Gets Playoff Rematch with Akron East
In their final regular season game of the year, the Hilltoppers blanked North 35-0 in a Western Reserve Conference matchup.
In their final regular season game of the year, the Hilltoppers blanked North 35-0 in a Western Reserve Conference matchup.
With the win, Chardon (8-1, 5-1 WRC) clinched the top seed in Division III Region 9 and will get a rematch with Akron East, whom they beat last year 38-7 in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rangers (1-9, 0-6 WRC) kept the game close for most of the first half, but the Toppers put it away in the third quarter with two touchdowns.
“It wasn’t pretty in the first half,” said Chardon Head Coach Mitch Hewitt. “The good and the bad is that we have yet to play what we’re capable of. The good is that we have so much more in us. The bad is that we are not playing at a consistent level. Where we’re entering now, there will less margin for error.”
Hewitt felt North is a better team than their record indicates.
“They’re a .500 team, in my opinion,” said Hewitt. “They’ve got bodies. Curtis Thomas is really good. Reon’tae Lowery is a pretty good football player, and Bryant Young is good. They have two linemen who could potentially start for us. Their record is deceiving.”
Up 22-0, Chardon’s first play of the second half was a jet to junior running back AJ Bruce, who ran to the right side and turned on the burners for an 80-yard scoring run to make it 28-0.
“Our line is blocking better and better,” Bruce said. “We just have to start cutting back on the penalties.”
Hewitt decided to go for the two-point conversion to get a running clock, but the Toppers could not convert.
On their next possession, a 20-yard by sophomore running back Caleb Hewitt started the running clock by giving Chardon a 35-0 advantage.
“It was a busted play, but I just followed Heath,” said Caleb Hewitt. “He went one way and I went another and got into the endzone.”
The rushing touchdown was the second of the game for Caleb Hewitt, who scored from 10 yards out late in the second quarter. On the night, he ran for 38 yards and two scores – the first two rushing touchdowns of his career.
“It felt good,” he said of his first score. “I followed my blockers and got in.”
The Toppers’ first score of the game was set up by an interception by Bruce, who picked off Ranger senior quarterback Zach Rummel and returned it 57 yards to the North 22.
“We were in our base defense and I saw the wheel,” said Bruce. “They got pushed into the sideline and the quarterback just threw it away. He didn’t throw it out of bounds, and I came out of my route and snatched it.”
About a minute and half later, Chardon’s senior signal caller Alex Henry punched it in from 1-yard out to make it 7-0.
A 33-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Drago Vujiaklija made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
For the third consecutive game, the Hilltoppers got a running clock and were able to rest their starters.
The Hilltoppers outgained North 408 to 168 total yards. Chardon wracked up 369 yards on the ground and 39 through the air. They picked up 15 first downs and were penalized four times for 47 yards.
The Rangers were limited to 63 rushing yards and 79 passing yards. They gained seven first downs and were penalized seven times for 65 yards.
Henry led all rushers with 107 yards and one touchdown. Bruce added 98 yards and a score.
The Hilltoppers will host the Dragons on Oct. 28 at Chardon Memorial Stadium as they begin the quest for their third consecutive state championship.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” said Bruce. “I’m ready to make this train roll.”
“We have to fix our mistakes, but we’ll be ready,” added Caleb Hewitt.
