8th seeded Mayfield led 21-17 at halftime, the game could have gone anyway in the second half.
The (5-1, 3-1 in Western Reserve Conference) Wildcats’ answer was to run the football with running backs Joey Dostal, Jack Klika, and quarterback Michael Huss.
A large amount of their plays were runs. The team’s execution resulted in 185 rushing yards, and four touchdowns for Dostal in their Division II, Region 5 second round playoff 55-31 win against ninth seed Nordonia (4-4, 3-2 in Suburban League) to advance.
Dostal with his 3rd TD of the night. (1-yd)
Wildcats extend their lead 28-17, 6:57, Q3. @MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/Sjo1N91mp2
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 17, 2020
Dostal pounds his way into the end zone. (3-yds)
Mayfield 41
Nordonia 23@MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/Qpy2ySiN3a— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 17, 2020
(Dostal) is a stud,” Wildcats’ coach Ross Bandiera said after the win.
“He came to play. When the stakes are at its highest. Tonight was a high stakes game and he came to play.”
Along with his rushing statline, Dostal caught four balls for 41 receiving yards, which is over 200 yards of total offense.
Dostal keeping the chains moving on 4th down.@MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/nD7hrJqOei
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 17, 2020
“[Dostal is tough, he has good size], he never does not fall forward,” Huss said about his running back.
“He always falls forward; getting the extra yards. Sometimes, when he gets those extra yards, he’ll burst for a little more. It’s really nice having him back with me.”
Dostal could have potentially had five touchdowns, if Huss didn’t muff the shotgun snap. Mayfield ended up scoring on that drive with a Huss touchdown pass to wide receiver Billy Guzzo from eight yards.
Whenever Dostal needed a break, Klika game in and provided Mayfield with an effective rushing game.
Dostal left the game in the second half after he left the field limping while on defense as a two-way player. It was later revealed to be cramps as he re-entered the game later.
Huss also showed his abilities as a dual-threat quarterback as he scored three rushing touchdowns along with a passing touchdown.
Huss scores on a 6-yd run for Mayfield.
They extend the lead to 34-23, 2:49, Q3 PAT no good. pic.twitter.com/YIOjlt7udV
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 17, 2020
Dostal and the other Seniors talked about the fact that this was possibly their last game with a Wildcats jersey on before the game.
Off the opening drive, the realization of their Wildcats’ football careers fueled them to step their game up as Senior quarterback Michael Huss scored on a 1-yard touchdown after a pass interference moved the ball to the 1-yard line before he was able to punch it in.
QB Michael Huss draws his way into the end zone for Mayfield's opening TD drive. (1yd) they lead 7-0 @MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB pic.twitter.com/72yQjXYH53
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 16, 2020
“That [first] offensive drive was huge,” Dostal said.
“Our defense really stepped up today. They played good in the secondary and in the trenches too.”
The one-yard touchdown was Huss’ first. His second happened with a quarterback option play that completely fooled the Knights defense as he ran into the endzone untouched. In the fourth quarter.
Nordonia stayed in the game with running back Sal Perrine who rushed for two touchdowns.
They kept drives alive with fourth down conversions early. The Knights converted two fourth downs in their opening drive before Perrine scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Sal Perrine for Nordonia, scores on a 2-yd TD to tie it at 7-7. 6:20 Q1. @MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/bmphvjcxFN
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 16, 2020
Mayfield immediately responded with a 13-yard touchdown run by Dostal for his first of many in the middle of the first quarter.
Touchdown Wildcats!
Joey Dosta (13-yds) bounces it outside to give Mayfield the 14-7 lead. 4:03 Q1.@MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/m4fhpiCfQN
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 16, 2020
With a 24-yard field goal from Nordonia and Perrine’s second touchdown (three yards), the Knights took the lead for the first and only time as they led 17-14.
Sal Perrine scores with a gaping whole to the end zone from 3 yards! His second TD of the night. Nordonia takes the 17-14 lead. 8:11, Q2.@MayfieldFB @NordKnightFB @FOX8FNTD pic.twitter.com/PuhOYmmdON
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 16, 2020
From the perspective of the Nordonia side they were having problems with the officiating. One of their many problems were possible fumbles and illegal blocks that occurred on one of Mayfield’s drives that resulted in a touchdown five minutes before halftime.
Blindside block? No 57 green. @NordKnightFB thinks so. pic.twitter.com/wxgon4C1WK
— Mark Perez-Krywany (@MarkPerezK10) October 16, 2020
One play after the suspected illegal block, was a 7-yard rushing touchdown for Dostal to give Mayfield the 21-17 lead.
Mayfield advances to the Division II, Region 5 quarter final and will face top-seeded Archbishop Hoban Knights that defeated Kent Roosevelt 63-0 in their playoff game.
Hoban and Mayfield faced off in the OHSAA playoffs for the past three straight years and this will make it the fourth consecutive year these two teams faced each other in the playoffs. All in which Hoban has won.
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