High school football: Cooper Sokolowski leads Medina to OT win over Stow

MEDINA — Medina's Cooper Sokolowski turned out the lights on the Stow football team Friday night. Sokolowski completed his do-it-all night when he scored a 2-yard, walk-off touchdown in overtime during a 46-40 Suburban League National Conference victory. The win was the first of the season for the Bees (1-3, 1-0), as well as their first as a member of the SL National. Meanwhile, Stow's SL National losing streak stretched to eight, dating to a 45-28 win over Twinsburg on Oct. 25, 2024. "I'm feeling great," Sokolowski said. "We never gave up. We kept fighting. It's a great feeling. "We were 0-3 going into this, so we knew we needed a win. First conference game, so we really needed this one, and that's what we did." Moments before Sokolowski's touchdown, one of the light stanchions in Kenneth Dukes Stadium went out by the Bees' student section. The referees convened shortly before determining the game could continue because play was happening near the opposite end zone. Sokolowski did everything but control the lights, as the wide receiver caught eight passes for 137 yards, ran nine times for 53 yards and scored five touchdowns. He even attempted a halfback pass in overtime that bounced off two defenders before falling harmlessly to the turf. Sokolowski also filled in for Korde Carey (hip) at linebacker and made the defensive play of the game when he stuffed Stow quarterback Gideon Larlham on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line for a 2-yard loss. Sokolowski's play helped Medina overcome two interceptions, a safety, three botched snaps on extra point attempts and the defense surrendering a 40-30 lead in the fourth quarter. "Cooper's a dog," linebacker Evan Colon said. "I'll be shocked if that guy doesn't go D-I. That guy is one of the hearts and souls of this team. He's been with he program since he was a little kid — like a lot of us have — and for him to have a night like this is great for the team." Colon was everywhere for a defensive unit that stepped up when needed despite the game being a shootout. Along with Colon and Sokolowski, Medina got drive-ending plays from Jamari Powell and Max Hilvert despite Stow running back/linebacker Israel Purkiss (27 carries, 173 yards; 4 catches, 67 yards) being all over the field. Purkiss caught a 14-yard screen early in the fourth quarter to cut the Bees' lead to 40-37. Sokolowski's first touchdown came on a 1-yard toss to the right. The game then was tied at 14 after quarterback Kaden Patrick hit Noah Brown for a two-point conversion in the second quarter. The Bees went into halftime down 16-14 after Patrick fell on a bad snap in the end zone for a safety with 1:52 remaining. After halftime, the Patrick-to-Sokolowski connection was undeniable. Sokolowski had six catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter, as his first two catches went for touchdowns to give Medina a 26-16 lead. "Coach (Larry) Laird had a great game plan in the locker room," Patrick said. "We executed on it, did great. Our receivers and linemen played outstanding in the second half." Patrick went 19-for-33 for 245 yards and four touchdowns while running 12 times for 49 yards, the Bees' first score and two interceptions. The first interception was fumbled by Michael Emmons, but Laurence Stevenson picked it up and covered the final 5 yards to put Stow back ahead 30-26. Patrick bounced back and hit Sokolowski and Bishop Burch (5 catches, 69 yards) for scores to take the 40-30 lead. Behind Larlham (17-for-29, 171 yards, TD), Stow completed its comeback to force overtime when Ronan de St. Aubin hit a 27-yard field goal with 2:56 left in regulation. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Medina 46, Stow 40 (OT) STOW 7 9 14 10 0 — 40 MEDINA 6 8 26 0 6 — 46 First S — Jack Miller 23 pass from Gideon Larlham (Ronan de St. Aubin kick), 6:32. M — Kaden Patrick 6 run (kick failed), 1:10. Second S — Israel Purkiss 1 run (Knapp kick), 10:52. M — Cooper Sokolowski 1 run (Noah Brown pass from Patrick), 5:29. S — Safety (snap into the end zone), 1:52. Third M — Sokolowski 60 pass from Patrick (run failed), 11:16. M — Sokolowski 37 pass from Patrick (run failed), 9:05. S — Purkiss 1 run (de St. Aubin kick), 4:42. S — Laurence Stevenson 41 interception return (de St. Aubin kick), 3:55. M — Sokolowski 14 pass from Patrick (Landen Cusick kick), 3:26. M — Bishop Burch 24 pass from Patrick (Cusick kick), 1:34. Fourth S — Purkiss 14 pass from Larlham (de St. Aubin kick), 11:16. S — de St. Aubin 27 field goal, 2:56. Overtime M — Sokolowski 2 run. &emsp;&emsp;S M First downs 21 19 Rushing 51/204 24/74 Rushing average 4.0 3.1 Passing&emsp;&emsp;17/29 19/34 Passing yards 171 245 Total offense 80/375 58/319 Punting 4/37.7 3/22.3 Penalties 13/138 6/69 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;4/0 4/0 RUSHING: Stow — Purkiss 27-173, Larlham 16-26, Caden Boyd 7-6, Colton Barker 1(-1). Medina — Sokolowski 9-53, Patrick 12-49, Brown 1-(-5), Team 2-(-23). PASSING: Stow — Larlham 17-29-171-0. Medina — Patrick 19-33-245-2, Sokolowski 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING: Stow — Miller 6-61, Purkiss 4-57, Barker 3-26, Carson Fleishour-Bryan 2-15, Thomas Shaw III 1-7, Logan Doyle 1-5. Medina — Sokolowski 8-137, Burch 5-69, Ashton Knowles 4-38, Brown 1-1, Tyler Wilson 1-0.