“I told them I was good,” Burt said. “Nothing was bothering me too much. I was (feeling) great and was here to help. It was nothing to it.”
The Golden Eagles (7-4) advance to the second round for the first time in nine years.
Lorain (8-3) took charge of the game early, scoring on the opening drive. Running back John Salaman’s 14-yard touchdown run put the Titans ahead 7-0. Salaman led the Titans with 93 rushing yards.
“They are a good football team,” Garcia said. “They have two good backs and are big up front, so they got us on the first drive. But after that, we settled down and played great defense and that allows you to do the things that we did tonight.”
The Golden Eagles struggled to get any offense going in the first half. That began to change once Burt was back in the lineup. Burt wasn’t concerned about his illness and he said it didn’t affect him while he played.
“I felt like myself when I came here, really,” Burt said. “Once I saw how our guys were moving, guys were dragging with their heads down, I had to try to pick them up at least. Everybody can’t have their head down or it’s not going to work.”
Burt helped the Eagles put up 16 unanswered points in the second half.
First, they got a 27-yard field goal from Tony Kelley to put them on the board before the end of the third quarter. Four minutes into the fourth, running back Jamar Johnson gave the Eagles their first lead with an 8-yard TD run. Johnson led GlenOak with 101 yards rushing.
With 3:21 left in the fourth quarter, the GlenOak defense made a huge stop on a fourth-and-1, giving the Eagles a chance to put away the Titans.
Burt connected with his older brother, Avantae, on a deep pass downfield, setting up a TD run by Adrion to seal the deal for GlenOak.
“I was proud to see my brother back,” Avantae said. “I already knew what he could do on the field. He got out here and got it done, helped us out with the quarterback stuff. We needed him, badly and he came out here and showed up for us.”
More: Final Stark County-area high school football stats leaders for 2023 regular season
Adrion finished the night with 45 yards on the ground and the rushing touchdown. Garcia praised the junior for fighting through his illness.
“He is a fighter, and he is a competitor,” Garcia said. “He has been sick all week. He practiced through Wednesday and then got sick yesterday. He gutted out and got us the big win.”
GlenOak advances to the second round next Friday to play top-seeded St. Edward, the state's No. 1-ranked team according to The Associated Press. St. Ed's shut out No. 16 Elyria 42-0.
“We’re going to enjoy this one,” Garcia said. “They are awfully good. I’ve seen them on TV, but that’s who we want. We want the program to play people like this, and that’s what it is all about.”
More: Ohio high school football OHSAA playoff scores for Greater Canton Stark County | Live updates
This article originally appeared on The Repository: GlenOak High School football wins OHSAA playoff game vs. Lorain
