By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

In the locker room at halftime last Friday, the Field Falcons were staring at the potential that their 2024 season had only 24 minutes remaining.

Field’s Drexal McAmis (26) and Logan Roberts (76) lead the Falcons’ football team onto the field last Friday for a Division IV first-round playoff game at Lutheran East.
Shannon Eldreth/Special to Portage Sports

“We needed to get our acts together,” said longtime head coach Matt Furino, whose team trailed Lutheran East on the road 8-3 at the break.

A discussion opened about making some adjustments and changing the offensive approach.

All that came to an abrupt halt when senior offensive lineman captain Mason Wetzel spoke up.

“He told me not to change the gameplan,” Furino said. “He said that the team just had to do better and not make mistakes. He said that the team will get it together.”

And they did.

So much so that Furino described the second half as “unbelievable.”

Another term that could be used is historic, with the Falcons, who also trailed 16-10 after three quarters, came from behind to score a 24-16 victory over Lutheran East.

It was the first playoff win in the program’s history.

The Falcons qualified for the playoffs for the eighth time this season. The previous seven appearances all led to losses in Week 11, including:

• 2007: Walsh Jesuit, 0-35
• 2008: Walsh Jesuit, 21-24
• 2009: Cardinal Mooney, 14-42
• 2010: Cardinal Mooney, 0-28
• 2014: Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, 27-45
• 2022: West Branch, 20-52
• 2023: Mentor Lake Catholic, 14-38

This year, with the Falcons’ determined effort in the second half, was different.

“After the game, I felt so proud of all of our players,” Furino said. “They gave everything they had to do something that no Falcons football team has ever done before. It may not seem like a big deal to some schools, but it has taken us a long time to get here, and I know with the teams we have coming up, it’s just a stepping stone to get to the third and fourth rounds (in the future).”

The Falcons’ offensive gameplan in the win over Lutheran East, the one that Wetzel and some of his other teammates were not ready to give up on, was riding the broad and strong shoulders of senior running back Drexal McAmis and the team’s running game.

McAmis had arguably the greatest game of his high-school career, considering the circumstances, and finished the game with 206 yards rushing on 32 carries.

“He was unstoppable in the fourth quarter,” Furino said. “The offensive line was great in the fourth quarter blowing open holes for him.”

Field took a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter on a McAmis touchdown and the score provided a jolt of confidence into Furino.

“Once we took the lead, I knew we were going to win,” Furino said.

Part of that confidence for Furino was his belief that the team’s defense would be up to the challenge to hold onto the lead, with defensive coordinator Mike Harris leading a strong defensive gameplan.

Something Furino has watched throughout the season.

“I should buy Mike Harris and his defensive staff lunch for the next two years for what they have been able to do this year, especially last Friday,” Furino said. “The defense has been the difference in almost all of our wins. Mike is a great DC, and he has great people like George Wetzel, Mike Brown and Pat Herald assisting him. I am very grateful for all of them.”