Prep Football Roundup: Week 7

GIBSONBURG 14, WOODMORE 6

Gibsonburg came out on top over Woodmore in the first of two matchups this week between teams within The Press coverage area.

Aiden Nims scampered 68 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter, and after a two-point conversion run from Grant Smith, the Golden Bears led 8-0. The score remained the same until 10 minutes left in regulation, when Smith took one in from nine yards out for a 14-0 lead as the two-point conversion failed.

That’s when Woodmore nearly came back. Landon Rich capped an 11-play drive in response to Smith’s score, punching in a one-yard touchdown run with 5:30 remaining. Gibsonburg then fumbled around its own 20-yard line on the ensuing possession, but after the Wildcats advanced inside the five-yard line, an interception ended the drive on third down.

Gibsonburg put the game away with a 64-yard run from Smith on third down deep in their own territory following the interception, which allowed them to run out the clock.

The Golden Bears (5-2, 3-1 SBC) outgained the Wildcats 303-147, highlighted by a 292-yard rushing performance. Smith had 145 yards on 21 carries, while Nims had 131 yards on nine totes.

On the other side, Rich rumbled for 131 yards on 26 carries for the Wildcats. He had 10 of those carries on his team’s lone scoring drive. The teams combined for just 40 yards passing as Woodmore’s Wesley Kayser led all receivers with five receptions for 25 yards.

Defensively, Rich led Woodmore (5-2, 2-2 SBC) with 11 tackles. Michael Seeger (6), Keegan Strong (5), and Adley Anstead (4) combined for 15 more. On the other side, Smith and Reece Walby had a team-best 10 tackles for Gibsonburg, which also got seven tackles and a sack from Hunter Wasserman, along with six tackles from Aiden Morant. Smith had three tackles for loss.

EASTWOOD 42, OAK HARBOR 6

The Luidhardt-to-Luidhardt connection proved to be dangerous for a second-straight week as Eastwood (6-1, 4-0 NBC) produced a key win in NBC action over Oak Harbor.

Quarterback Drew Luidhardt found Brayden Luidhardt for a 33-yard strike with 5:40 left in the opening quarter for the game’s first score. The Eagles then led 7-6 after one quarter as the kick failed following Breydan Porath’s four-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Augsburger with 1:20 left for Oak Harbor.

Following that, Eastwood outscored Oak Harbor 35-0 in the middle quarters. Cam Schumaker had a one-yard rushing touchdown and a 17-yard touchdown reception from Drew Luidhardt to open the second quarter, and in the half’s final minute, Edmund Opfer picked off an Oak Harbor pass and sprinted 36 yards for a back-breaking touchdown.

Drew Luidhardt then found Brayden Luidhardt and Opfer for scoring strikes in the third quarter. Trace Johnson punched one in from one yard out to conclude the game’s scoring.

Oak Harbor (5-2, 2-2 NBC) outgained Eastwood 238 to 103 on the ground, but Eastwood held a 250-31 advantage through the air. The Rockets got 17 carries for 153 yards from Blake Nickel. Travis Bouyer added 49 yards on six carries. The Eagles got 44 yard on six carries from Brayden Brown, and 26 yards on four carries from Johnson.

Drew Luidhardt passed for 225 yards while completing 15-of-20 passes, seven of which went to Brayden Luidhardt, who racked up 131 yards receiving. Schumaker added 59 yards on three receptions for Eastwood. Porath completed 6-of-12 passes for 31 yards, and Brennan Butzin got some action at quarterback late in the game.

Brayden Luidhardt added an interception in addition to Opfer’s pick. Cooper Schultz led the Rockets with six tackles.

GENOA 42, ROSSFORD 14

There was no hangover for Genoa following the previous week’s win over Oak Harbor as the Comets used 14-0 first and fourth quarter scoring advantages to produce the victory over Rossford.

Alex Materni opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run, and Myles Mollenhauer added a seven-yard touchdown pass to Logan Routson midway through the opening quarter.

