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Western Reserve aims to take down Flyers again
Photo
Western Reserve quarterback John Clegg (6) heads up field through a hole created by his linemen during their Division VII regional semifinal against Lucas on Nov. 15 in Orrville. The Blue Devils took down the Cubs, 42-21, and now have their sights on the Flyers of Norwalk St. Paul, who they will take in Saturday’s final at Copley.
Western Reserve aims to take down Flyers
By Curtis Pulliam
Berlin center
Hard work seems like a simple message to preach at this time of year.
Andy Hake has no problem with it.
“It’s going to take heart and effort,” said the Western Reserve head football coach. “If our kids play really hard and don’t worry about making mistakes, I don’t know if we can duplicate that effort, but we can play that hard.”
The Blue Devils (11-1) held Norwalk St. Paul (11-1) to just 13 rushing yards when the two teams met last season in the playoffs. Western Reserve won, 23-2.
The teams are playing again for the Division VII, Region 23 title Saturday at Copley High School’s Infocision Field at Copley Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
“That was our best game and their worst probably [last season],” Hake said. “It’s just going to take our kids playing four quarters and playing hard. We have the guys to do it.”
Western Reserve has defeated Toronto 27-17 and Lucas 42-21 in its first two playoff games.
Wide receiver and outside linebacker Joe Falasca has a simple explanation.
“It’s playoff time,” he said. “Everyone is pumped up and ready to go. If you lose, you go home.”
Falasca believes the defense will have to match last year’s effort against St. Paul.
“Of course,” he said. “I think so.”
As well as the defense has played, the offense will have to play their part.
“We have connected all season,” Falasca said of his himself and quarterback John Clegg. “We have to play our best ball.”
Playing quarterback and safety this year, Clegg was on last year’s squad but says this year will be different.
“I played defense last year,” Clegg said. “I got a lot of learning in last year.”
Clegg believes the experience from last year will help the Blue Devils this year.
“That game was awesome,” Clegg said. “The seniors rose up and we rose up with them. “This year we (the seniors) have to rise up and we have to get the younger kids to step up.”
The offense will be without starting running back Evan Nesbitt and will turn to the connection of Falasca and Clegg, who have combined for 13 touchdowns.
“We have to execute and we have to do our job,” Clegg said. “Our coaches are going to put us in the best position they can for us to win. It’s on us now.”
The Blue Devils practiced indoors instead of outside this week, hoping that will help for Saturday.
“We wanted to get stuff done,” Hake said. “We didn’t have to worry about using half our energy trying to stay warm.”
Defensive lineman Hunter Powell says the Blue Devils have to stay tough against the Flyers.
“We have a lot more kids playing harder,” Powell said. “We also have a few more kids rotating in and we are just going hard.”
With back-to-back meetings against St. Paul this season and in 2013, along with a 2009 loss to the Flyers, the Blue Devils are looking at them like a rival.
“They are a bigger school,” Powell said. “They are a private school, so they pay to play so obviously they are going to play harder if they pay. We just have to act like it is our last game.”
Hake instills that mentality.
“We are ready to go man,” he said. “We are ready to fight.”