By Don Dreger | Correspondent

For the second week in a row, Ravenna’s football team played a game that came down to the wire.

Last week, Tallmadge eked out a 29-28 victory over the Ravens by scoring a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the game, then adding a 2-point conversion for the win.

On Friday, Streetsboro (0-2) was the challenger. The host Rockets had the same chance in the closing seconds, but a scramble by quarterback Tyler Dixon on fourth down came up short on the five-yard line, enabling Ravenna to take a 14-7 victory on the short bus ride home.

“(Streetsboro coach John) Arlesic is doing a great job with his kids,” said Ravenna coach Jim Lunardi, whose team is now 1-1. “They were in the game right to the end.

“When Streetsboro moved the ball down the field at the end of the game, I’m sure our kids thought about last week. However, the team responded to our coaching for the final four plays and came through for us.”

This game was a slugfest. The line play was intense, with the tackling sharp and crisp. Both teams made key mistakes and paid for it on the scoreboard.

At the end of the game, Ravenna couldn’t get off the field fast enough while Streetsboro (0-2) was totally dejected.

“I think we proved to our fans that we have a great football team,” said Arlesic. “We gave them a touchdown on a broken play, and that was the margin of victory.

“Our kids fought and battled all night. Our coaching staff made adjustments, and we were able to hold off Ravenna most of the game. I believe that our kids will be hungry going into league play.”

Ravenna opened the door for Streetsboro early in the first period, when the Ravens center snapped the ball over the punter’s head and the Rockets were able to take over at the Ravenna 17.

Three plays later, Dixon hit Steve Magic down the sideline for a 14-yard score. Pete Hannan kicked the PAT, and the Rockets led 7-0.

Ravenna took over at the 35. With quarterback Brandon Holt in the shotgun formation flanked by two running backs, the snap was made and chaos ensued.

“What you saw is what happened,” said Lunardi, when asked about the design of the play.

What happened was that all three backs bumped into each other unintentionally. Holt recovered first and broke off tackle, clearing the Streetsboro secondary, and sped to the end zone untouched for the tying touchdown. Trevor Stankavich made the PAT, and the score was tied 7-7.

Streetsboro fumbled on its next possession, and Ravenna took over on the Rockets 15. However, Streetsboro’s defense stiffened and blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt.

The Rockets were able to stop another Ravens drive, as Stankavich was wide right on a 26-yard field-goal attempt as the half ended.

In Streetsboro’s initial drive of the game, running back Dakota Luzader (25 carries, 52 yards) was able to rip off some big gains. But the drive stalled after a couple of delay penalties were called, forcing the Rockets into a third and long. 

Ravenna had four first downs the first half, three of them by penalty. Other than Holt’s 65-yard run, the Ravens were held to minus-14 yards. The Rockets also had four first downs, two by rushing and two by passing.

In the second half, Ravenna earned good field position at mid-field after a short punt by the Rockets.

Facing a fourth and less than two yards at the 42, Ravenna gambled with a running play. D.J. Jones made three yards and the chains moved. 

Eventually, the Ravens made it down to the 1, where Holt used a sneak to get into the end zone. It would prove to be the winning margin as Ravenna led 14-7.

Streetsboro failed to move the ball twice, giving Ravenna good field position. But the Ravens shot themselves in the foot twice, having apparent touchdowns called back for holding. One was a 20-yard scamper by Holt, and the other was a completion to Stephen Wilmington on a fake field-goal attempt.

Streetsboro’s last possession started at the 25. A completion from Dixon to Jamari Heard took the ball out to the 50, and a roughing the passer penalty on the Ravens added another 15 yards. Then a pass interference penalty took the ball to the 20.

A scramble by Dixon took the ball to the 8, where the Ravens defense tightened up and held the Rockets out of the end zone on the next four plays to preserve the victory.

Holt was the top rusher with 85 yards on 10 carries.

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Contact Don Dreger at ddreger@recordpub.com