High school football: Brunswick beats Lorain, matches win total from last season

BRUNSWICK — Locked in a slugfest in a back-and-forth first half Friday, the Brunswick football team's defense made a big stop to close the second quarter, seize momentum and pull away for a 39-18 Greater Cleveland Conference win over Lorain. The Blue Devils (3-3, 2-1) matched their win total from last season with at least four games remaining and have a chance to win more than three games for the first time since 2021 (6-5). In front 14-12, the Blue Devils allowed the Titans (1-5, 0-3) to drive 78 yards in 12 plays, down to the Brunswick 2-yard line, while eating more than seven minutes off the clock. Brunswick made stops on first- and second-and-goal before a false start moved the Titans back to the 6-yard line with 2 seconds left. A pass interference penalty on what would have been the final play of the half allowed an untimed play from the 3-yard line. The left side of the Blue Devils defense swarmed Lorain running back Toriano Allen for a 2-yard loss to preserve the Brunswick lead. It was all Brunswick from then on, as the Blue Devils scored 25 second-half points. "That was huge," said Brunswick quarterback Sean Barnett, who was 8-for-15 passing for 148 yards while carrying 10 times for 62 yards. "We had business to handle. I came out slow, and that is on me, but we got a stop and then we got two scores in the third quarter. It is all about fundamentals. We go out and run the ball, and if they don't stop the run, we are going to keep running." Barnett, who had the Blue Devils' first two touchdowns, added two more in the second half sandwiched around a 4-yard score by Gavin Ballok (8 carries, 25 yards). Barnett's 27-yard scramble for a score was the dagger, giving his team a 36-12 lead with 6:29 left. "We had a play and they were in good coverage," he said. "It was perfect coverage for the play. I looked at it and it was covered, the corner dropped deep and the overhang took over the slant. I saw the pocket in the corner of my eye and I took off running." That drive was set up when Ajay Rebraca picked off freshman quarterback Jadaen Whittington at the goal line and returned it 26 yards. Whittington entered the game for just one play after starting quarterback David Whitaker (11-of-18 passing, 186 yards, TD; 8 carries, 28 yards) left after a 3-yard run on third-and-16. The defense wasn't perfect against the Titans, allowing 455 yards, but made some big plays when needed. In addition to Rebraca's pick, Brayden Miles nabbed his second in as many games and Eli Nichols led all players with a sack among five tackles for loss. "We take pride in our D-line," Nichols said. "I feel like I am the leader of it, and I am trying to push everyone to go. I have to lead by example. I feel like last week I didn't have a good game. Then I was looking in (The Gazette) today and they said I was tied for the lead in TFLs and I said to myself, 'I gotta go get that.' That was my motivation the whole game." The All-Ohio defensive end made a mark on offense as well with 78 yards on just nine carries. Included were two 30-plus yard runs, one coming on fourth down run for 32 yards to set up Ballok's touchdown. A 31-yard run set up Barnett's second touchdown. Still working his way back from a shoulder injury, Cohen Easa hauled in five passes for 122 yards and added two runs for 45 yards. Outside of an early 5-yard run, Easa's remaining six touches averaged 27 yards. "I feel like our team bonding was overall better this week," Easa said. "Last week we didn't have good practices, we weren't together and I felt like the chemistry wasn't there. Throughout the week, we worked on our chemistry and team bonding. I felt like we just flowed." Easa and Nichols gave the Blue Devils multiple big offensive plays after not having many in their previous game against Shaker Heights. Brunswick had just one play longer than 15 yards against the Raiders but had 10 against Lorain. "Cohen Easa is stepping into his role, and I think our line has found their rhythm," Nichols said. "I am running up the middle and I'm not even getting touched for 10 yards. I feel like the big plays are what we needed. We are good at marching down, but we struggled in the red zone last year. We are doing a lot better this year, but the big plays are always going to help us. We are aiming for those." Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com. Brunswick 39, Lorain 18 LORAIN &emsp;&emsp;6 6 0 6 — 18 BRUNSWICK &emsp;&emsp;7 7 15 10 — 39 First L — Brad Amini 80 pass from David Whitaker (kick blocked), 0:47. B — Sean Barnett 7 run (Vinny DiTeodoro kick), 0:11. Second L — Amini 71 pass from Toriano Allen (run failed), 10:34. B — Barnett 1 run (DiTeodoro kick), 7:33. Third B — Barnett 1 run (Gavin Moore pass from Barnett), 9:35. B — Gavin Ballok 4 run (DiTeodoro kick), 6:34. Fourth B — Barnett 27 run (DiTeodoro kick), 6:29. B — DiTeodoro 22 field goal, 2:13. L — William Jones 59 run (kick failed), 0:36. &emsp;&emsp;L &emsp;&emsp;B First downs &emsp;&emsp;14 &emsp;&emsp;14 Rushing &emsp;&emsp;35/198 36/237 Rushing average &emsp;&emsp;5.7 &emsp;&emsp;6.6 Passing &emsp;&emsp;12/21 &emsp;&emsp;8/16 Passing yards &emsp;&emsp;257 &emsp;&emsp;148 Total offense &emsp;&emsp;56/455 52/385 Punting &emsp;&emsp;4/33.0 2/42.5 Penalties &emsp;&emsp;17/96 &emsp;&emsp;4/28 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;1/0 &emsp;&emsp;1/0 RUSHING: Lorain — Jones 6-84, Allen 14-71, Whitaker 8-28, Jaizon Moore 1-11, Jay'l Diaz 3-9, Brandon Serrano 2-(-1), Team 1-(-4). Brunswick — Eli Nichols 9-78, Barnett 10-62, Cohen Easa 2-45, Elijah Poindexter 5-30, Ballok 8-25, Jake Tamosiunas 1-(-1), Team 1-(-2). PASSING: Lorain — Whitaker 11-18-186-1-0, Allen 1-2-71-1-1, Jaeden Whittington 0-1-0-0-1. Brunswick — Barnett 8-15-148-0-0, Tamosiunas 0-1-0-0-0. RECEIVING: Lorain — Adamini 6-222, Serrano 1-14, Tyree Morales 4-11, Moore 1-10. Brunswick — Easa 5-122, Gavin Moore 2-16, Anthony Gamboa 1-10.