High school football: Medina rolls winless Lorain

MEDINA — Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar was in attendance, as were Penn State head coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, but it was just another day in shotgun formation for Medina quarterback Drew Allar. The Penn State commit completed 14-of-17 passes for 311 yards and Medina County-record-tying five touchdowns Friday as the undefeated Bees rolled to a 70-7 non-league victory over winless Lorain. Not overly impressed? Then consider that the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Allar didn't play after leading Medina to a 49-0 lead with 11:43 to play in the second quarter, at which point a running clock was used for the rest of the game. "I just took it as any other game," Allar said after being surrounded by kids and signing autographs. "We came out as a team and played really well and did what we had to do." Franklin was scheduled to arrive in Medina via helicopter, but due to wind and the threat of thunderstorms — the skies unleashed just as the game ended — he ended up driving in from Cleveland. The Penn State coach and OC Yurcich spent much of the pregame chatting with Medina coach Larry Laird along the sideline, with Kosar joining them prior to the opening kickoff. Franklin and Yurcich couldn't talk to Allar due to NCAA rules, but the senior did get the opportunity to speak with Kosar. "He just complimented us on how well the team is doing," he said. "It was super cool to talk to a guy like Bernie Kosar because of how much he meant to my parents and grandparents when he played for the Browns." In improving to 9-0 heading into its final regular season game at Solon — the only time Medina has gone undefeated in a regular season was when it finished 2-0 in 1918 — the Bees scored 42 points in the first quarter and 63 in the first half, with backup QB Dan Stoddard going 5-for-5 for 47 yards and two TDs as nine Medina players caught passes in the first half. Six Medina players — Jajuan Jackson (11 yards), Brennen Schramm (81), Reid Kelps (26, 22), Michael Rodak (29), Matt Rudolph (3) and Nathan Angus (16) — had TD receptions against the Titans (0-9). The Bees used Chris DePasquale and Oliver Lloyd at quarterback in the second half but did not attempt a pass, with Corbin Derrig scoring Medina's only TD on an 18-yard run. "I've got a five-star quarterback throwing to me," said Kelps, who had three catches for 59 yards. "He puts the ball on the money. "It was weird having so much recognition around our game. It was a good opportunity for us with so many media people surrounding our field." The Bees also got pick-sixes from Keon Johnson and Zach King on back-to-back plays in the first period. Johnson's 33-yard return made it 14-0, and King's 23-yarder upped the ante to 21-0 with 2:01 gone in the game. "Being able to do that on senior night meant a lot to me," King said. "Hearing (Franklin and Yurcich) were coming, it was crazy. It's nice having (Allar) out there. You get a little publicity." The Bees also got an interception from Keegan O'Reilly, with Mason Pogue shining on the defensive line with a sack, tackle for loss and fumble recovery. "I just wanted to show out for the crowd in our final home game (in the regular season)," the 6-3, 255-pound Pogue said. "Regardless of the team we're playing, we just have to go out and work. It was exciting to play tonight, for sure. "It was really exciting to play in front of them," the senior added of Kosar, Franklin and Yurcich. "I've never played on a big stage like that before." Allar, who will graduate from Medina at the end of the current semester and begin taking classes at Penn State in January so he can participate in spring practice with the Nittany Lions, will eventually play on an even bigger stage, but right now he's relishing the opportunity to finish 10-0 in the regular season. "For our team it would be a great accomplishment," he said. "But we've been preaching this all season: We want to go 1-0 every week." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on Twitter. Medina 70, Lorain 7 LORAIN 0 0 0 7 — 7 MEDINA 42 21 7 0 — 70 First M — Jajuan Jackson 11 pass from Drew Allar (Nick West kick), 10:47. M — Keon Johnson 33 interception return (West kick), 10:08. M — Zach King 23 interception return (West kick), 9:59. M — Brennen Schramm 81 pass from Allar (West kick), 8:33. M — Reid Kelps 26 pass from Allar (West kick), 6:39. M — Kelps 22 pass from Allar (West kick), 3:30. Second M — Michael Rodak 29 pass from Allar (West kick), 11:43. M — Matt Rudolph 3 pass from Dan Stoddard (West kick), 5:12. M — Nathan Angus 16 pass from Stoddard (West kick), 3:46. Third M — Corbin Derrig 18 run (Tallen Hulvey kick), 5:31. Fourth L — Robert Gonzalez 33 pass from Joseph Wyatt (Tyler Kosco kick), 3:35.