CITY SERIES Cowboys roll past Redmen for sixth straight title

Sophomore Terrell Tomlin had three TDs in the 48-6 victory.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sophomore Terrell Tomlin rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns, as the Chaney High football team defeated Woodrow Wilson 48-6 to capture its sixth consecutive City Series title Thursday at Stambaugh Stadium.
The win also marked the team's 13th crown in the past 14 seasons. The only other team to win the conference crown was East in 1997.
"Our defense really stepped their game up a notch tonight. That has been the biggest reason we were able to win six of our last eight games this season," said Chaney coach Ron Berdis, whose team limited Wilson to 108 total yards.
"Defensive coordinator Mike Popio always has our kids prepared, and tonight was no different," Berdis added. "After a rocky start, this team really stuck together, and that is why I am so proud of them."
In three league contests, the Cowboys (6-4, 3-0) allowed just 19 points and outscored league opponents 199-25 over the past two seasons.
The Cowboys got on the board first when Tomlin scored the first of his three touchdowns at the 4:33 mark of the opening quarter. His two-point conversion run gave Chaney an 8-0 lead.
On the next series of downs, the Cowboys' Lamar Sykes raced into the end zone from 25 yards with a fumble recovery. Mike Rosa caught the two-point conversion pass from quarterback Rick Hlinka, as Chaney built a 16-0 advantage after the first 12 minutes.
Dan Balog then raced 79 yards for a touchdown, but the placement failed and the Cowboys had to settle for a 22-0 lead 1:31 into the second quarter. Balog finished with 106 yards on nine carries.
Lone score
The Redmen (1-9, 1-2) scored their only touchdown at the 5:35 mark of the period when Derrick Maddox blocked a Chaney punt and raced to the goal line with the ball, only to have his fumble recovered in the end zone by Dorrion Jennings. The conversion pass was batted down and the score remained 22-6.
A 10-yard scamper by Tomlin at the 2:47 mark increased the Chaney margin to 28-6 at the intermission.
While the Cowboys rolled up 231 offensive yards at the half, their defense held the Redmen to just 29 yards on 23 plays.
Tomlin's third touchdown midway through the third quarter increased the Cowboy lead to 34-6. Rosa's 1-yard run just three seconds into the final quarter and a Brett Parks' fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown closed out the scoring.
Playoffs unlikely
"Others thought that this might be a down year for us, and my hat goes off to both Woodrow Wilson and Rayen for their seasons, as well," Berdis said. "It would be nice to continue our season [in the playoffs], but we're not holding our breath. We'll just have to see how everything pans out this weekend."
Chaney is 13th in the Division II, Region 7 computer ratings and has an outside shot at a fifth-straight playoff berth.
Chaney had 364 yards of offense, all but 31 coming on the ground, while the Redmen managed their 108 yards on 50 plays, 53 of those yards coming through the air from three different quarterbacks.
"We have a lot of work to do in the off-season and must get stronger if we expect to hang with our opponents late in the game," Wilson coach Brian Marrow said. "An off-season conditioning program will get us pointed in the right direction."