Medina County football notes: Week 8

Black River PREVIEW: Brookside is one of the most unique teams in Northeast Ohio, averaging 33.1 points but allowing 49.7 and losing by scores of 64-42 (University School), 58-48 (Margaretta) and 40-37 (Firelands). Mason Waechter (1,882 passing yards, 22 TDs) is the 6-foot-6 star of the pass-happy attack that also boasts Alex Arra (36 catches, 763 yards, 9 TDs), Colton Casey (48, 677, 8) and Mason Gainer (370 rushing yards, 2 TDs).l The Pirates have won 10 straight games against Brookside.STAT PACK: Hunter Varney officially completed 17-of-22 passes last week against Firelands, joining Dom Bell (4 times), Eric Groesser (Oct. 28, 2022 at Columbus Grove) and Jack Grissinger (Oct. 13, 1961 at Cloverleaf) as the only players in school history with at least 17 completions in a game.l Varney (22 catches), Parker Broadsword (21) and Kage Petruzzi (20) have surpassed 20 catches on the season.l Trenton Delesky led the defense against Firelands with eight tackles, including combining with Petruzzi for a tackle for loss. Jud Stotler had a sack, Mason Miller broke up a pass along the visiting sideline and Kayden Hendershot posted seven tackles.l Delesky's first career reception was a beauty, as he soared over a defender for a 35-yard gain on a trick-play pass from wide receiver Colton McCune. The former guard played his second game at tight end.l Black River has only 28 penalty yards over the last three games.LW: L, 12-41 vs. Firelands. TW: at Brookside (1-6, 1-3; 18-5 all time). NW: at Wellington (1-5, 0-3). Brunswick PREVIEW: Greater Cleveland Conference newcomer Riverside doesn't have a high-powered offense with averages of 25.7 points and 269.4 yards but has balance across the board. Quarterback Bo Brandenhoff (71-for-111, 1,047 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs; 44 carries, 212 yards, 4 TDs) is a dual threat, while Jaxon Moore has 19 carries for 148 yards and 19 catches for 396 yards. Alexavier Calogar has starred defensively with 15 tackles for loss.l Tonight is Riverside's first game against a Medina County school.STAT PACK: Tyler Burk had the best two-way game of his career last week at Euclid. The senior had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with seven tackles (½ for loss).l The Blue Devils are 4-0 when Anthony Gamboa has at least six receptions this season. The junior had eight for 100 yards against Euclid.l Brunswick has put up at least 343 yards total offense in five straight games. The Blue Devils had 360 against Euclid.l In a statistical oddity, Brunswick has exactly 32 rushing attempts in each of the last three games.l Logan Matousek led the defense at Euclid with a sack among 10 total tackles. Ben Heilman broke up a pass on fourth down, Drew Dempsey had 1½ tackles for loss and C.J. Williams had a pass breakup and tackle for loss.LW: W, 15-6 at Euclid. TW: vs. Riverside (4-3, 3-1; 0-0 all time). NW: vs. Cleveland Heights (1-6, 1-3). Buckeye PREVIEW: Starting quarterback Shane Metter returned to practice this week. The speedy senior broke a collarbone in the last scrimmage against Woodridge.l A complete recap of the game Thursday can be found at medina-gazette.com. There also is a televised broadcast on WEOL.com.l The game Thursday was a must-win when it came to Division IV, Region 14 playoff chances. According to fantastic50.net, Buckeye would have a 94% of qualifying with a win but only 3% with a loss.STAT PACK: Nick Prouza's 64-yard punt return for a touchdown last week at Normandy is tied for 11th longest in school history.l With 1,107 rushing yards, Liam Phillips needs 135 to crack the Buckeye season top 10.l Denis Shevchenko and Matche Diarrassouba led the defense last week at Normandy with interceptions. Preston Ware had seven tackles, Mark Shevchenko added a tackle for loss and Tony Kobasuk and Colton Homchik combined for another.l The kickoff coverage team was outstanding last week, as Normandy's average starting field position was the 21.6-yard line. Grady Giles and Andrew Lazar made multiple tackles.l Gavin Waltos made 8-of-8 extra points at Normandy.l Buckeye entered Thursday minus-9 in turnover margin this season.LW: W, 56-6 at Normandy. TW: at North Olmsted (3-4, 3-1; 3-3 all time). NW: vs. Rocky River (7-0, 4-0). Cloverleaf PREVIEW: Tallmadge runs a modern pistol offense behind a line that averages 6-foot-1, 260 pounds and boasts almost exclusively non-seniors at the skill positions. Barberton transfer Angelo Gotto is the top running back, while wide receiver Brenden Conley is another player to watch.l Cloverleaf has lost 10 of the last 11 meetings against Tallmadge. The schools were members of the Suburban League together from 1997-2014.l The Colts will clinch a Division III, Region 10 playoff berth and home game with a win tonight. They also could wrap up a first-round bye depending on outside factors.STAT PACK: The Colts have surpassed 400 yards total offense in four consecutive games for only the second time in school history. The 2022 team also accomplished the feat.l Adam Gray became only the sixth Cloverleaf player to catch a pass this season when he snared a 7-yard touchdown from Isaac Smith on a broken play last week against Field.l Ashton