Badgers Claim 1st Place in the CVC, Kinsman Cup
The Berkshire Badgers' 50-20 victory over the Cardinal Huskies on Oct. 21 was their most momentous win in years.
Game photos click here.
The Berkshire Badgers’ 50-20 victory over the Cardinal Huskies on Oct. 21 was their most momentous win in years.
With the victory, the Badgers finished atop the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division for the first time since 2005. Berkshire also took the Kinsman Cup back from its near-town rival and improved its all-time record against Cardinal to 35-34-1.
The Badgers also clinched a playoff berth and will host West Lafayette Ridgewood in the first postseason game in Great Lakes Cheese Stadium history.
All things considered, Berkshire was thrilled with how the night unfolded.
“Obviously we feel great,” Badgers Head Coach Josh DeWeese said. “We came in for a share of the CVC title. … We won the Kinsman Cup, and we beat our rival, so we hit the goals we wanted.”
As has been the case for the Badgers all season, the brunt of their scoring came from senior wide receiver Josh Brown and junior quarterback Miles Miller.
Miller finished the game with 176 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, one to Brown and the other to senior receiver Mason Mendolera. Miller also rushed for a team-high 139 yards and four touchdowns.
The Badgers quarterback thought his team’s offense was efficient.
“Our offense today did everything right on every single level of the game,” Miller said. “We blocked well, we ran well outside, we did everything we had to do to win the game, and that’s what it came down to.”
Brown’s first touchdown was a key moment for the Badgers. On the Huskies’ first offensive drive, junior quarterback Logan Strever scampered into the endzone for a 16-yard touchdown run. With a 6-0 lead less than one minute into the game, Cardinal seemed to seize the momentum of the game.
But on the ensuing kickoff, Brown returned the ball 76 yards for a touchdown, and the Badgers quickly claimed a 7-6 lead.
Brown said that his team has had great chemistry this season.
“In practice we’re all going back and forth trying to find open spots,” Brown said. “But it all starts with the offensive line. You need protection, you need good running backs; we’ve got Justin Phillips up the middle, and every time he’s gaining yards and positive plays. It’s chemistry.
“We had a pass over the middle, I dipped inside and looked at (Miller) and pointed to my head — that’s chemistry right there, and we love it.”
And fore Berkshire, DeWeese said Miller and Brown have been key offensive players all year.
“They’re two of our horses,” DeWeese said. “They are phenomenal players and phenomenal people as well. But I’d like to also put a little spotlight on Justin Phillips and Johnny Heiden for running the ball downhill.”
The Huskies scored three times in the first half against Berkshire. Strever and senior running back Josh Soltis each had rushing touchdowns, and junior linebacker Neil Lucariello returned a Badgers fumble 59 yards for a touchdown.
Then the Badgers defense stepped up in the second half and did not allow Cardinal to score another point. Miller, who had an interception for Berkshire in the fourth quarter, said his team’s defense shifted its mentality at halftime.
“We knew our defense had to step it up and be more aggressive,” Miller said. “They were more aggressive in the first half and we knew that, so we came out of halftime more aggressive and we shut them down.”
Both teams will spend the next week preparing for the playoffs.
Cardinal, who finished the year 5-5 and fourth place in the CVC Valley division, will travel to Cuyahoga Heights to take on the 7-2 Red Wolves.
Berkshire, who finished the season 7-3 and placed first in the CVC Valley division, will look to keep its season alive hosting the 7-3 Ridgewood Generals.
Brown hopes the postseason game will provide good experience to his younger teammates.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys on this team and they’re excited,” Brown said. “It’ll be good for them to face some upper- level competition, something for them to really work on and push themselves towards. It they like it and if things turn out great, they’re going to want more.”
