By Phil Keren

Correspondent

A physical running game paired with punishing defense to propel Streetsboro to a 30-0 win over Metro Conference foe Woodridge on a rainy Senior Night on Friday.

After enjoying a spirited celebration with his team, Streetsboro (7-2, 4-1 MAC) head coach Pete Thompson said he was “very happy” to “win a game against a team like that in the manner in which we did.”

Streetsboro football head coach Pete Thompson talks to his team following their 30-0 Metro Athletic Conference win over Woodridge on Friday.
Phil Keren/Portage Sports

Thompson noted he was pleased with the way his team settled into the game following a slow start.

Streetsboro was unable to pick up a first down on its opening possession and Woodridge (7-2, 4-2) then drove to the Streetsboro 25-yard line thanks mostly to runs by freshman running back Will Owens.

“I thought it was going to be a long night the way that game started,” Thompson said. “With the emotion of Senior Night…(we were) off our normal pre-game routine and we kind of came out flat.”

The Rockets then caught a break which seemed to energize and focus them for the rest of the evening. A pass tipped off a Woodridge receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Streetsboro freshman linebacker Liam Fincham who returned the ball to the Rockets’ 38-yard line.

“I think that interception got us juiced there a little bit, got us going,” Thompson said.

After a false-start penalty moved them back five yards, Streetsboro used a variety of running schemes to move 23 yards in five plays to the Woodridge 44-yard line. On the next play, Streetsboro senior quarterback Colton Cox tossed a pass down the sideline to senior running back Noah Hodge who snared the ball in stride and raced to the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown. After senior kicker Logan Sadowski connected on the extra point, the Rockets led 7-0 with 4:41 left in the first quarter.

Early In the second quarter, Woodridge senior quarterback Blake Pumper threw a long pass that went through a Rocket defender’s hands and was caught by Bulldog junior tight end

Carter Maxa for a 51-yard gain to the Streetsboro 45-yard line. A personal foul on Streetsboro advanced the ball to the Rockets’ 30-yard line. Four plays later, a Streetsboro defender was flagged for pass interference on a fourth down play, giving Woodridge a first down at the

Rockets’ 16-yard line. The Streetsboro D held Owens to a pair of 1-yard gains on first and second down. The defense then forced two straight incomplete pass to complete the stand.

The momentum from that stop carried into a methodical 15-play, 53-yard drive to the Woodridge 30. Sadowski’s 47-yard field goal attempt just before halftime sailed wide left.

An injury kept Maxa, the Bulldogs’ top player, out of the game for the entire second half.

“I know they got banged up a little bit with some of their guys,” Thompson said. “Obviously when Carter Maxa went out of the game that was a huge momentum-changer…he’s such an elite player with…tons of college offers. I think for their offense it put them in somewhat of a bind.”

A big play at the start of the second half paved the way for the Rockets’ second touchdown of the game. Streetsboro junior wide receiver Dallas Morris took the handoff on an end around, and sped down the sideline for a 50-yard gain to the Bulldog 13-yard line.

“I thought Dallas Morris’ run kind of loosened them up,” Thompson said. “I thought that really was a huge momentum (play)…Just being able to add an extra element there.”

Both Hodge and senior running back Logan Fincham then showcased a physical running style that would be on display throughout the second half. On third down and 3 from the Woodridge 6-yard line, Hodge was hit by a Bulldog defender at the line of scrimmage, but broke free of the tackle and powered ahead for a three-yard pickup. On first and goal from the 3-yard line,

Fincham bulled his way into the end zone to put the Rockets ahead, 14-0, at 7:16 of the third quarter.

“Between Logan and Noah just being able to run through guys and get those extra tough yards,” Thompson said. “I thought there were a lot of hidden yards in this game that we were able to get to keep the chains moving.”

Streeetsboro’s next touchdown didn’t happen until midway through the fourth quarter. A 44-yard punt pinned Woodridge deep in their own territory. The Rocket defense recorded a three-and-out and, following a short punt, the offense took over at the Woodridge 30-yard line. Runs by Logan and Liam Fincham moved the ball to the Bulldog 14-yard line. Hodge then took the handoff, broke a tackle, cut to the outside and outraced Woodridge defenders for a 14-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 7:28 to play.

On Woodridge’s next possession, Streetsboro senior defensive back Adrian Monroe intercepted a pass at the Bulldog 28-yard line and ran it back 12 yards to the 16-yard line.

While the drive quickly stalled, Sadwoski connected on a 38-yard field goal to extend his team’s lead to 24-0.

The Rocket D recorded another interception on Woodridge’s next possession. This time, it was Morris who got the takeaway when he corralled the ball after a Bulldog receiver was unable to secure possession.

Hodge rounded out the scoring by breaking away for a 68-yard touchdown run on what ended being the last play of the game.

It rained for a large portion of the evening, including a strong downpour in the first half.

Thompson noted he felt his team was well-prepared to play in the inclement conditions.

“Offensively…I think we’re kind of built for nights like this as far as what we do,” he said.

On Senior Night it seemed appropriate to have a pair of seniors – Logan Fincham and Hodge carry the load for their team with gutsy running and hard-fought yards.

“As the game went on, Logan Fincham I thought started to wear on them a little bit,”

Thompson observed. “He got some tough, tough yards, and then Hodge, he ran harder tonight than he has all year. I’m happy for the kid. We move him all around. He’s a receiver one play, he’s a back the next. Same thing on defense. He moves from corner to safety. He’s a team-first kid that will do anything for the team. So happy for him to have the night that he had tonight. I’m happy for our our seniors that they could have this lasting memory.”

After struggling earlier in the season, the Rocket defense is beginning to hit its stride. The Streetsboro D has now held their opponent scoreless for 10 straight quarters dating back to the second half of the 63-14 victory over Ravenna on Oct. 2.

“Our defensive line stopped up in the run game tonight and as the game went on, (they) were putting some of that pressure on their quarterback,” Thompson said. “I’m very proud of our defensive effort…The last three weeks, we’ve made some fundamental changes on that side of the ball, but the kids are starting to jell.”