Top-seeded Flyers limit the Blue Devils to two touchdowns in Division VII regional final

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

COPLEY

A year ago, the Western Reserve High School football team defeated Norwalk St. Paul to earn a second state semifinal appearance in three seasons.

Saturday at Copley High School, the top-seeded Flyers avenged that loss, earning a return to the state semifinals for the first time since 2009.

Grant Dilger caught six passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns as St. Paul won, 18-14.

Devin Smith rushed for 109 yards in the Flyers’ come-from-behind victory to capture the Division VII Region 23 regional championship at InfoCision Field.

“There is no place that I would rather coach; you name it and I’d still rather be here,” Western Reserve head coach Andy Hake said. “We have a banner in our locker room that says, ‘We won’t let our proud tradition be put in the hands of the weak and timid.’

“We’ll use this game and learn from it as we look toward next season.”

The Blue Devils end their season at 11-2.

“They didn’t outplay us and we didn’t outplay them,” Hake said. “Both teams made plays and played hard all 48 minutes.

“I’m so proud of our seniors and at the same time, disappointed that their season won’t continue,” Hake said. “These kids are tough; the program is tough with a lot of resolve and conviction.

“This was a great team and a great group of players to coach.”

Western Reserve took the opening kick-off and marched 70-yards on seven plays, taking the early 7-0 lead when Ed Smith found the end zone from a yard away.

The Flyers (12-1) pulled to within 7-6 when Brad Smith answered with a 2-yard run. The extra-point kick fell short, leaving the Blue Devils in front.

Joe Falasca, who had four catches for 104 yards, gave Western Reserve a 14-6 lead after quarterback John Clegg found him from 6 yards out.

“It was just a great throw from John,” Falasca said. “We just left too many plays on the field tonight.”

Clegg, who was 9-of-19 for 160 yards, said it was a hard-hitting game by both squads.

“They made one more play than we did tonight,” Clegg said. “I couldn’t be any prouder of my teammates and the way they played the entire season,.

“I hope the younger players take this game and build on it next season.”

Dilger’s first touchdown, a 44-yard reception from Sam Carper at 2:29 cut the Blue Devils’ margin to 14-12 at intermission.

When Carper connected with Dilger again with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter, the Flyers took an 18-14 lead.

“This game was like a heavyweight fight; both teams played hard,” Norwalk coach John Livengood said. “Even though we still trailed, I felt like our kids gained confidence with that touchdown right before the end of the first half.

“Western Reserve has a lot of great athletes and we were fortunate to come out of here tonight with a win,” Livengood said. Hake said he hopes that the Flyers can run the table.

“Norwalk is worthy of being called regional champions and I hope that they win it all,” Hake said.