HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL United tops Asthabula Edgewood

Jim Smith, who in 1956 scored United's first ever touchdown, attended the game.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HANOVERTON -- United High School held a 50th anniversary gala Friday night and the Eagles did their share to add to the celebration.
United used big offensive plays -- especially from sophomore Nick Johnson -- and a defense that dominated the second half to upend Ashtabula Edgewood Saturday night, 29-12.
The Eagles took command in the third quarter, reeling off 22 unanswered points. Johnson was the big gun with 13 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
"To beat a team like Edgewood, this is just a great victory for our program," United coach D.J. Ojilvie said. "I've got to be honest, at halftime I didn't know if the kids had the confidence. But we sure came out as a different football team."
Second-half surge: Trailing 12-7 at the half, United took control on their first possession of the third quarter as Johnson rushed down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown. Prior to the Johnson run, United had only 55 yards total offense and just 3 yards rushing.
"We just kept pounding and pounding away, and I knew sooner or later [Johnson] would find a seam," Ojilvie said.
On Edgewood's first possession of the second half, Dominic Dangelo and Nick Schneider came up with tackles for negative yardage, holding the Warriors scoreless in the second half.
Edgewood seemed to lose all momentum -- and United began to roll.
Johnson scored again later in the half from 65 yards out to put the Eagles up 26-12 with 6:14 left in the game.
Good start: On United's first play, sophomore quarterback Mitch Phillis hit Schneider for 42 yards and the two would later hook up for two 4-yard touchdowns.
Dangelo recovered a fumble on an Edgewood punt return to set up the score.
"The United football program is a very proud program and if we want people to notice us in the league, we're going to have to keep playing like this," Ojilvie said.
Jim Smith, who in 1956 scored United's first ever touchdown, attended the game.