By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

In Week 3, first-year Ravenna football coach Joe Callihan praised his team for their best practice of the season.

While proud, he had somewhat expected it because it was Kent-Ravenna week.

Callihan’s perspective was that he figured his squad would be extra locked in to prepare for their storied rival.

The result was a resounding victory.

This week, though, the Ravens could not match the intensity of their opponent and fell 42-14 on the road in a Metro Athletic Conference showdown with Cloverleaf.

The Colts are now 3-1, defeating Keystone (35-19), Black River (36-6) and Ravenna, and are seemingly a threat to challenge for the MAC championship after winning three straight following a narrow loss in Week 1 (29-28 to Buckeye).

On Friday, the Colts dominated the game on the ground.

Cloverleaf rushed the ball 42 times for a total of 351 yards

The Colts were led by senior quarterback Oakley Kemp, who had a 50-yard rushing touchdown to go along with a pair of passing scores — both of which landed in the hands of Griffin Petrocci from distances of 23 and 26 yards out.

Cloverleaf jumped out to a 14-3 lead after the first quarter and led 21-3 at halftime.

Ravenna (2-2) closed its deficit to 28-17 in the third quarter on a pair of touchdowns by Pavel Henderson, who ran in from 30 yards and 13 yards. The Ravens’ initial score came on a 28-yard field goal by Michael Myers, who also booted the extra points on Henderson’s touchdowns.

However, Ravenna was unable to score in the fourth quarter, while the Colts scored twice to put the game away easily.

Henderson finished the game with 93 yards rushing for Ravenna on 14 carries.

M’Kell Williams completed 7-of-13 passes for 80 yards, while Henderson also spent some time at quarterback and was 5-of-12 for 60 yards.

Maykai O’Neal was the favorite target and had 101 yards through the air.

The Ravens travel to Streetsboro in Week 5. The Rockets lost to Norton 35-25 on Friday and will enter Week 5 with a similar 2-2 record.