Firestone’s football team ends losing streak Area teams have mixed results
over weekend
By Mike D’Agruma
WEST AKRON — Firestone High School head coach Tim Flossie got his first win as a Falcon Sept. 1 after his team rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit on the strength of 28 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to notch a 35-27 win over Streetsboro High School.
The Falcons (1-1) put up two defensive scores on an interception and fumble return to go alongside two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Trevor Kennedy. Streetsboro would use a third-quarter score to close the gap, but a 6-yard punch by running back Darshawn Thomas in the fourth gave the Falcons the breathing room they needed to stave off a last-ditch effort by the Rockets. Thomas rushed for 173 of the team’s 200 rushing yards.
The win was the first for the Falcons after a 21-game slide that dates back to 2004. Despite their recent struggles, Flossie has said he feels confident his team is ready to play at a high level.
Firestone will get the chance to prove Flossie right as they head to Barberton High School for a Sept. 8 meeting with the Magics at 7 p.m.
Other area football games played over the weekend:
• Austintown Fitch 15, Buchtel 0: A dominating Austintown Fitch High School defense completely shut down any semblance of offense from Buchtel High School (0-2) in a shutout win. The Griffins managed 113 yards for the game with only 5 yards rushing in the second half on 10 carries. Buchtel finished the game with 67 yards rushing. They will travel to Warren Harding High School Sept. 9 for a 7:30 p.m. game.
• Copley 48, Collinwood 20: Copley High School running back Justin White-Reid beat Cleveland Collinwood High School virtually by himself as he put up 24 points with three rushing and a receiving touchdown to lead the Indians (1-1) to a blowout win. Copley amassed 394 yards of total offense, averaging 9.6 yards per play. Copley will face its next test at home Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. against Orrville High School.
• CVCA 28, Woodridge 7: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s (CVCA) lethal backfield duo of John Weakley and John Pettigrew ran straight down Woodridge High School’s throat for 342 hard-earned rushing yards as CVCA (2-0) overcame several first-half blunders to turn a 7-7 halftime tie into a blowout win. Woodridge (0-2) only managed to capitalize on one early CVCA turnover, while giving up a few of its own to a CVCA defense that only allowed 171 total yards of offense. Three of CVCA’s touchdowns came on Pettigrew and Weakley touchdown runs of longer than 40 yards. CVCA will host Keystone High School Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Woodridge will take on Norwayne High School Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
• Buckeye 24, Highland 6: Highland High School fell to 0-2 after a Sept. 1 loss to Buckeye High School. For the Hornets to get on a winning track, they need some help on the defensive end, as they’ve surrendered 66 points in their first two games. They’ll have their work cut out for them Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. as they head to John Cistone Stadium to face St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
• Norton 12, Kenmore 7: Norton High School’s Chase Goodman provided the scoring punch the Panthers needed with an 8-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter and a 39-yard interception return in the third to lead his team to a home win over Kenmore High School. Junior running back Matt Sling ran for 134 of the Panther’s 243 rushing yards. Norton’s (1-1) defense dominated Kenmore by holding them to only four first downs and 114 yards of total offense. Norton will host Cloverleaf High School Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
• North Royalton 7, Revere 3: The Revere High School Minutemen (0-2) drew first blood against North Royalton High School with a first quarter, 34-yard field goal by Eric DeWitt. It would be the only offense the Minutemen would generate, despite putting up close to 300 yards of total offense and doubling up North Royalton on first downs. A lack of a consistent passing attack might have been the Minutemen’s undoing. While they averaged almost 30 yards per pass, they only completed 28 percent of them. Revere will travel to Brecksville High School Sept. 8 for a 7 p.m. game.
• Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 21, St. Vincent-St. Mary 7: The only offense for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) came on the wrong side of the ball — a 40-yard interception return by senior DeWayne Richardson — as the Fighting Irish almost picked up more yards on that play than they did for the game. A very dominant Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (NDCL) defense held STVM (1-1) to 52 yards of total offense, including one passing yard on four attempts and a miniscule average of 1.8 yards per rush. NDCL also picked off two Irish passes — adding more woe to the STVM passing game. The Irish will take on Highland High School at home Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
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