High school football: Medina digs early hole, can't climb out in GCC loss to Euclid

The Medina football team didn't quit Friday in a Greater Cleveland Conference game at Euclid, but a poor start proved to be too much to overcome. Falling behind by three scores in the first half, the Bees gave themselves a puncher's chance before the Panthers closed a 32-14 victory that keeps Medina's Division I, Region 1 playoff odds at roughly 50/50. The Bees (2-7, 1-5), who were without starting quarterback River Blomquist for the second straight game, dropped into a tie for 14th in the computer ratings. Medina must win next week against last-place Lorain (2-7, 1-5) and get outside help to qualify for the postseason. Euclid (4-5, 3-3) led 26-0 at halftime and needed a Marcellus Thompson 1-yard run to finally put away Medina in the fourth quarter. Brian Wuchter got the Bees on the board when he ran a post route, got behind the safety and caught a 27-yard pass from Beckett Vogrin early in the third. The Bees got the ball back on an interception by Michael Kessler and later cut the deficit to 26-14 on a Vogrin 2-yard sneak. Medina couldn't get closer on its next possession and Thompson slammed the door. Euclid opened the scoring on a 35-yard Lamar Briggs pass to Ky'Mari Frierson. Sincere Hamilton's 32-yard run and Ke'Shjuan Telfair's acrobatic two-point conversion catch made it 14-0, while short TDs by Dante Darby Jr. and Chris Jones put Medina in a bind at halftime. Editor's note: A complete box score will appear in The Gazette on Monday. Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Euclid 32, Medina 14 MEDINA &emsp;&emsp;0 0 7 7 — 14 EUCLID &emsp;&emsp;6 20 0 6 — 32 First E — Ky'Mari Frierson 35 pass from Lamar Briggs (kick blocked). Second E — Sincere Hamilton 32 run (Kei'Shjuan Telfair pass from Briggs). E — Dante Darby Jr. 1 run (run failed). E — Chris Jones 3 run (kick blocked). Third M — Brian Wuchter 27 pass from Beckett Vogrin (Landen Cusick kick). Fourth M — Vogrin 2 run (Cusick kick). E — Marcellus Thompson 1 run (pass failed).