Chardon fell in a shootout with Tiffin Columbian 50-49. The Tornadoes (2-0), who trailed late into the fourth quarter, made a two-point conversion with less than thirty seconds to play to pull out the win.
Chardon fell in a shootout with Tiffin Columbian 50-49.
The Tornadoes (2-0), who trailed late into the fourth quarter, made a two-point conversion with less than thirty seconds to play to pull out the win.
A 1-yard touchdown run by junior running back Vinny Colombi with 5:04 to play gave Chardon (1-1) the lead.
However, it would not last as the Tornadoes marched down the field – led by their senior quarterback Bryce Roggow.
With 21 seconds to go, Roggow ran it in from three yards out.
At that point, Columbian head coach Judd Lutz decided to go for two.
The decision paid off as Roggow, who committed to play ball at Akron University, connected with Brady Gooding to give their team the lead.
“We’ve got dudes,” said Columbian head coach Judd Lutz on the decision to go for two. “They play a pressure defense and make you throw it accurate. Brayden Roggow is the real deal.”
“I loved the two-point call; I would have done the same thing.” added Chardon head coach Mitch Hewitt.
Chardon failed to move the ball on their final possession and once the clock struck zero, the Tornados celebrated as if they had just won the state championship.
For the Hilltoppers, it was another sloppy game filled with penalties and mistakes. However, unlike last week’s shutout, they could not overcome these challenges in week two.
“It was like a heavyweight fight, but with way too many penalties,” said Hewitt. “We just gave them 30 yards at the end of the game with less than a minute to go. You can’t do that to a bad team, let alone a team that talented.”
“Penalties are disastrous. It’s undisciplined. We have to clean it up,” he added.
The game started out well for Chardon, as the Toppers stopped Columbian on a fourth and one from midfield. Less than a minute later though, Gooding picked off Chardon senior quarterback Will Francis and returned it 47 yards to the house for a touchdown.
The Hilltoppers evened the score out with a 7-yard touchdown run by Caleb Hewitt on a fourth-and-three play late in the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, Roggow hit Gooding on a 6-yard slant pass in the end zone to regain the lead 14-7.
Chardon tied the game with 4:28 left in the second on a 5-yard touchdown run by Colombi.
On the ensuing kickoff, Timmy Evans recovered a live ball on the Tornado 15. However, Chardon could not capitalize, and a 28-yard field goal sailed left.
Columbian then got into their two-minute drill and it paid off as Roggow hooked up with Gooding for a 47-yard touchdown reception 35 seconds before halftime.
Down 21-14, Francis showed why he has earned the nickname “Slick Willy.” The senior went around the right side and turned on the jets for a 48-yard score to tie the game.
“He’s as tough as nails,” said Coach Hewitt. “He’s just a winner. He’s got a state championship in baseball.”
Senior linebacker Ken Friihauf picked off Roggow on Columbian’s first play of the second half, and roughly a minute and a half later, Francis hit pay dirt again – this time a 13-yard run.
The Tornados roared right back, and once again, the Roggow to Gooding connection burned the Toppers. This time, they connected a 59-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 28.
At this point, both defensives were struggling. Chardon marched down the field, and Colombi punched it in from 1 yard out to give the Hilltoppers a 35-28 advantage.
Gooding then hauled in a 16-yard touchdown reception, but the PAT was blocked.
“It was his night,” said Lutz of his senior wideout. “Last week, he had one catch.”
With just over a minute to play in the third quarter, Hewitt found paydirt on a 16-yard jet sweep to push the Topper lead to 42-34.
In the final frame, Columbian scored twice more, sandwiched around Colombi’s third touchdown on the night. Each time the Tornados scored in the fourth, they also made the two-point conversion.
“It was two really good football teams squaring off in week two, which is where both programs are, and I’d like to see less penalties and less points on the scoreboard,” Coach Hewitt said.
It was a frustrating night for the Hilltoppers, as their normally staunch defense was carved up all evening. While they held the Tornado running game in check – allowing just 67 rushing yards – they could not stop the passing game. Furthermore, they struggled to put pressure on Roggow.
“I’ve got to tip my cap to him [Roggow],” said Coach Hewitt. “There were some blown assignments and penalties. They made plays.”
Dressed in their blue uniforms, Roggow looked like he was playing for the Zips. His performance was certainly worthy of a D-I recruit, as he threw for 335 yards, four touchdown passes, two 2-point conversion passes and one rushing touchdown. On the night, the Tornadoes offense piled up 402 yards.
Led by the feet of Francis, the Chardon Wing-T churned out 450 rushing yards.
Francis carried the ball 25 times for 294 yards and two touchdowns. Hewitt ran for 78 yards and two scores. Colombi added three touchdowns on 45-yards rushing.
“Their players play with an edge, play hard, block you hard, tackle you hard, run to the ball,” said Lutz. “Chardon has a program we want to be like.”
“We’ve got a lot of weapons, but it’s been a long time since our defense has given up 50 points,” Coach Hewitt said.
The Tornados were the first team to score more than 42 points against Chardon since Perry put up 43 in overtime in week two of 2018. It was also the first time since 2010 that a team scored more than 50 points against the Hilltoppers. In 2010, three teams torched the Toppers: a 52-38 loss against North, a 62-39 loss against Madison and a 62-14 loss at Madison.
The schedule does not get any easier for Chardon, as the Hilltoppers will open up the home portion of their 2023 schedule by hosting D II, Region 6 powerhouse Avon Lake. The Shoremen (2-0) downed Benedictine last week and have yet to allow more than 15 points this season.
“People just think you go undefeated and beat everybody by 30 points, but the schedules are what they are,” added Coach Hewitt.