Gray led the defense against Field with 10 tackles — all in the first half. Grady Porter had one of his best games with six tackles (½ for loss) and a fourth-down pass breakup, while Brayden Beier returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.l Cloverleaf and Field combined for just one penalty for 5 yards.l The Colts converted 6-of-6 third downs in the first half against Field.l The Colts are allowing 185.4 yards per game, on pace to be their lowest since 137.1 in 1972. The Medina County record of 77.4 was set by the inaugural Cloverleaf team of 1960.LW: W, 63-14 vs. Field. TW: at Tallmadge (4-3, 2-2; 7-12 all time). NW: at Ravenna (3-4, 1-3). Highland PREVIEW: Solon has struggled offensively, averaging a Suburban League National Conference-low 14.4 points. Brody Cowan has completed 52-of-121 passes for 509 yards, while Bryer Pickana has 101 rushing attempts for 547 yards.l Tonight is the first meeting between Highland and Solon all time.STAT PACK: Lukas Grillis had the most productive defensive effort of the Medina County season last week at North Royalton with 13 tackles (5 for loss, 4 sacks) and a fumble caused by Isaac Demming. Ryan Haney added 2½ sacks, Spencer Marquis and Evan Foust each had one and Nathan Capotosto (11 tackles), Demming and Joey Oriti added a half apiece. Highland finished with season highs of 83 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.l Jake Weber and Ben Radigan have a combined 31 catches for 691 yards (22.3 average) and five touchdowns.l Weber's 80-yard touchdown reception and 134 receiving yards at North Royalton both rank 11th in school history.l Colton Wadle joined Dylan Borla (2024, 5 times) and Bruce Kinsey (2012, 4) as the only Highland quarterbacks with three 200-yard passing games in a season. Wadle had 205 at North Royalton.l Foust needs 118 receiving yards to move past Jake Sir Louis (1,152, 2015-17) for second place in school career history behind Cory Moncol (1,958, 2011-13).LW: W, 52-14 at North Royalton. TW: vs. Solon (3-4, 1-3; 0-0 all time). NW: vs. Wadsworth (7-0, 4-0). Medina PREVIEW: North Royalton got off to a 3-0 start but has struggled in Suburban League National Conference play with losses to Hudson (42-7), Wadsworth (38-0), Nordonia (34-25) and Highland (52-14). Daniel Piper (98-for-148, 1,216 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs) is the top threat offensively, while Rory Hannah (83 carries, 297 yards, 3 TDs) and Ryan Kinney (26 catches, 410 yards, 4 TDs) are others to watch. The defense boasts 11 players who have forced a turnover.l Medina lost to North Royalton 6-0 in the first night game at Medina Memorial Stadium on Sept. 26, 1939. Tonight will be the first meeting since 2014.l The Bees are 1-6 for the first time since 2005. They'll be seeking to avoid their first 1-7 start since finishing 1-9 in 1993.l Medina must win two of its final three games to have a realistic chance at qualifying for the Division I, Region 1 playoffs.STAT PACK: Evan Colon led the defense last week at Hudson with eight tackles. Carson Mann had a sack among two tackles for loss, while Champ Harris and Nicholas Morano added a tackle for loss apiece.l Medina is plus-2 in turnover margin this season, a major development considering the Bees were minus-3 in 2025 and minus-13 in 2024.l The Bees are averaging 4.7 points on 176.0 yards during their three-game losing streak.LW: L, 7-41 at Hudson. TW: vs. North Royalton (3-4, 0-4; 17-7 all time). NW: at Nordonia (6-1, 3-1). Wadsworth PREVIEW: Hudson has been without starting quarterback Hayden Lapinski (488 passing yards, 7 TDs) the last two games but has adjusted with more option concepts to feature the running ability of backup Benny Hegedish (35 carries, 192 yards, TD; 24-for-44, 203 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs). Veteran running back Reno Ferri has 113 carries for 890 yards and 15 touchdowns, while tackle Otto Grill is committed to Ohio University.l The game tonight will be televised live on WEOL.com.STAT PACK: The Grizzlies have scored at least 10 points in 51 consecutive games, the eighth-longest active streak in Ohio.l Wadsworth's 191 rushing yards last week at Stow were a season high. Jude Haller had 14 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns after putting up 18 for 50 and four over the previous three games.l The Grizzlies had a season-high 66 tackles (6 for loss, sack), an interception and five pass breakups at Stow. Braydan Todd was active with seven tackles (1½ for loss, ½ sack) and a pass breakup, Reid Close had a career-high seven tackles, broke up a pass in the end zone and returned an interception 47 yards, Haller broke up two passes, including one in the end zone, and Adam Neville had a career-high nine tackles.l Close leads Medina County with four interceptions this season.l Wadsworth has forced a turnover in 6-of-7 games this season. The lone exception was North Royalton.l Kolbey Ostervich has at least three catches in each game this season.l The Grizzlies have the most penalty yardage in Medina County at 496. The 70.9 average is significantly higher than last season (38.4).LW: W, 35-14 at Stow. TW: vs. Hudson (6-1, 4-0; 17-13 all time). NW: at Highland (6-1, 4-0).