VASJ hammers Kenston, 43-14, in Division III quarterfinal to avenge an early-season loss

Nov. 3—Villa Angela-St. Joseph football coach Jeff Rotsky was so confident in his team Nov. 3 he filled his players' weekend schedule before their game at Kenston even started.

Before leaving the locker room for the Vikings' Division III, Region 9 quarterfinal against the Bombers, he turned to his team and said, "I will see you to tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock."

For Saturday morning practice.

Eight weeks after getting drilled by Kenston, 49-27, VASJ returned the favor and ended the Bombers' season with a lopsided 43-14 walloping at Bomber Stadium. The win moves VASJ (9-3) into a regional semifinal Nov. 10 against Ursuline, a 16-13 winner over Canfield in another Region 9 quarterfinal.

"Man, we've been starving for this since Week 4," senior running back Amani Powell said. "We've been starving for (the rematch) for a while."

The Vikings played like it.

After getting ravaged for 490 yards in the 22-point loss to the Bombers earlier this season, VASJ's defense dominated. The Vikings' limited Sean Patrick to less than 100 yards of total offense after giving up more than 300 to him in the first meeting. The Vikings forced turnovers and they never trailed in the game. In fact, the game was never tied again after 0-0 to start the game.

"I'm so proud of these kids," Rotsky said. "All three phases of the game. We played really good football tonight and played for each other. The defense was lights out. Coach Patterson did an unbelievable job. I'm proud of them."

After a Kylan Steuball-to-Johnny Vuraich pass gave VASJ the early 7-0 lead, David Jones scooped up a fumble and went 94 yards for a touchdown — a two-point conversion pass making it 15-0. The 15-point swing was crucial because it denied Kenston a score and gave the Vikings a two-score lead.

"I was locking up a little," Jones said of his rumble. "I heard footsteps, and I heard their sideline yelling to strip the ball. I had to hold onto it. I feel that was a big momentum-getter for us."

After a Janado Taylor sack forced another Kenston punt, Bo Jackson ran 53 yards for a touchdown and a 22-0 lead. Held to 27 total yards rushing in the first game, Jackson went over 100 yards this time and also played a crucial role on defense as well.

While Kenston narrowed the gap to 22-7 at the half on a Lucas Kaltenbach-to-Brandon Bell touchdown, the Vikings got that score back on the opening drive of the third quarter when Steuball found Christian Chase on a screen that went for 39 yards and a 29-7 lead.

"Huge," Rotsky said of that score. "We told them that the most important drive they've had all year was if you score on that first drive. That was going to make it very challenging for (Kenston) to come back."

VASJ continued to pile it on in when Steuball connected with a wide-open T.J. Moore early in the fourth for a 36-7 lead. Even though the Bombers scored a short while later on a Patrick one-yard run, the outcome was already well in hand.

Powell tacked on a late score and then the Vikings kneeled out the final few minutes inside Kenston's 10-yard line to set off a raucous celebration on the VASJ sideline.

"Hats off to them and their coaching staff," Kenston coach Jeff Grubich said. "They played well tonight, and we wish them luck going forward."

Grubich credited the VASJ defense in particular for shutting down his team's offense. Jackson spent the evening shadowing Patrick wherever he went. Patrick had 25 yards on 18 carries in the first half, and it didn't get much better after that. He finished with 59 yards on 21 carries.

"If you want to beat them, you've got to stop 13," Rotsky said of Patrick.

In all, VASJ outgained Kenston, 414-207, with 299 yards coming on the ground.

"They loaded the box and played press coverage on us," Grubich said. "We struggled a little bit up front. It was tough for us to get off that press coverage. I have to do a better job of putting those kids in position to be successful."

While the Kenston half of the field lamented the ending of a 10-2 season that included a Western Reserve Conference championship, VASJ made plans for a second straight revenge-type of game against an Ursuline team that hung a 38-18 loss on the Vikings on Oct. 6.

"They're an unbelievable team," Rotsky said of the Irish. "But like I said before (the Kenston game), if you're any kind of competitor, you want that opportunity."

THE SCORE

VASJ 43, Kenston 14