WICKLIFFE, OHIO – Cuyahoga Heights got a late interception to secure a 41-34 victory on the road and snap Wickliffe’s streak of 10 straight regular season victories in a CVC Valley Division matchup Friday night.
Defense was the story early in the game as the first quarter would end scoreless after both teams would trade crucial stops on 4th downs.
Cuyahoga Heights was able to force an incompletion after Wickliffe had drove the game’s opening possession deep into Heights’ territory to the 24 yard line. Wickliffe would respond by causing a 30 yard field goal attempt to go wide left.
However, the complexion of the game would change drastically as the game transitioned into the second quarter and beyond.
Heights would get the scoring party started as QB Sam Shafer would find RB/WR Kyle Polack on the right side of the endzone to convert on a 4th & goal from the 4 yard line and take a 7-0 lead.
On the very next drive, Wickliffe would convert on two 4th downs of their own and RB Isaac Pettway would tie the score at 7 by pushing the pile for a 1 yard touchdown run.
Heights would close out the first half with a 10 play, 70 yard drive capped off by another touchdown hookup between Shafer and Polack, this time from 3 yards out, to make the score 14-7 at halftime.
Once the ball was kicked off for the second half, a fast and furious brand of offense on both sides was soon to follow.
Heights’ RB Brayden DiSanza would take the kickoff 66 yards breaking tackles up the left sideline and Shafer would hit WR Jason Bartosik in stride up the same sideline to the house for the 29 yard score only a minute into the half. After a missed extra point, Heights led 20-7.
After another quick response from the Blue Devils with a 13 yard jaunt past the pylon from Pettway, Heights would regain their 13 point edge just minutes later.
DiSanza would muscle his way across the goal line from four yards out for Heights’ first and only rushing score of the game.
Not to be out done, Wickliffe would show resiliency as they have in second halves for most of the season led by Pettway and QB Brad Dietrich.
Pettway would get his 3rd rushing score of the night after RB Jaylen Bowers’ 77 yard kickoff return to Heights’ 3 yard line and Dietrich would add a 61 yard scamper to paydirt of his own to tie the score at 27.
Even after a 28 yard diving catch from Bartosik in the back of the endzone to give Heights their 4th lead of the ballgame, Wickliffe was able to convert two more 4th down plays and Dietrich provided the 3rd tie of the game from just 5 yards out.
Ultimately however, the story of the game would be Cuyahoga Heights’ passing attack as Shafer would deliver the final blow by dropping a dime over the shoulder to Polack for the 50 yard touchdown reception. Bartosik would add the interception with 1:45 left to seal Heights’ 5th win on the season.
Next Up:
Cuyahoga Heights (5-2, 3-1) returns home to face the Cardinal Huskies at 7pm. Meanwhile, Wickliffe (6-1, 3-1) will welcome Fairport Harding to town for their Homecoming weekend with kickoff set for 7pm as well.
Player of the Game:
Cuyahoga Heights QB Sam Shafer earns this week’s player of the game honors. Shafer was 19 of 29 tonight for 318 yards and 5 touchdown passes. He also added 47 rushing yards on the night, which included converting on 3rd down to run out the clock at the end of the game.
Story by Kevan Arnold.
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