Will host Tallmadge in Week 11
Chardon’s defense kept the Riverside running game in check as the Hilltoppers picked up a 25-14 Western Reserve Conference victory.
Chardon’s defense kept the Riverside running game in check as the Hilltoppers picked up a 25-14 Western Reserve Conference victory.
The Hilltoppers (7-2, 4-1 WRC) limited the Beavers to 165 total yards of offense, with 91 of those yards coming on one Riverside touchdown run. On the night, Riverside (4-6, 2-3 WRC) gained just four first downs.
Outside of a scoring drive late in the game, yards were hard to come by for Riverside.
“Our defense came out and helped out the offense,” junior quarterback Drayton Allgood said.
“Coach Landies always draws up something brilliant and our kids executed,” said Chardon head coach Mitch Hewitt. “I was very disappointed in that last touchdown score we gave up, and really, it’s two guys out of gap on their one long run. It’s three plays. That’s how fragile this game is. People don’t realize that it’s like we won 98 percent of the snaps, but on three snaps they score 14 points.”
Chardon’s offense, on the other hand, simply grinded out yards throughout the game. Thanks to long time-consuming drives, the Beavers offense did not see the field much in the game.
The Hilltoppers tallied 331 yards of total offense, with 324 on the ground. They also picked up 21 first downs.
“We practiced like we played,” Allgood said. “That was the game plan, to come out and play physical on both sides of the ball. Congrats to my offensive line. They really did their job today.”
Penalties continued to be a problem for the Toppers, including wiping out a touchdown run by Dotson on the opening drive of the game. Chardon was flagged 9 times for 85 yards.
“We had to overcome some things in the first half, but that’s a battle, and that’s what a Chardon-Riverside game is supposed to look like,” Coach Hewitt said.”
Trailing 7-0 after Riverside senior running back Kyndall McCaleb ripped off a 91-yard touchdown run, the Hilltoppers responded. In the middle of the season, the big punch might have knocked Chardon out, but on Friday night, they punched right back.
“Everyone, no matter what happens, we always keep our head high and keep our composer,” said Allgood. “We just want to play hard.”
The offense regrouped and struck right back as senior halfback Caleb Hewitt scored on a 42-yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven.
From the start, the Toppers offensive line looked sharp and the offense also benefitted from the return of Vinny Colombi to his fullback role after missing five games with an injury.
“It was good to have Vinny back,” Coach Hewitt said. “It sounds different when he runs the ball; the collision is different.”
Colombi picked up his team-leading eighth touchdown of the year with three minutes to go before halftime when he scored from 5 yards out. The ensuing two-point conversion was good and Chardon led 15-7.
The second half began with a highlight interception by Caleb Hewitt. The Beavers got the ball to start the third quarter and decided to throw the ball deep on the right side. Hewitt put himself in position while battling the receiver, juggled the ball and while falling down, held it in his right hand to secure the pick.
“That was amazing,” said Allgood. “We were all in shock. It was a great play.”
“I knew the receiver was different from what they’ve had on the boundary, said Caleb Hewitt. “The entire game that guy had gone on routes all throughout the film. I knew it was coming, predicted post and went up and made a play.”
When asked how he maintained possession of the ball, Hewitt admitted it was a blur.
“I just remember holding the ball up with my hand,” he added.
Not only did Hewitt get the pick, but he scored the touchdown on Chardon’s possession to make it 22-7.
A Sam Sacerich 22-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter capped Chardon’s scoring for the night.
In addition to Colombi returning, Chardon implemented what Coach Hewitt called the dozer offense, as senior linebacker Alexander Ash and junior linebacker Jayden Buth played offense on certain plays.
“We’re at a point right now where we gotta find tough guys and they’re two of our toughest,” said Coach Hewitt. “We knew it was going to be a tough game and would have to get some physical yards. What two better guys than that?”
“They’re just complete thumpers and they hit and love it,” added Caleb Hewitt.
The Toppers were determined to gain short yards and turned to Caleb Hewitt and Dotson to do it.
Normally, Hewitt is used on the jet sweep, but he had a number of runs between the tackles.
\Dotson, who plays linebacker, ran the ball like one. He simply ran at the Beavers, lowered his shoulder and initiated contact. In most instances, he was winning the battles and knocking Riverside players back.
Chardon received a scare in the first half, when Allgood went down with an injury.
While Allgood was being attended to on the sidelines, Caleb Hewitt was running the wildcat offense with freshman A.C. Cole getting a few snaps as well.
“You put me anywhere and I’m gonna go try and make a play,” said Caleb Hewitt.
Allgood returned to the game on the Hilltoppers next drive and appeared to be ok.
“I’m a little sore, but I had to bounce back for my team,” he said. “I love my guys and there’s not anything I wouldn’t do for them.”
The game had the makings of one of the area’s top rivalries.
“It’s a rivalry game and everyone talks about it,” said Coach Hewitt. “The schools are 10 minutes apart. It’s what makes high school football so special. The last time we were on this field, their fans stormed it because they ended our win streak.”
“I’m gonna remember this game for the rest of my life,” Caleb Hewitt said. “That team is 15 minutes away from me. Whenever I see that Painesville exit sign and I’ll aways remember this game.”
Heading into the postseason, the Hilltoppers played one of their most intense games of the year.
“They’ve grown, and again, I think that’s one of the staples of Chardon, but rarely do we go backwards,” said Coach Hewitt. “We may not always be where we need to be when we start, but we tend to finish the game were we need to.”
“I like our odds if the defense continues to play at this level,” Caleb Hewitt said. “We got a lot of momentum going into the playoffs and I really like where we are as a team right now and I love that we get a home game next week.”
In Week 11, the Hilltoppers will host Tallmadge at Chardon Memorial. The Blue Devils finished the year 7-3, but went 2-2 in Suburban League American Conference play.
