Blue Devils pull away

to reach regional final

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

ORRVILLE

Western Reserve handled the ball just four times in the first half.

No matter.

With a defensive touchdown in the second quarter, the Blue Devils’ six-point halftime cushion still proved to be too much for Lucas to overcome.

John Clegg rushed for three touchdowns, adding 137 yards passing while Brian Sunderman caught five passes for 139 yards and a score as the Blue Devils stopped the Cubs, 42-21, Saturday night in a Division VII, Region 23 second-round game at Orrville High’s Red Rider Stadium.

“I’m just so proud of our kids and the way that everyone played tonight. This is playoff time and everyone needs to rise up if you expect your season to continue,” Blue Devils coach Andy Hake said. “They’re a good football team and did an excellent job of controlling the ball in the first half. I told our players at halftime just to finish our drives and we would be all right.”

The Cubs (7-5) got on the board first when Jacob Miller split the uprights from 30 yards midway through the opening period for a 3-0 advantage.

Two minutes later Clegg scored the first of his three touchdowns, this coming from a yard out for a 7-3 Blue Devils margin heading to the second frame.

“We started slow but picked it up, especially in the second half. There isn’t much more you can say that hasn’t already been said about our offensive line,” Clegg said. “They destroyed everybody and provided plenty of protection, especially in the second half and that was the difference in the game.”

Lucas regained the lead when running back Mason Galco scored on an 11-yard run at the 9:13 mark.

After a missed point-after kick — one of three on the night for the Cubs — they had to settle for a 9-7 lead.

Clegg’s second score of the night, this time from 8 then gave Western Reserve (11-1) the lead once again at 14-9.

Credit the opportunistic Blue Devils and their special teams for their third tally when a bad snap sailed over Lucas punter Ruben Luna’s head. Joe Falasca picked up the loose ball and returned it six yards for a touchdown and a 21-9 lead.

Galco’s 1-yard run with nine seconds remaining, his second score of the opening half, cut the Western Reserve lead to 21-15 heading to the intermission.

“This win was a total team effort. We finally settled in and played our type of football,” Falasca said.

Clegg’s third score, a 7-yard run just a minute and 45 seconds into the second half, increased the Blue Devils’ lead to 28-15. When Ed Smith scored on a 10-yard run with 2:42 in the quarter, Western Reserve took a 35-15 lead into the fourth quarter.

Sunderman, who had two receptions of over 50 yards, then made it 21 unanswered points for the Blue Devils when Falasca found him from 58 yards out for a 42-15 lead.

“We now get a chance to play for the regional title and that’s very special,” Sunderman said.

The Cubs’ Logan Spohn then rounded out the scoring by adding a one-yard dash with 28 seconds remaining.

Galco led all rushers with 115 yards on 30 carries while the Blue Devils had 220 yards rushing and 415 total offensive yards.

Western Reserve will take on Norwalk St. Paul next in a regional final Saturday. The site will be announced this afternoon.

St. Paul beat Ashland Mapleton, 41-6, on Saturday night.