Conditions were right for a dominating performance against Toronto

By Steve Ruman

sports@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

On a cold and very blustery night at Falcon Stadium in Austintown, a Division VII, Region 23 semifinal between Warren John F. Kennedy and Toronto started out as a game all about field position.

Kennedy won that battle, then the game turned into one which was all about Jacob Coates. The Eagles won that battle as well, and the result was a resounding 40-6 JFK win Friday night.

The Eagles (11-1) advance to a regional final against Mogadore next Friday at a site to be determined.

Toronto bows out at 10-2.

Early on, it appeared as though the elements would cause the game to be a defensive struggle throughout. But Coates changed things with a dominating performance. The junior scored on a 25-yard pass reception, a 28-yard run and a 50-yard punt return, and he recorded a pair of interceptions — all before halftime.

Coates’ heroics led Kennedy to a 26-0 halftime lead. The Eagles eventually built their advantage to 40-0 in a second half which saw a running clock from the midway point of the third period.

The Kennedy defense limited Toronto to just 59 total yards of offense. The Red Knights were averaging 41 points per game through 11 games.

“Jacob Coates is a player, and great players come to play on big stages,” said JFK coach Jeff Bayuk. “My old high school coach, Dick Angle, always told me that players come to play, and I just made sure I told Jake that tonight before the game.

“He’s a big-time player who came through big time for us tonight.”

Coates made his presence felt on the game’s first possession when he intercepted a pass to give Kennedy the ball at the Toronto 41. Though the Eagles didn’t turn the interception into points, they established the advantage in field position — an edge they held all night.

An 8-yard punt gave Kennedy its third possession of the game at the Toronto 33. On third-and-12 from the 25, quarterback Bobby Jefferson hooked up with Coates to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.

Following a change of possessions, a Kennedy punt was muffed and recovered by Eagles defender Danny McCartney at the Toronto 20. From there, Jefferson needed just one play to rush to paydirt, giving Kennedy a 12-0 advantage.

The Kennedy defense forced a three-and-out, then Coates began putting the game out of reach with a 50-yard punt return. He later scored on a 28-yard run, then end the first half by halting a Toronto drive with his second pick.

“I can’t do anything I do out there without my teammates,” Coates said. “On the punt return, one of my guys had a great block and it was all [open] field from there.

“I’ve had big games before, but this is my first big performance in a playoff game. It feels awesome.”

Evan Boyd (17 carries, 123 yards) scored on a 20-yard pass play from Jefferson to extend Kennedy’s lead to 33-0 midway through the third quarter. Ross Nocera capped Kennedy’s scoring on a 2-yard run in the fourth period.

Toronto’s lone touchdown came on a 75-yard Blaze Glenn kickoff return.

“The weather, especially early on was brutal,” Bayuk said. “But our kids just played through it just like they’ve played through adversity all year long. I’m just really proud of the effort they gave and the job that our coaches put forth in getting these guys ready.

“I’m just blessed to be around these coaches and players.”

Kennedy and Mogadore last met in 2009 in the first round of the playoffs, a game won by the Wildcats 28-7.