By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The 2024 football season has been unlike any in recent history for the Mogadore Wildcats.

Mogadore quarterback Karson Jaber releases a throw that became a 60-yard touchdown pass to Conner Lehner.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

It has been up and down, with far more downs than the program is accustomed to, including an 0-3 start for the first time since 1975.

At that point, the Wildcats were set to host Newark Catholic for a Week 4 game on Sept. 13 and the preparation for the Green Wave centered around hitting the reset button for the season.

Head coach Matt Adorni needed his team to focus less on why they are 0-3 and more about how they could finish 7-0.

The Wildcats actually finished 5-2 over that stretch, but standing near midfield on Friday, following his team’s 28-7 victory over Rootstown to end the regular season, Adorni was as proud as he has ever been.

“Listen, I have coached some 10-0 teams, championship teams, but I am as proud of this group as any I have ever coached in my career,” said Adorni. “We had low numbers, we started 0-3 for the first time in forever, we had injuries, but our kids never stopped battling and working hard. I am just so proud of them.”

The win improved Mogadore’s overall record to 5-5 and 2-1 in the Portage Trail Conference. It is the first non-winning season for the Cats since 1997 (3-7).

However, the win also clinched a playoff spot for Mogadore, which extends the team’s streak of consecutive playoff appearances to 26 years.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association will officially release the playoff rankings on Sunday, but Friday’s victory over Rootstown clinched the No. 12 spot for the Wildcats in Division VI, Region 21, with a likely road matchup at Hanoverton United set for next week.

Mogadore’s Maddox Smith tries to pull away from a Rootstown defender during a first-half run on Friday in Mogadore.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

“Tonight was all about who wanted to keep playing this season,” Adorni said. “I am so glad to play November football and our kids battled to make that happen. Now, we will relish the underdog role in the playoffs.”

On Friday, the Cats had to battle from behind early.

Rootstown’s opening drive put Mogadore on its heels, starting with a designed hook-and-ladder on the opening play that resulted in 22 yards. Even when the Rovers went backwards 11 yards on a mishandled handoff, they responded quickly. On the next play, quarterback Blake Mullaly escaped heavy pressure in the backfield, but kept his eyes down the field — a skill and trend that benefitted the Rovers throughout the game — to find a wide open Ethan White on the left sideline. White turned up the field and easily scored a 39-yard touchdown. Mullaly added the extra point and the Rovers had an early 7-0 lead with 8:50 on the first-quarter clock.

The drive caught Adorni’s attention.

“Rootstown came out on fire,” Adorni said.

The Rovers maintained control of the game throughout the first quarter, holding Mogadore scoreless. Rootstown was in position to extend its lead at the end of the first quarter. 

On a drive that was created off an interception by Chase Duvall, the Rovers were near the red zone and faced a third-and-8 when the quarter ended.

From that point forward, the game belonged to the Wildcats.

Mogadore’s Conner Lehner is wrapped up by Rootstown’s Max McEwuen.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

On the first play of the second quarter, Kolton Thomas dove in front of a pass near the right sideline for an interception at the 7-yard line to end the Rovers’ drive.

The turnover did not result in any points, but points were right around the corner for the Cats.

On Rootstown’s next possession, the Rovers fumbled and it was recovered by Mogadore on the Rovers’ 39-yard line by Thomas.

Two plays later, Conner Lehner scored the first of his three touchdowns of the night on a 33-yard run. The extra point was missed, keeping Rootstown in the lead at 7-6 with 7:49 until halftime.

On Rootstown’s ensuing possession, it fumbled again.

This time, Mogadore recovered it on the Rovers’ 14.

Lehner turned it into points again, with an 8-yard score. Karson Jaber found Nick Stephenson running along the back of the end zone to complete the 2-point conversion and give Mogadore a 14-7 lead.

After Rootstown’s next possession stalled out, Mogadore found the end zone one more time before halftime.

This time it came through the air.

Mogdaore offensive lineman Tyler Youngblood hoists Conner Lehner in the air after a second-quarter touchdown run.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports

Jaber sent a well thrown ball to Lehner along the left sideline that resulted in a 60-yard touchdown. Rootstown’s defensive back actually was in good position initially, but slipped and gave Lehner a free path to the end zone. Lehner caught the ball near the 40-yard line, then raced down the sideline to the end zone for the 21-7 lead.

The third quarter was scoreless, but another Rootstown turnover doomed the Rovers’ comeback attempt.

On a good drive that moved the ball to Mogadore’s 11-yard line, the Rovers fumbled again and it was recovered by Mogadore’s Tyler Pendergast.

After a scoreless third quarter, which carried over to the majority of the fourth quarter, Mogadore got back on the board with 2:37 left in the game on a 15-yard pass from Jaber to Maddox Smith in the right corner of the end zone.

Lehner finished the game with 135 yards on 22 carries. He totaled three touchdowns and also had an interception on defense.

Mogadore rushed for 256 yards as a team, with Aaron Rumschlag adding 38 yards, Smith had 39 and Jaber ran for 44 for the Cats.

Despite the loss, Rootstown (4-6, 1-2) also clinched a playoff berth, earning the 16th and final spot in Division VI, Region 21. The Rovers will travel to face No. 1 seed Kirtland next week.

Rootstown running back Damien Reuting dives forward for extra yards during Friday’s first half.
Paisley Nader/Portage Sports