High school football: Wadsworth makes quick work of Barberton

WADSWORTH — The Wadsworth football team's starters crammed 48 minutes of action into a 24-minute window Friday night, making quick work of non-league foe Barberton in the process. The Grizzlies played a nearly perfect first half to build a six-touchdown lead en route to drubbing of the Magics for the fourth consecutive season, this time 55-7 in the season opener for both teams. Wadsworth scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions, including six in the first half, and only allowed the Magics to cross midfield three times — once in the first half — in eight possessions. "We were all looking forward to this game with a long offseason of work," Wadsworth quarterback Brysen Hall said. "I just want to thank God for the opportunity to play after a great offseason with my teammates and great coaching." Hall looked even more poised and polished in the first start of his sophomore campaign than he did during a strong freshman season in which he helped lead the Grizzlies to the Division II regional semifinals. The young signal caller went 12-for-18 for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He completed passes to six receivers, including a different target for all four of his touchdown passes. "He's such a student of the game," Wadsworth coach Justin Todd said. "He wants to meet and watch film all the time. It's really uncanny for a young kid. You don't have to force him. He just loves ball. This is what he loves to do." Hall scored with a 26-yard strike to Jack McNeill, who also converted 5-of-6 extra points, a 63-yard bomb to Jay'len King, a 19-yard precise out route to Calix Lemp and a 9-yard rollout and throw back across the field to tight end Colton Leavitt. Lemp led all receivers with 85 yards on four catches. Kyle Schmeltzer (3 receptions, 29 yards) and Luke Maddox (2, 28) also factored. "I was just talking to him about this: He makes my job a lot easier," Lemp said of Hall. "I know when I'm out there I can count on him to throw a good ball and make the right read. We're on the same page and we're locked in with our chemistry." Likewise, Hall credited his offensive teammates for making life easier on him. "We have a great offensive line," he said. "Obviously, (we have) a ton of weapons at wide receiver. We just have to work each week to get better." For much of the game, punter Jayson Gates was Barberton's most dangerous weapon. He bombed punts of 49 and 47 yards on the Magics' first two drives en route to a 45.7-yard average and ran for 20 yards on a fake punt on fourth-and-10 to help Barberton have its most successful drive of the first half. That ended with Gates attempting a 48-yard field goal that was blocked by Lemp. The drive began with senior Mark Tavanello, a cousin of Medina County Sports Hall of Famer Nick Tavanello, catching a 27-yard pass for the Magics' first first down late in the first quarter. Outside of that catch, the Wadsworth defense had its way with the Barberton offense, holding it to 61 yards in the first half and 135 total. Among some of the standout defensive plays was a pass break-up on a screen by Leavitt, a fumble recovery by Reid Close on a kickoff and a second-half pass break-up by Kolt Mellon to go with consistent pressure. "Our preparation sets us apart," senior Gavin Madigan said of the defense. "What we do Monday through Thursday prepares us. Our coaches do an excellent job. They spend a lot of time and give us a lot of things that help." Along with playing strong defense in the secondary, Madigan (4 rushes, 79 yards) ran for a 2-yard score. Cooper Gray (4, 31), Noah Ries (2, 23) and Bryson Bupp (1, 58) also ran for scores. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Wadsworth 55, Barberton 7BARBERTON&emsp;&emsp; 0 0 0 7 — 7WADSWORTH&emsp;&emsp; 21 20 7 7 — 55FirstW — Gavin Madigan 2 run (Jack McNeill kick), 9:45.W — McNeill 26 pass from Brysen Hall (McNeill kick), 6:32.W — Cooper Gray 14 run (McNeill kick), 4:43.SecondW — Jay'len King 63 pass from Hall (McNeill kick), 10:57.W — Calix Lemp 19 pass from Hall (McNeill kick), 7:17.W — Colton Leavitt 9 pass from Hall (kick failed), 1:06.ThirdW — Noah Ries 13 run (Vince Hatfield kick), 6:27.FourthB — Noah Wright 20 pass from Jackson Hanlin (Blake Leary kick), 7:16.W — Bryson Bupp 58 run (Hatfield kick), 4:58.&emsp;&emsp;B&emsp;&emsp;WFirst downs&emsp;&emsp;6&emsp;&emsp;17Rushing &emsp;&emsp;14/44&emsp;&emsp;17/218Rushing average&emsp;&emsp;3.1&emsp;&emsp;12.8Passing&emsp;&emsp;6/23&emsp;&emsp;13/22Passing yards&emsp;&emsp;91&emsp;&emsp;238Total offense&emsp;&emsp;37/135&emsp;&emsp;39/456Punting&emsp;&emsp;3/45.7&emsp;&emsp;0/0.0Penalties&emsp;&emsp;7/66&emsp;&emsp;4/41Fumbles&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;1/1&emsp;&emsp;1/0RUSHING: Barberton — Jayson Gates 2-22, Angelo Gotto 7-15, Brayden Louk 4-9, Cleophus Thompson 1-(-2). Wadsworth — Madigan 4-79, Bupp 1-58, Gray 4-31, Ries 2-23, Boden Ballinger 2-17, Kyle Schmeltzer 2-8, Hall 1-4, Noah Nixon 1-(-2).PASSING: Barberton — Louk 3-13-35-0, Hanlin 3-10-56-0. Wadsworth — Hall 12-18-240-0, Braeden Sterpka 1-4-(-2)-0.RECEIVING: Barberton — Wright 2-32, Trent DeWitt 1-28, Mark Tavanello 1-27, Gotto 2-4. Wadsworth — Lemp 4-85, Jay'len King 1-63, Kyle Schmeltzer 3-29, Luke Maddox 2-28, McNeill 1-26, Leavitt 1-9, Donny Bettis Jr. 1-(-2).MISSED FIELD GOAL: Barberton — Gates 48 (BLK).