Firestone finds its way to big comeback against Revere
 
RICHFIELD — Firestone High School’s football team will not play a home game until Sept. 21. If they make a habit of responding to adversity in enemy territory the way they did Aug. 24 at Revere High School, however, they may never want to.
What could have ended up as a normal case of road woes turned into a big burst of momentum as the Falcons turned a 17-point deficit into 26 unanswered points for a 26-17 road win over the Minutemen.
A 52-yard, second quarter touchdown run by Firestone senior Darshawn Thomas got the Falcons touchdown jailbreak started, which included fellow senior Trevor Kennedy (No. 7), shown above left as he rolls out to pass, rushing for touchdowns of nine and 30 yards while completing seven of 16 passes for 115 yards. Thomas later finished what he started with a 3-yard run to cap the two-quarter scoring blitz. Revere quarterback Taylor Newmann (No. 7), shown above center as he stiff-arms and high steps over a Falcon defender for a big gain and above while being tripped up before being gang tackled for a short one, went only 8-23 for 99 yards with his arm, but hooked up with receiver Mick Battaglia for a 23-yard score in leading the Minutemen to their 17-0 lead. Revere’s Eric Dewitt hit the game’s lone field goal.
Revere’s offense, kickstarted by senior Quinten Brewer’s (No. 25) 35-yard touchdown run, shown above right, managed to keep Firestone’s defense on the field for 62 plays but couldn’t find a way to make the big one as the Falcons stepped up to completely shut down the Minutemen attack in the second half. For the game, the Falcons’ pass defense held Revere to a paltry 4.3 yards-per-pass average and 35 percent completion percentage. The Minutemen ended up averaging more yards with the run (39 rushes, 196 yards, 5.0 yards per carry) than the pass (eight completions, 99 yards, 4.3) and picked up two fewer first downs (14 to 16).
Firestone, shut out until Thomas’ run, was effective and efficient in running its offense, picking up a total of 307 yards on 37 plays. Led by the legs of Thomas and Kennedy, the team racked up 192 yards rushing with a gaudy 9.1 yards per carry.
The Falcons will hit the road for their next away game against Northwest High School tomorrow, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. The Minutemen also will be on the road, taking on North Royalton High School on the same date. The kickoff for that game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
— By Mike D’Agruma
Photos: Ken Crisafi
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