Recordpub.com - Woodridge defeats Girard in regional semifinals

By Michael Leonard

Gateway News Sports Editor

UNIONTOWN — Last week, Woodridge fell behind early in its playoff opener and rallied to win.

This week, it was the Bulldogs who staked themselves to a 20-0 halftime lead.

Thankfully for the Bulldogs, there was no comeback this time.

Woodridge earned its first-ever berth in a football regional final after a 34-20 win over Girard on Saturday night at Lake High School’s Alumni Field.

The Division IV regional semifinal win sets the Bulldogs (10-2) up for a rematch with Chagrin Falls next Saturday in the regional final. Chagrin Falls defeated Woodridge 32-26 in Week 3 this season.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for about nine weeks,” Woodridge coach Eric Ervin said of the rematch “We’re so pumped up now I can’t believe it.”

Girard (11-1) outgained the Bulldogs 486-321 in total yards, but Woodridge did a much better job with the possessions they had. Big plays for the Bulldogs and poor discipline for the Indians led to Woodridge’s early lead.

After both teams’ opening drives stalled, Woodridge got the ball back at its own 3-yard line. A 39-yard pass from Anthony Westren to Zac Bickel keyed a nine-play, 97-yard drive. The drive was capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass from Westren to Brandyn Peters.

Girard seemed to be driving for the tying score, but Indians quarterback Adam Charles was hit as he threw from the Bulldog 12. The ball went right to Anthony Kelly, who sprinted 96 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Michael Orr’s extra point made it 14-0 Woodridge at the end of one quarter.

“I just kind of read his eyes and I saw the slant,” Kelly said. “It came to me and I was able to take it back.”

Woodridge nearly made it three touchdowns when Sebastian Dodds intercepted Charles at the 47-yard line. However, Westren’s pass to Peters in the end zone was picked off.

Woodridge’s defense was in bend-but-don’t-break mode the entire first half, as twice Woodridge sacked Charles on fourth down in Bulldogs territory.

Woodridge ended up with five sacks on the night and four fourth-down stops in Bulldog territory.

“The plan was to get pressure on Charles,” Ervin said. “On the season, I don’t think anybody brought heat against him so we just decided to just bring it all night.”

The first of these sacks led to Woodridge’s third touchdown, a five-play, 52-yard drive capped by a slashing 30-yard touchdown run from Kelly.

Orr’s extra point was wide left, but the Bulldogs had a 20-0 lead with 3:46 left in the half. They took that lead to halftime.

“We knew we had to jump on them early because they had a great defense,” Kelly said. “The offensive line did a great job tonight.”

Girard got back in the game thanks to two quick scores late in the third quarter.

First, Charles broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt was blocked. Then, the Bulldogs fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Girard recovered at the Bulldog 19.

Three plays later, Girard running back Ahmad Eggleston plunged into the end zone from a yard out. Mike Floravit then hauled in a 2-point conversion pass from Charles to cut the lead to 20-14 with 1:57 left in the third quarter.

Woodridge answered with a five-play, 63-yard touchdown drive to retake the momentum. Kelly capped the drive with a 30-yard touchdown and Orr’s extra point made it 27-14.

In the fourth quarter, Girard again drove into Woodridge territory, but again failed to covert fourth down.

Woodridge put the game out a reach with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that drained the clock. Woodridge fed Girard a steady dose of Kelly runs, but it was Westren who capped the drive when a quarterback sneak on third-and-1 turned into a 32-yard touchdown run.

Charles hit Graziano with a 41-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late for the Indians.

Kelly finished the night with 35 rushes for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Westren went 12-of-22 for 162 yards a touchdown and an interception.

Charles had a rough night, going 13-of-33 for 188 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also fumbled twice and was sacked five times.

Girard was its own worst enemy most of the night, as the Indians finished with 11 penalties for 100 yards.

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E-mail:mleonard@recordpub.com

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