The Tigers played terrific defense, but couldn’t solve the Wildcats’ D.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

SOLON — Like heavyweight fighters going the distance, the Howland and Mayfield High football teams’ defenses dominated for three quarters with heavy blows.

In Friday’s Division II Region 5 playoff semifinal at Stewart Field, the Tigers and Wildcats doled out crunching hits that had fans “oohing” and “aahing” as if they were celebrating Independence Day.

But in the fourth quarter, the Tigers began to wear down as Wildcats tailback Ashante Williams began to assert himself carry after carry. In that quarter, Williams carried the ball 16 times for 69 yards. His last one was the most important.

With 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Williams scored a 1-yard touchdown to lift Mayfield (9-3) to a 6-0 victory and date against Parma Normandy in next week’s regional final.

The Tigers, who swept their Metro Athletic Conference schedule, end at 11-1.

“They had such great [field] position [all game],” Howland coach Dick Angle said of the Wildcats. “To [face] an electrifying back like that and to keep him out of the end zone [until late] is a tribute.

“We take great pride in our defense, but we expect them to play that way,” Angle said.

Because Mayfield’s top kicker, Carey Spear, was injured in a soccer game before Week 9 and unavailable, overtime favored Howland.

So Mayfield coach Larry Pinto was happy to put his team’s fate on Williams’ legs.

“We wanted to ride Ashante and he made some big plays,” Pinto said. “Our defensive line did a great job of shutting off running lanes, staying low, not getting knocked off the ball, and our linebackers just flowed to the ball.”

Mayfield took charge in the fourth quarter, twice marching deep into Tigers territory. The first drive began at the Mayfield 23 where Williams ran the ball on 10 consecutive plays to the Howland 21.

The Tigers appeared to have the Wildcats stopped shy of a first down, but a late hit penalty moved the ball to the Howland 7.

The drive stalled three plays later when Williams fumbled a pitchout for a 14-yard loss. Bryan Kuhlman’s 33-yard field goal attempt was short, preserving the scoreless tie with 4:50 to play.

The Tigers’ offense was unable to take advantage of the big stop. Jason Kostraba’s punt gave the Wildcats the ball at midfield with 2:28 remaining.

With Williams needing a breather, Wildcats quarterback Frankie Ferritto delivered two big plays, a 17-yard completion to wide receiver C.C. Smith down the sideline and a screen toss to Williams that gained 23 yards to the Howland 8.

As expected, Williams took the next three handoffs, scoring on the third one.

“He’s a good back but he earned every yard,” Angle said. “The few yards that we got, we earned them, too.”

Williams rushed 36 times for 148 yards. Ferritto completed 7-of-11 tosses for 90 yards.

The Wildcats limited the Tigers to 10 yards through the air and 65 on the ground. Nathan Cope gained 24 yards on four carries while Solomon Jackson had 16 yards on six carries and Dante Marsh gained 14 on 10 tries.

“It was a great game by both teams, both defenses, and they were a little bit more fortunate than we were,” Angle said. “One of the things about the playoffs is that if you don’t go on to win it all, you end on a negative note.

“It becomes more of a bitter sword when you’re undefeated,” Angle said. “Sometimes I think you’re better off going into the playoffs with a loss or two ... but I don’t think our kids played with pressure because we were undefeated, don’t get me wrong. They played hard.”

williams@vindy.com