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Poland’s big plays too much for Normandy
Gallery
The Bulldogs got four touchdowns from Luke Wollet and another great performance by Darius Patton to win their second game 41-29.
By JOE SCALZO
Vindicator sports staff
PARMA — Parma Heights Normandy tried onside kicks on its first three kickoffs Thursday night against Poland.
The fourth time, the Invaders chose to kick it to Darius Patton.
Bad decision.
Patton, Poland’s electric junior who spent much of the night getting double-covered at wide receiver, took it 86 yards for the Bulldogs’ final touchdown in a 41-29 victory at Byers Field.
Patton also had an interception on defense and ran three times for 12 yards as a quarterback in the Bulldogs’ variation on the “Wildcat” offense.
“We’re not satisfied with just him being the decoy; he needs to have his hands on the ball too,” said Poland coach Mark Brungard. “But the thing I love about Darius is he’ll do whatever you ask him to do. If he hadn’t touched the ball once but the team won, he’d have been happy.
“I think that’s what people need to know about him. He’s not about himself. He was happy Luke [Wollet] scored three or four times. But yeah, we want the ball in his hands and we need to figure out ways of doing that.
Patton, the son of former YSU standout Shawn Patton, transferred to Poland this summer from Penn Hills High School outside Pittsburgh. He saw time last season as a wide receiver, but should blossom this fall as he gets the chance to play both ways and return kicks for the Bulldogs.
“I like getting on the field more,” he said. “I feel like I’m fitting in pretty well. I feel like I’m accepted. It’s all about the team.
“Whatever they ask me to do, I’ll do it. That’s how I am. I’m very humble. I got that from my father.”
Wollet had his second straight 100-yard game at running back, carrying 17 times for 110 yards and four TDs. He also forced a fumble on defense, one of five turnovers forced by Poland’s defense. Alex Argeras, Nick Argeras, Mike Day and Ed Kosec all had fumble recoveries, helping the Bulldogs take a 34-7 lead early in the third quarter.
“I’m happy with our improvement,” said Brungard, whose team beat Hubbard 24-13 last week. “The old adage is your biggest improvement is between the first and second week and what I liked best was the way we finished things. We had a 21-point lead last week and let up and blew it and we didn’t do that tonight.
“We came right out and finished the job. They helped us a little in the first half with some turnovers, but again good teams take advantage of those turnovers and we did.”
Sophomore QB Colin Reardon had another terrific game, completing 6 of 7 passes for 119 yards and a TD. He also ran three times for 34 yards, including a 14-yard scamper on fourth-and-5 that set up Poland’s third touchdown early in the second quarter.
“I thought Colin Reardon took another step forward,” said Brungard. “He stepped up and ran one on a [fourth] and [5] and got a first down.
“If he can do those little things, he doesn’t have to be the hero. We got plenty of guys who can do that.”
James Psarras ran five times for 121 yards and scored two TDs to lead Normandy (1-1) but both scores came late in the fourth quarter, long after Poland had pulled its starters. Jake Squirek added 76 yards on 13 carries.
Parma’s two scoring drives against Poland’s starters were 12 and 11 plays respectively, so the Invaders had to work for every yard.
“Our defense hung in there,” said Brungard. “Their offense is simple, but what they do they do real well. We kind of had a bend but don’t break attitude and that’s what we preach.
“And our offense was real successful just taking what they gave us.”
scalzo@vindy.com