Medina County football notes: Week 9

Black River PREVIEW: Wellington has clinched its seventh consecutive losing season and is averaging 16.0 points and 239.1 yards. Quarterback Dom Wright has 473 rushing yards and 400 passing yards, accounting for 52% of the Dukes' total offense.l The Pirates have been mathematically eliminated from Division VI, Region 21 playoff contention.STAT PACK: Hunter Varney's 413 yards total offense (277 rushing, 136 passing) last week at Brookside rank second in school history to Dom Bell's 422 against Wellington last season (20 rushing, 402 passing).l Varney's 277 rushing yards against Brookside rank eighth in school history.l Kayden Hendershot led the defense at Brookside with 12 tackles and a forced fumble recovered by Dan Vancooney. Trenton Delesky added nine tackles (1 for loss), Parker Broadsword had an interception, a pass breakup and a season-high six tackles, Carson Steidl recovered a fumble in his return from a foot injury and Varney broke up two passes.l Delesky also had a strong game punting with attempts of 44, 43 and 40 yards.l Colton McCune's two-point conversion catch at Brookside represented his first career points.LW: L, 28-36 at Brookside. TW: at Wellington (1-6, 0-4; 18-8 all time). NW: at South Central (3-5). Brunswick PREVIEW: Cleveland Heights is rebuilding and starts two freshmen on offense and one freshman and four sophomores on defense. Julian Wise (541 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Khalil Al-Amin (483, 3) and Elijah Gosa (321, 2) have shared rushing duties, while freshman Brayden Higgins has thrown for 561 yards and four touchdowns.l Brunswick will clinch a Division I, Region 1 playoff berth with a win tonight. Strongsville (45%) or Massillon Jackson (37) is the mostly likely first-round opponent, though the Blue Devils are highly favored to host if they win their final two regular-season games, according to fantastic50.net.STAT PACK: Connor Jamison's 401 passing yards last week against Riverside rank second his school history to the 407 he posted against Berea-Midpark in his Brunswick debut.l Carter Wickes led the defense against Riverside with two sacks, a fumble recovery forced by Amere Walker and a pass breakup. Ajay Rebraca (team-high 9 tackles), Ben Heilman and Walker added tackles for loss, while Adin Evert recovered a live ball on the opening kickoff.l Wickes has moved up to second in Medina County with 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.l Brunswick is allowing 23.4 points on 306.6 yards in wins and 51.7 and 422.7 in losses this season.l With 53 catches, Anthony Gamboa needs 14 to crack the Medina County season top 10.LW: L, 31-50 vs. Riverisde. TW: vs. Cleveland Heights (1-7, 1-4; 6-6 all time). NW: at Strongsville (5-3, 4-1). Buckeye PREVIEW: Rocky River boasts one of the top college recruits in Ohio, as running back/wide receiver Tristin Hughes is committed to Kentucky. Hughes has 32 carries for 444 yards and five touchdowns to go with 35 catches for 584 yards and six scores. Rowan Kennedy (24 catches, 524 yards, 11 TDs) is another top target of Carter Atwater (103-for-146, 1,917 yards, 31 TDs, 3 INTs). Sophomore defensive end Jackson Greear has offers from Minnesota and Louisville. The Pirates have won their five Cleveland West Conference games by a combined 270-33 score.l Buckeye got important outside help last week to make itself a near-lock for the Division IV, Region 14 playoffs. The Bucks would officially clinch tonight but still have a 99% chance to qualify if they split their two remaining regular-season games, according to fantastic50.net. Van Wert (48%) is the most likely first-round opponent.STAT PACK: Denis Shevchenko led the defense last week at North Olmsted with a season-high 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. Colton Homchik forced two fumbles and had a tackle for loss, while Mason Dolata sealed the win with a fourth-down pass tip.l Homchik had an excellent all-around game vs. North Olmsted with three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown and two punts for a 35.5 average.l Shane Metter had 110 passing yards at North Olmsted. The Bucks had 128 yards over their first seven games.LW: W, 20-17 at North Olmsted. TW: vs. Rocky River (8-0, 5-0; 7-4 all time). NW: at Westlake (2-6, 1-4). Cloverleaf PREVIEW: Ravenna began the season relying on the pistol wing-T but has since introduced more spread concepts. Running back Mark Miller was switched to quarterback and has 879 rushing yards and 79 passing yards, while Ethan McKinney (67 carries, 259 yards; 28-for-58, 337 yards, 8 TDs) is now a slot receiver.l The Colts have not officially clinched a Division III, Region 10 playoff berth but will do so tonight with a win. Cloverleaf is on the verge of locking up a home game as well, and it still would have a 93% chance of a bye if it loses its final two regular-season games.STAT PACK: Jimmy Tolley's 13 receptions last week at Tallmadge broke the school record of 11 set by Devin Cunningham (2012 vs. Revere) and Brian Elkevizth (2000 vs. Copley). Tolley's 143 yards are tied for ninth place.l Tolley has 41 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He needs 19 catches for 222 yards and four scores to break the school records in each category.l Grady Porter had a