Ryan Routson pushed the lead to 21 all by himself as he ran one in from two yards before kicking the extra point with 8:21 left in the first half.

Although Rossford scored to pull within 15 at the half, Mollenhauer opened the third quarter with an eight-yard touchdown strike to Zayden Dunn.

A touchdown and two-point conversion from Rossford made it 28-14 through three, but the Comets scored twice in the fourth on a Mollenhauer to Jaxon Magnone 22-yard touchdown and a three-yard rushing touchdown from Gavin Grigson.

The Comets (6-1, 4-0 NBC), who converted six-of-eight on third down, rushed for 257 yards and held a 432 to 253 advantage in total yards.

Mollenhauer completed 15-of-21 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, while the tandem of Logan Routson (10 carries, 94 yards) and Materni (12 carries, 78 yards) led the ground attack. Grigson (39), Ryan Routson (23) and Josh Caughorn (17) also contributed in rushing yardage. Magnone caught six passes for 98 yards, while Ryan Routson had five receptions for 57 yards.

Defensively, Hunter Bickel led the Comets with 14 tackles, while Logan Routson and Tyler Abbey had 11 apiece. Magnone, Grigson, and Adam Knight all finished fourth in tackles with five apiece.

OTSEGO 28, LAKE 18

Despite another strong rushing performance from Julian Rodriguez and a pair of receiving touchdowns from Xavier Scott, Lake (2-5, 2-2 NBC) fell at home against Otsego.

Rodriguez carried the ball 30 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. KJ Magers went 21-of-31 for 259 yards through the air. Jaxson Rymers led the Flyers in receiving with 73 yards on four receptions, although Rodriguez (58) and Gavin Kohlhofer (55) combined for 113 yards on 11 total receptions. Scott totaled four receptions for 34 yards, including a two-yard score that pulled Lake within 28-18 early in the fourth. Donovan Brown caught two passes for 39 yards, as well.

TIFFIN CALVERT 48, NORTHWOOD 32

Despite the loss, Northwood’s performance was highlighted by Ethan Leonard, who broke the school record for longest field goal at 40 yards.

Tyler Osley, who completed 11-of-22 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns, added nine carries for 87 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Skyler Rita also rushed 17 times for 91 yards and a touchdown, while DeAndre Curry chipped in 23 yards rushing. John Sawyer had two receptions for 68 yards, and Rita had four receptions for 65 yards.

Kevin O’Donnell (12) and Rita (10) had double-digit tackles for the Rangers (3-4, 1-3 SBC), and Leonard added nine. Carter Rita added six tackles, while the trio of Killian Burnham, Jayden Zuraski, and Curry had five apiece. Aaron Torres had an interception, and Carter Rita had a sack. Curry forced a fumble, which Chase Peart recovered, as well.

CLAY 28, ANTHONY WAYNE 14

Clay (4-3, 1-1 NLL) doubled up Anthony Wayne in an NLL Buckeye Division battle, scoring once each quarter in a balanced offensive performance.

Bryce Besgrove opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter, and Landon Echelberry added a five-yard touchdown jaunt in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead at the half.

Collin Greenawalt had a one-yard touchdown run in the third, and Besgrove added his second score on a two-yard run in the fourth, which gave Clay a 28-7 lead at the time.

Echelberry, who completed 11 passes for 43 yards, also ran 15 times for 80 yards. Besgrove led the team in rushing yards with 82 on 19 totes, while Greenawalt had 52 yards on eight carries. Carter Walendzak (15), Max Morrison (12) and Brodi Ostrander (12) combined for 39 yards receiving. Overall, Clay rushed for 219 yards and produced 17 first downs.

WAITE 12, WOODWARD 7

Waite (3-4, 3-1 City League) didn’t report stats. They have won two straight and three of their past four.

HOLGATE 60, CARDINAL STRITCH 6

Stritch (0-7, 0-6 Northern 8) didn’t report stats.