Pick-six becoming a specialty for Eagles’ Case Boos

In five games, No. 9 ranked Eastwood football (5-0) has already totaled over 200 more points than its opponents, and that is partly because of a defense that refuses to budge.

Five-foot-9, 180-pound junior linebacker Bryce Hesselbart has 49 tackles including 4½ for a loss, a half sack, and caused one fumble. Five-foot-8, 167-pound senior linebacker Ethan Kwiatkowski has 24 tackles, including two for a loss and two fumble recoveries. Six-foot, 174-pound senior linebacker Dylan Hoffman has 23 tackles, including two for a loss, and 6-1, 180-pound junior defensive lineman Dalton Hesselbart has 20 tackles, four for a loss and two sacks.

Emmet Getz, a 6-3, 217-pound senior defensive end, has 17 tackles, including nine for a loss and 2½ sacks. Isaac Reynolds, a 5-10, 148-pound junior defensive back, has 14 tackles and one TFL and Kaiden Sanchez, a 5-10, 187-pound sophomore defensive lineman, has 10 tackles.

“Our defense created some opportunities for us and gave us a short field to work with. All three phases have fit together nicely so far,” Rutherford said.

“Our defense has put us in a good position, we’ve generated some big plays on special teams and the offense is showing that we can drive the ball if we need to and we can hit some big plays when those are available, too. Things are clicking right now.”

The big play guys on offense are also making big plays on defense and special teams, too. In the first half during a 42-7 win at Bowling Green, Eastwood junior running back Case Boos scored on a 36-yard run, but also from his defensive back position on a 43-yard interception return, and a 67-yard punt return on special teams as the Eagles mounted a 35-7 lead at intermission. It was one of two interceptions for Boos in that game, alone.

Forty-nine seconds into the second quarter during a 56-7 win over Maumee, Boos intercepted a Kyle Arndt pass at the Eastwood 22 and ran 78 yards for another pick-six. 

Boos is not the only one scoring on defense. In the first quarter of Eastwood’s 63-0 win over Woodmore, Kwiatkowski recovered a Blake Amroth fumble and returned the ball 17 yards for a touchdown.

In week five, the Eagles won 33-0 against Northern Buckeye Conference foe Genoa, a team that defeated highly touted Rossford 14-9 a week earlier,. However, when unbeaten defending league champion Otsego (5-0) defeated Liberty Center, 40-21, that also began raising eyebrows. 

The Knights are ranked third in the Associated Press Division V state poll and will pay a visit to Eastwood’s Freedom Field the final week of the regular season, Oct. 22. Last year the Knights (10-1) gave Eastwood (7-2) their only two losses and went on to reach the state semifinals.

It is not just Otsego that could threaten Eastwood’s chances to win a league title. Rutherford notes the size that Elmwood has good size up front and two powerful running backs Mason Oliver and Gunner Endicott and don’t count out Rossford behind their playmaking junior quarterback Alex Williams.

“Obviously we are a little bit biased, but we think that we play pretty good football in our league,” Rutherford said. “We know that Otsego has some really good talented players and there are a lot of talented players at other schools in the league. Some of those programs just keep getting better and it’s going to make for an even more fun year. 

“Obviously, we want competition. Our players signed up to play high school football so they can be in big games. We have got some big ones coming up and we are definitely looking forward to it. We have an incredibly strong league. There are going to be some exciting games, I think.”