career night at Tallmadge with a nine tackles (2 for loss) and a pass breakup. Adam Gray added 10 tackles (1½ for loss), Jamere Johnson (1½ TFL) had a huge forced fumble on fourth down, Ashton Gray posted eight tackles and Isaac Smith snared the game-sealing interception.l Last week was Cloverleaf's first win all time with at least 30 pass attempts. The Colts had been 0-19 in such games. Smith and Kellen Price combined for 30 passes.LW: W, 24-17 at Tallmadge. TW: at Ravenna (4-4, 2-3; 4-8 all time). NW: vs. Norton (7-1, 4-1). Highland PREVIEW: The Hornets have clinched a home game in the Division II, Region 5 playoffs, though whether they receive a bye will be dependant on the next two games. Highland can split with Wadsworth and Hudson and still get the bye but would likely have an opening-round game if it loses both.l Wadsworth won 18 of the first 19 meetings against Highland spread across 1963-2000. The series has been even since, as the Hornets own an 8-7 edge.STAT PACK: Jake Weber's punt return for a touchdown last week against Solon was officially 82 yards, breaking the school record of 77 held by Kevin Heichel (Sept. 10, 2021 vs. Tallmadge) and Jake Rogers (Oct. 6, 2017 vs. Aurora). It is the 22nd punt return for a touchdown in 135 games under coach Mike Gibbons.l Lukas Grillis again led the defense against Solon with a sack among two tackles for loss, extending his Medina County leads to 18½ TFL and 14½ sacks. Nathan Capotosto stayed hot with seven tackles (1½ for loss), while Ben Radigan returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.l Jonah Kowza needs one field goal to tie the school career record of 16 set by Eric Duale from 2006-08.l Over the last four games, Highland has 167 plays for 1,495 yards, a 9.0 average.l Joey Oriti became the 13th Highland player to score this season when he found the end zone on a 5-yard run against Solon. Oriti set up his TD with a 19-yard reception on fourth-and-13 from the 23.LW: W, 51-7 vs. Solon. TW: vs. Wadsworth (8-0, 5-0; 9-25 all time). NW: at Hudson (6-2, 3-2). Medina PREVIEW: Nordonia leads the Suburban League National Conference with a 37.9 scoring average. Quarterback Steven Fakult (1,860 passing yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs) has a balanced receiving corps with Grant Kaminski (24 catches, 421 yards, 6 TDs), Dominick Jackson (26, 393, 2), Brock Barwidi (16, 303, 5), Jamiere Davis (11, 278, 3) and Collin Atha (13, 225, 3), while tight end Karsen Fisher (11, 177, 1) is committed to Toledo.l Medina's Division I, Region 1 playoff chances were drastically improved with the win last week against North Royalton. The Bees now sit at 72%, according to fantastic50.net, and would likey clinch a berth with an upset of Nordonia tonight. Hudson (40%) or Canton McKinley (38%) is the most likely first-round opponent.STAT PACK: Adam Barr became the ninth player in school history to pass for four touchdowns in a game last week against North Royalton.l The defense had season highs with nine tackles for loss (3 sacks) and a Medina County season-high 14 pass breakups. Noah Brown had 12 tackles and four pass breakups, while Evan Colon (TFL, 3 PBs), Bishop Burch (2 PBs) and Darian Smith (2) also had multiple pass breakups. Max Hilvert (2 TFL), Nicholas Morano (10 tackles, 1½ TFL) and Colon had sacks, while Jamari Powell forced a fumble recovered by James Hilvert.l On North Royalton's second-to-last drive, the Hilverts combined for a third-and-1 stuff from the 2, while Burch and Korde Carey combined for the stop on fourth-and-1.l With 47 catches, Cooper Sokolowski needs 11 to crack the Medina season top 10.LW: W, 35-27 vs. North Royalton. TW: at Nordonia (7-1, 4-1; 2-1 all time). NW: vs. Solon (3-5, 1-4). Wadsworth PREVIEW: The Grizzlies have clinched a home game in the Division II, Region 5 playoffs, though whether they receive a bye will be dependant on the next two games. Wadsworth can split with Highland and Nordonia and still get a bye but would likely have an opening-round game if it loses both.l Wadsworth won 18 of the first 19 meetings against Highland spread across 1963-2000. The series has been even since, as the Hornets own an 8-7 edge.STAT PACK: The Grizzlies have committed 40 penalties for 378 yards over the last three games, an average of 13 for 126.l Brandon Dishauzi led the defense against Hudson with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, tackle for loss and pass breakup. Jude Haller had 11 tackles, Braydan Todd added a tackle for loss, an interception and a pass breakup, Luke Kinser forced a fumble and Kareem Alnajar recovered a fumble. Anderson Tetzel and Landyn Provance combined for a sack on the third-to-last play of the game, and D.J. Thompson broke up a pass in the end zone.l Over the last three games, Todd has 17 tackles (2½ for loss, ½ sack), two interceptions and three pass breakups.l The Grizzlies allowed season highs for rushing yards (187) and yards total offense (305) against Hudson.l Slot receiver Kyle Schmeltzer had seven catches for 42 yards last week.l Wadsworth has surpassed 300 yards total offense in 19 of the last 20 games. The exception was the loss to Avon (265) in last season's regional semifinals.LW: W, 24-22 vs. Hudson. TW: at Highland (7-1, 5-0; 25-9 all time). NW: vs. Nordonia (7-1, 4-1).