Howland loses 43-14

A missed scoring opportunity at the end of the first half was a turning point.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BEDFORD -- For most of this season Howland High's defense has been one of the main reasons for the Tigers' success.
Friday night, though, the defense was unable to stop Olmsted Falls, and coupled with numerous mistakes, the Tigers were eliminated from the Division II playoffs, 43-8, at Bearcat Stadium.
The Tigers (9-3) scored on their opening drive of the contest, then gave up 43 unanswered points before scoring again in the final period, but they had opportunities early and couldn't cash in.
Olmsted Falls (11-2) will play in the state semifinals next Friday, against an opponent to be named.
Howland, trailing 22-8, drove to the Olmsted Falls 8-yard line just before halftime, but a halfback pass by Maurice Smith was intercepted at the goal line, ending the drive and the half.
"That was one of the big plays of the game," said Tigers coach Dick Angle. "If we get in there it is only a one-touchdown game and anything might happen."
Near miss
Angle said the Tigers missed another big opportunity when they punted on their second series and the ball just got into the end zone.
"Had we downed it at the 1, it was still 8-0 at the time and it could have changed things, instead they got it at the 20 and drove down to score," he said.
But it still came down to defense and the Tigers didn't play well on that side of the ball.
"We were unhappy with our tackling in the first half," Angle said. "We knew that they were a good running team, but we felt that we were a pretty good run defense team."
Howland's kickoff return team also made some mistakes. Twice players touched the loose ball before it went out of bounds, and another time the Tigers failed to cover a kickoff and it was recovered by Olmsted Falls.
"The ball just seemed to bounce right in their favor all night," Angle added. "Heck, they fumbled once and gained 7 yards on the play. The football gods were looking down on them tonight."
First points
Howland took the opening kickoff, and starting at its own 23, drove right down the field behind Smith's rushing. Senior quarterback Chris Settlemire then found a wide open Chris Kenny for a 33-yard gain down to the Bulldogs' 7, and two plays later he fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to Matt Zakrajsek. The Tigers faked a kick for the point after and holder Joshua Settlemire passed to Kenny for the two points.
But then the Bulldogs went on offense and never stopped.
They started a drive on their first series, but Dave Rieth fumbled at the Howland 21 and the Tigers' Mike Zambelli recovered.
When Howland's ensuing drive stalled the Bulldogs took over at their own 20, from where quarterback Mickey Mental had a 52-yard run in the drive which ended with Mental hitting Tim Curran for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
The next series covered 62 yards with Rieth going 9 yards up the middle for the score and then, when Howland failed to cover the kickoff, Olmsted Falls took over at the Tigers' 28 and scored in three plays on a pass from Mental to Mike Uhl from 23 yards.
Howland got the ball back with 4:49 remaining and drove to the Bulldogs' 7. With less than a minute remaining the Tigers tried a halfback pass with Smith throwing, but it was picked off by Scott Galbicsek at the goal line.
"It was a play that we put in this week and it was executed well, but the ball slipped out of [Smith's] hands as he threw and they got it," Angle said.
Start of second half
The Bulldogs started the third quarter by driving 67 yards all on the ground with Curran scoring on a 4-yard run that put Tigers ahead 29-8.
Settlemire was intercepted on the next series at the Howland 17, but Olmsted Falls' Dan Terbeek missed a 27-yard field goal.
But the Tigers made still another mistake on the next series when Jon Airhart had the ball snapped over his head on a punt attempt. He recovered it at the goal line and managed to get the punt off, but it got out only to the Howland 22.
Three plays later Curran ran over from the 10 to put the score at 36-8. The Bulldogs made it 43-8 on their next series after Mark Ziatz returned a punt to the Howland 8-yard line. This time Mental passed 8 yards to Pat Baddick.
Howland scored its final points on the next series driving from its own 46. Smith got the call from 12 yards out and slashed his way to the end zone.
The Bulldogs were led by Mental, the junior quarterback, who passed for 137 yards and rushed for 89 more. He had three touchdown passes.
Settlemire was 6-of-15 for 92 yards passing for the Tigers with one touchdown and one interception. Smith led the rushers with 70 yards on 17 attempts.
mollica@vindy.com