It is not common in OHSAA high school football for two teams to face each other twice in a season, let alone two weeks in a row.
Game photos click here.
It is not common in OHSAA high school football for two teams to face each other twice in a season, let alone two weeks in a row.
But that is what happened here in Geauga County on Nov. 1.
After the Berkshire Badgers used a run-heavy smash-mouth offense to defeat the Chagrin Falls Tigers 13-6 in Week 10, the two teams met for a second time in the first round of the OHSAA Playoffs.
In Week 11, at Great Lakes Cheese Stadium, the Badgers again utilized a smash-mouth offense to claim a 24-16 playoff victory over the Tigers.
With the win, the Badgers moved to 8-3 on the season and for the first time in school history, they advanced to a Week 12 playoff game.
Afterwards, this historic moment did not go unnoticed by Badgers players.
“Getting the victory for the first ever playoff win in Berkshire is something historic,” said senior Justin Phillips. “We’re all going to remember this for the rest our lives.”
Added junior quarterback Sam Barcikoski: “First playoff win in Berkshire history, it feels great.”
In obtaining the victory, the Badgers used a smash-mouth offensive game plan, similar to the one used the week before. However, they did pass the ball a bit more in Week 11.
“We thought that they may be on our game plan, so we decided to change a few things up and it worked,” said Barcikoski. “We just ran the ball until they started coming up on that run. Then we threw it over their heads.”
As Barcikoski said, the Badgers focused on running the ball, but did pass when it was advantageous.
In fact, for the game, the Badgers ran 68 plays from scrimmage — 57 (84%) were running plays, while they threw the ball just 11 times (16%).
Similar to Week 10, the Badgers relied heavily on senior running back Phillips. Indeed, Phillips had the ball in his hands on 40 percent of the Badgers’ plays from scrimmage.
Phillips’ powerful running led the Badgers to their first two touchdowns of the game.
Phillips got the Badgers on the scoreboard on an eight-yard touchdown run with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. Roman Percic then converted the extra point to give the Badgers a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Badgers extended their lead to 17-0 on a second touchdown run by Phillips and a field goal by Percic.
After halftime, the Badgers took a 24-0 lead on Oliver Miller’s 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Although trailing by 24 points, the Tigers displayed resiliency as they tried to overcome the large deficit.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard near the end of the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Kay to Drew Zelch. They then converted the two point conversion on a pass from Kay to Cole Ducas to make the score 24-8.
The Tigers scored late in the fourth quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by Ducas. After converting the two point conversion on a pass from Kay to Jake McClintock, the Tigers trailed 24-16 with 2:33 left in the game.
The Tigers attempted an onside kick, however the Badgers were able to recover the football and run out the clock.
For the game, the Badgers gained 325 yards of offense, including 237 yards on the ground and 88 yards through the air.
Leading the Badgers rushing attack were Phillips (27-148, 5.52 yards per carry average), Miller (13-56, 4.43 avg.) and Abram Southern (3-20, 6.67 avg.).
The Tigers offense gained 218 yards against the Badgers, including 153 yards through the air and 65 yards on the ground.
Kay was 11 for 21 for 156 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also led the Tigers in rushing (6-45, 7.5 yards per carry average).
Leading the Tigers in receiving for the game included Zelch (6-95, td), Ducas (1-34), Jack Medhurst (2-11), Jack Gellin (1-7) and Jake McClintock (1-6).
With the playoff victory, the Badgers will next face Manchester on November 8th.
