High school football: Buckeye keeps CWC title, playoff hopes alive

NORTH OLMSTED — Say what you want about the Buckeye football team because its record is the definition of average, but the Bucks certainly aren't boring. They definitely aren't quitting, either, and will now play for a share of first place in the Cleveland West Conference next week after rallying from a double-digit deficit to defeat North Olmsted 20-17 Thursday. Buckeye (4-4, 4-1) trailed the Eagles (3-5, 3-2) 14-0 after one quarter and 17-7 at halftime but got back into contention in the third quarter before Denis Shevchenko's 4-yard rushing touchdown with 2:25 remaining proved to be the difference. The entire CWC schedule was played Thursday due to North Eastern Ohio Education Association Day, when educators across Northeast Ohio receive Friday off to attend workshops and union-sponsored programs. "Obviously we started out 0-3, and everybody's doubting us, thinking that we're not going to do anything with the season," said Buckeye tight end Colton Homchik, who had three catches for 49 yards that included a 5-yard TD. "Coach (Greg) Dennison had a really good talk with us and told us that if we want to win and if we want to go for this (CWC) title, we have to change something. "Practice, lifting, everything has changed. Everybody's mentality is so much different now. We're all playing for a title." For most of the night, it appeared the inconsistencies of an up-and-down season would lead to another loss despite quarterback Shane Metter (8-for-15, 110 yards, TD, INT) making his debut after breaking a collarbone in the final scrimmage against Woodridge. The Bucks lost a fumble on the opening kickoff, went three-and-out to eventually go down 14-0 and air-mailed a snap at the 50-yard line that lost 19 yards to stall a drive while trailing 17-14. The defense was brilliant in the second half, however, limiting North Olmsted to 86 yards and three first downs. A small punt return Nick Prouza put the Bucks in business on the Eagles 45-yard line with 5:50 remaining, though a false start on third-and-3 from the 22 set up a tricky spot for Metter and Co. to convert. Buckeye came into the night averaging 18.0 passing yards. Metter's presence changed everything, as the senior faked a strong-side isolation run to Medina County leading rusher Liam Phillips (17 carries, 89 yards), rolled left and flicked a pass to Homchik in the flat for a critical 18-yard first down. A personal foul moved the ball to the 4, and Shevchenko (10 carries, 64 yards) ran through an arm tackle before carrying another defender into the end zone for the Bucks' only lead. "Our kids kept battling," Dennison said. "We're used to winning. Those first few weeks were a whole lot of fun, but we've kept persevering, and there's a lot to be said for that." A bad snap disrupted the timing on the extra point, giving North Olmsted hope to at least force overtime with Sebastian Mastroianni, who booted a 29-yard field goal late in the first half. Buckeye stood tall again, as Homchik pressured Will McPherson (9 carries, 63 yards; 11-for-17, 59 yards) into a desperation, twisting heave on fourth-and-3 that was tipped away by safety Mason Dolata near midfield. After sustaining losses by four, 17, 11 and seven points, Buckeye now has extremely favorable odds to reach the Division IV, Region 14 playoffs and can tie for the CWC lead with a gigantic upset of state-ranked Rocky River (8-0, 5-0) next week. "We know we're all a team, and we're all a family," Homchik said. "Yeah, we'll get on each other if we make mistakes, but we obviously always pick each other up. We make a greater good out of it." The start of the game couldn't have gone much worse for the Bucks, who lost a fumble on their 40 after a 26-yard return on the opening kickoff. North Olmsted's Koen Beasley (16 carries, 118 yards) capped a nine-play drive with a 1-yard TD rush, then followed a Buckeye three-and-out with a 52-yard TD run on a power play to the left to make the score 14-0 late in the first quarter. Buckeye finally regrouped and countered with a 13-play, 87-yard drive that ate 6:59 of clock and ended when Shevchenko scored from 3 yards. What proved to be a gigantic play on the ensuing possession was when Shevchenko stuffed Beasley on third-and-3 from the 11, forcing Mastroianni's short field goal to keep the deficit manageable. The Bucks got the quick stop they needed to begin the second half, and a 20-yard punt return by Prouza put them in business at the Eagles 23. Two minutes later, Homchik snuck into the flat for a wide-open 5-yard touchdown reception — only Buckeye's second TD catch of the season — to make the game a lot more interesting. Buckeye called that same play again with the game on the line late in the fourth. "At halftime, we were down a little bit, but we're Buckeye," Homchik said. "We have the most heart out of anybody in the conference. I run by that, and I think we really turned it around. Everybody really wanted to win." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Buckeye 20, North Olmsted 17 BUCKEYE &emsp; &emsp;0 7 7 6 — 20 NORTH OLMSTED 14 3 0 0 — 17 First NO — Koen Beasley 1 run (Sebastian Mastroianni kick), 6:57. NO — Beasley 52 run (Mastroianni kick), 1:13. Second B — Denis Shevchenko 3 run (Gavin Waltos kick), 6:16. NO — Mastroianni 29 field goal, 1:18. Third B — Colton Homchik 5 pass from Shane Metter (Waltos kick), 6:36. Fourth B — Shevchenko 4 run (kick failed), 2:25. &emsp;&emsp;B &emsp;&emsp;NO First downs &emsp;&emsp;15 &emsp;&emsp;13 Rushing &emsp;&emsp;36/149 30/208 Rushing average &emsp;&emsp;4.1 &emsp;&emsp;6.9 Passing &emsp;&emsp;8/15&emsp;&emsp;11/17 Passing yards &emsp;&emsp;110 &emsp;&emsp;59 Total offense &emsp;&emsp;51/259 47/267 Punting &emsp;&emsp;2/35.5 3/33.0 Penalties &emsp;&emsp;9/50 &emsp;&emsp;8/45 Fumbles &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;4/1 &emsp;&emsp;3/1 RUSHING: Buckeye — Liam Phillips 17-89, Shevchenko 10-64, Nick Prouza 3-14, Metter 2-4, Team 4-(-22). North Olmsted — Beasley 16-118, Will McPherson 9-63, Blake Drazen 2-22, Cody Jak 2-6, Team 1-(-1). PASSING: Buckeye — Metter 8-15-110-1. North Olmsted — McPherson 11-17-59-0. RECEIVING: Buckeye — Homchik 3-49, Mason Dolata 3-37, Tony Kobasuk 1-14, Prouza 1-10. North Olmsted — Michael Flick 4-18, Beasley 3-13, Billy Suleiman 1-11, Jak 2-11, Bryce Lazar 1-6.