By Steve Wilaj

sports@vindy.com

BERLIN CENTER

Western Reserve weathered an early Cuyahoga Heights storm Friday night. The Blue Devils then proceeded to release a downpour of their own talents.

After falling behind by 14 points in the first quarter, Western Reserve outscored the Redskins by 23 points the rest of the game, taking the season opener, 41-32.

Leading 34-32 late in the fourth quarter, a 14-yard touchdown run by Dan Zilke with 1:42 remaining put the game out of reach. Zilke finished with 131 rushing yards and three TDs.

In all, the Blue Devils outrushed Cuyahoga Heights, 296-4. Conner Nesbitt was the leading rusher with 133 yards on 15 carries.

Cuyahoga Heights raced to a 20-6 first quarter lead, getting on the board first when Grayson Thacker found the end zone from 2 yards out.

Western Reserve answered immediately on Dan Zilke’s 20-yard TD run. But Jordan Martin touchdown passes of 51 yards to Craig McDaniel and 70 yards to Tyler Gallow gave the Redskins a two-score advantage.

However, the second quarter was all Blue Devils.

Another Zilke TD run, this one for 3 yards, cut the lead to 20-13. After Cuyahoga Heights answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Gallow, a 56-yard touchdown rush by Nesbit and a 4-yard TD pass from Nick Allison to Joe Falasca gave Reserve a 27-26 halftime lead.

The Blue Devils kept that momentum going, as John Clegg intercepted Martin’s pass on the opening third quarter possession and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown and 34-26 lead.

The Redskins cut the deficit to 34-32 on a 10 yard touchdown pass from Martin to Gallow with 6:44 left in the game. However, they failed to convert the 2-point conversion.

Martin finished the game 33-54 with 407 passing yards. He threw four TDs and one interception. Tyler Gallow was his top receiver, catching 12 passes for 187 yards.

Craig McDaniel also had five catches for 99 yards, while Trent Gallo had 82 yards receiving on 10 catches.

Allison went 6 for 12 with 73 yards passing. He threw one touchdown and one interception.