POLAND Kettering hangs on to topple Bulldogs

Poland lost for the third time in its last five games.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
POLAND -- Mike Gorman rushed for two touchdowns, while quarterback Mike Savino ran for one touchdown and threw for another as Kettering Alter turned back Poland 28-25 Friday.
"This was a great offensive game," Alter coach Ed Domstitz said. "We didn't exactly play the type of offensive game that we are capable of playing, but we made some defensive plays and that really helped us tonight."
Ranked fourth in Division III, Region 12, the win was the Knights' sixth in a row as they improved to 7-1. The Bulldogs, 10th in Region 11, fell to 5-3 as they lost for the third time in the last five outings.
"We had a big defensive stop late in the game that put us in a position to win or force overtime," Poland coach Paul Hulea said. "We made a couple of blocking adjustments at the half and quarterback Reid Lamport got hot, but we fell a little short."
Big defensive play
When Chris Aracich made a hit that stopped Gorman for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the Poland 1-yard line, the Bulldogs had one last chance. An interception at the Knight 7-yard line with 1:30 remaining, however, iced the game.
While Savino had an 86-yard scoring strike and a 62-yard completion for the Knights, it was Lamport and wide receiver Dave Koval of the Bulldogs that excited the crowd with their hook-ups the entire night.
Lamport was 17-of-31 for 231 yards, with Koval on the receiving end of 13 of those completions for 163 yards and one touchdown.
"I am speechless when I am asked about Dave Koval," Lamport said. "He is an unbelievable receiver. He always makes things happen."
Hulea agreed with Lamport's assessment of Koval.
"He is a great player and an even greater person," Hulea said. "He is someone who plays hard all of the time. He is one fierce competitor."
Alter controls ball
The Knight offense features a methodical running game with a ball control offense that specializes in time management.
While neither team could sustain a drive on their first possession, the Knights got on the board on their second possession when Savino scored on a 3-yard run at the midway point of the first period. When the placement was blocked, Kettering Alter held a 6-0 advantage.
It didn't take the Bulldogs long to answer. Jim Shurilla scored from 4 yards at 3:49, and when Shawn O'Halloran added the placement, the Bulldogs took a 7-6 lead. It was their only lead of the night.
On Alter's next possession, Savino connected with Zach Freshwater on an 86-yard strike. When Savino hit Dan Reeves with the two-point conversion, the Knights held a 14-7 advantage after the first quarter.
Gorman then scored the first of his two touchdowns at 8:32 of the second period for a 21-7 Knight advantage, but when O'Halloran connected on a 42-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining before intermission, the Bulldogs cut the Knight lead to 21-10.