CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS, Ohio- Playoff football returned to South Cleveland this evening as the #1 ranked Redskins of Cuyahoga Heights took the field versus the very game but overmatched Falcons of Hillsdale High School. A packed house went home happy as the home team advanced in the OHSAA Division VI playoffs with a very workman-like 24-7 victory.
With their sights squarely on a sure confrontation with arch rival Kirtland later in these playoffs, Heights found out early that they had an opponent who would give them all they could handle, early. After 3 and outs by both teams on their first possessions, the Redskins drove 61 yards on 7 plays capped off by a FB Lucas D’Orazio 5 yard run, the PAT made it 7-0 Heights. Hillsdale’s next possession saw them go 3 and out but a fake punt on 4th down, converted by RB Alex Becker, who took a direct snap and picked up 6 yards to extend the drive. The drive stalled, however, and the first quarter ended 7-0 Heights.
An 11 play 82 yard drive started the second quarter for the ‘Skins, mostly on the running of QB Brett Lowther and D’Orazio, but the drive stalled and they settled for a 27 yard FG by SR Mark Shafer to make the score 10-0 at the intermission. Shafer also extended his PAT streak to 55 in a row. The second quarter was also a turnover-fest as the teams combined for 4 turnovers in the period. SR Safety Joey Stefanko led the Heights defense with 2 of his 3 interceptions during that stretch.
The second half was more of the same as the offensive line for Heights started to wear down the Falcons and right from the start they went 3 plays 69 yards and cashed it in with a 62 yard bomb from Lowther to TE Matt Harris for an easy score. On 3rd and less than a yard to go, Hillsdale brought the defense in the box and Lowther faked the run and found Harris all alone and he raced untouched into the endzone. A late 3rd quarter score by D’Orazio made the score 24-0 heading into the 4th.
Hillsdale finally got on the board late in the 4th quarter, after the game was well in hand, with a 4 yard run by SR RB Ethan Elliot. QB Trey Williams went 19/29 140 yards and 3 INT in a losing cause. For the Redskins, Lowther was 7/14, 201 yards and 1 TD and also ran for 46 yards on 15 carries. D’Orazio finished the night with 17 carries for 55 yards and 2 TD.
The Cuyahoga Heights Redskins advance next week to meet the winner of Lisbon David Anderson vs Louisville St Thomas Aquinas. The Hillsdale Falcons’ season ends with a very respectful 7-4 record.
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