For the first time since 2018, the Chardon Hilltoppers will not play in the Division III Region 9 regional semifinals.
Game photos click here.
For the first time since 2018, the Chardon Hilltoppers will not play in the Division III Region 9 regional semifinals.
Chardon was stunned by the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Royals 19-16 and eliminated from the playoffs.
The game could not have begun any better for the Hilltoppers (8-3), who forced a three and out on defense.
Senior Caleb Hewitt then returned the punt 45 yards down to the Royals 10-yard line.
Chardon, though, could not move the ball and settled for a 35-yard field goal from senior Sam Sacerich.
The Hilltopper’s kickoff was a pooch kick, which was recovered by Chardon senior Gavin Wroblewski on midfield.
Senior halfback Beckett Dotson then ripped off a 50-yard touchdown run to make it 9-0 with 4:18 to play in the first quarter.
After opening up that 9-0 lead, the Royals (10-2) outscored Chardon 19-7 the rest of the way.
About 20 seconds after Dotson’s score, a 71-yard touchdown run by the Royals closed the gap to 9-6.
The score would not change until 4:54 left in the third when CVCA struck through the air.
Junior quarterback Charlie Levak hit junior running back Joey Kopec for a 25-yard score to make it 12-9.
For the second time in the game, senior Matthew McIlroy blocked the point after attempt, which kept Chardon within a field goal of tying the game.
On their ensuing drive, the Royals marched down to the Chardon 30-yard line, but could not convert a fourth and 13.
The Hilltoppers then took over and with under a minute to go in the quarter, picked up their first first down of the half. It would propel Chardon, as the Toppers marched down the field and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Vinny Colombi.
With just under a minute and a half to play, CVCA struck for the game winning score as Levak hit Kopec on a 40-yard reception. The drive was kept alive on a third down and long play when Levak fumbled the snap, faced pressure, was flushed out nearside and heaved a ball into triple coverage that was caught by CVCA junior wide out Brayden Harris.
Chardon had an opportunity to potentially tie the game, as a bad punt gave the Hilltoppers the ball on the CVCA with about 50 seconds left.
With the ball back, the Toppers managed to pick up a first down, and it looked like they might be able to put themselves in a position to win or at least tie the game.
“We were trying to get in field goal range at that point because of the way they would have defended us,” said Chardon head coach Mitch Hewitt. “We were trying to use the sideline to keep some clock. We had no timeouts and we needed a first down. We would have had to spike it and hit Caleb on an out route and then sent out the kicking team.”
The drive ended just shy of field goal range as a bad snap on fourth and two gave the ball back to CVCA.
Chardon had opportunities throughout the game, but could not do anything with them.
A fumble inside the 5-yardline took a touchdown off the board in the first quarter. Penalties and poor execution hurt them as well.
“The mistakes are somewhat indicative of what we’ve been at times,” said Coach Hewitt. “I thought we sort if put that to bed, but they showed up tonight and we just couldn’t over it. That’s a good football team and the three seed for a reason. Their coach told me this was the best team in their school’s history, so they played with a bit more edge than we did and it showed today.”
Coach Hewitt lamented two play that turned the tide of the game – a fumble inside the CVCA five and the third down scramble they hit in triple coverage.
“You might take 100 snaps in a game and you look back on it and 10 of them decided it,” he said. “That’s the way it’s been since the first football game. There’s a lot of plays, but it’s eight to 11 plays that really decide the outcome.”
“It was something we said at the beginning of the year we couldn’t do and we did; it was an issue,” Caleb Hewitt said about the team’s propensity for making mistakes.
“I just felt like we were too inconsistent and that ended up being our downfall,” added senior linebacker Alexander Ash.
The loss brings to a close one of the most successful classes in school history.
Over their four years, the senior class went 46-9, including a state title in their freshman year.
“While this game didn’t turn out in our favor, feel like we left all on the field,” Ash said. “Mistakes ended up being our downfall, but that happens and you have to learn from it.”
For the seniors, it was the last time they would put on a Hilltopper football uniform.
Ash called the group special.
“These are my brothers; I’ve been playing with these kids since pee wee football at the age of five,” he said. “I would do anything for them.”
“These are my brothers, my best friends,” Caleb Hewitt said. “I grew up playing football with them and I hope to keep these relationships throughout my years.”
Coach Hewitt called the senior class talented, gifted and successful.
“I think their foundation is solid and their toolbox is full,” he said. “As they move on in life, I think they’re going to look back and be proud of the time they spent together.”
For Ash, the memories that he will cherish of his time wearing the Chardon colors are the bonds he created with his teammates, which he called everlasting.
“Going undefeated in middle school, beating Ursuline; there’s so many memories,” said Caleb Hewitt. There are so many things I’m going to keep with me for the rest of my life. I don’t regret anything.”
Not only was this the last game for the seniors, but it was the last football game for Chardon Athletic Director Doug Synder, who will retire at the end of the school year.
For coach Hewitt, the upcoming retirement of his athletic director will be a big loss.
“When I got the job, he was the AD,” said coach Hewitt. “Today, he’s one of my best friends. He cares about the kids, cares about sports, cares about coaches. He’s not a bureaucrat. He cares about the right things and he’s in the right position. Chardon’s going to miss him.”
