Western Reserve vs Malvern

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Western Reserve

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. VII	Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference

Trailing 14-0 at halftime, the Blue Devils got a boost from Tommy Marlowe’s motivational speech, and his four sacks

By Matthew Peaslee

sports@vindy.com

Louisville

Whatever Tommy Marlowe said to his Blue Devils at halftime, the world may never know. Actually, Western Reserve players, coaches and staff know — it’s just safer to innocent ears that it stays with the team.

“I really can’t say what I said at halftime,” said the senior linebacker. “It definitely can’t be published.”

What can be, though, is that the Blue Devils are moving on to the Division VI regional final against Shadyside after a 29-20 come from behind victory over Malvern.

“Marlowe is really a team leader,” quarterback Jeff Clegg said. “We fed off him and got out there and started hitting.

““He motivated us and really rounded us up together.”

As it entered the third quarter, Reserve looked like a completely different team than the one that let up 14 points and 200-plus yards in the first half. Not to mention the seven penalties that brought it back 46 yards.

Still, coach Andy Hake was sure that the morning headlines would favor his team.

“In the locker room we were convinced that we were going to win,” he said emphatically.

Yes, he did know of all that occurred in the first half.

“It was just a matter of time before we got down to business and came out with a fire,” he said.

Indeed, they are the Devils.

Reserve stopped Malvern on its first possession, and with the ball, drove 70 yards for first Devils score of the night. Then, forcing a Hornet three-and-out, Reserve took a five play drive to the end zone capped off by a 17-yard touchdown run from Donnie Bolton to tie the game at 14.

“When your back is against the wall, you’re eventually going to have to fight or die,” Hake said. “These kids didn’t want to quit playing football.”

The shift in momentum early in the second half was key for Reserve, but more important was the defense adjustments it made to stop quarterback Shawn Ball.

“He’s one of the best players I’ve played against,” Marlowe said. “He’s shifty and such a strong, big guy. We had to be ready for anything he had and we blitzed more and I came harder off the edge.”

Ball finished the night with 103 rushing yards and 207 passing. But the stats that are likely to stick in his mind for a while were the four sacks Marlowe recorded on him, two of which forced fumbles.

“Marlowe is the toughest kid I’ve ever been around,” Hake said. “They all are just resilient.”

The Blue Devils broke the tie when Dan Zilke recovered a Ball fumble on their own 44 yard line to start the fourth quarter. Six running plays later, Reserve took the lead when Clegg punched it in the end zone from six yards out. He finished with 66 yards on 17 carries, while Bolton ran 24 times for 242 yards.

“I kept saying, ‘This is where legends are made,’” Clegg said. “Tonight, we were all legends.”

Malvern coach David Tucci admits his team was fooled by what the Devils delivered after the first half.

“They made big plays on first down,” he said. “They ran off tackle and that was our weakness.”

With 2:28 remaining in regulation, all in attendance at Louisville Leopard Stadium held their breath as Malvern’s Anthony Ruegg lined up for an extra point after the Hornets scored their 20th point on an 11 play drive.

He missed.

“All I could say is ‘Wow’ after that one,” Hake said.