Wildcats take back lead in fourth quarter

By Brian Dzenis

bdzenis@vindy.com

POLAND

For the second time in three weeks, Poland watched a lead slip away in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs had a one-point lead with 2:49 left to play, but it was Struthers which came away with a 28-21 victory Friday night.

In Week 4, Poland dropped a 35-34 decision to Howland after giving up two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. This time, Poland squandered the chance to put the dagger in Struthers.

“No team can give up big plays. That was the story of the Howland game and here, there were big plays,” Poland coach Ryan Williams said. “You can’t give up big plays.”

The game was tied at 14 heading into the fourth quarter when Poland took its first lead. Quarterback Cole Kosco got the necessary inches on a fourth-and-short for the touchdown.

Struthers’ offense was its usual steady self and turned to QB A.J. Musolino. He had racked up 141 rushing yards on the ground and scored his second of three rushing touchdowns from 54 yards out. The visiting Wildcats couldn’t tie the game as Poland’s Reid Gould blocked the PAT. On the Bulldogs ensuing drive, things kept looking up for Poland.

Dante Romano ripped off what looked like 73-yard touchdown run that could have put the onus on Struthers to score eight points to tie the game.

But there was a flag for holding. Instead there was a third-and-15 deep in their own end and Struthers eventually got the ball at Poland’s 33.

“You get in the game and you trade a big play like that, what can you do?” Williams said.

Poland had seven penalties for 76 yards. Another time the yellow flags cost the Bulldogs a scoring opportunity was near halftime. Poland got as close as Struthers’ 13, but a holding penalty backed up the Bulldogs, leading Kosco into throwing a desperation heave that was unsuccessful.

“Too many penalties and that’s not how we’re made,” Williams said. “We’re not made to give up big plays and we need to clean that up a little bit. That’s not the football team that we are.”

Struthers sophomore Willie Mitchell led the Bulldogs to Poland’s 2-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-2, the Wildcats turned to Musolino. The Kent State commit waltzed those final two yards for the final go-ahead score. He also ran for the ensuing two-point conversion.

It was the first time Struthers defeated Poland in at least a decade.

“[I know it’s] a long time,” Musolino said. “It feels great. It was an emotional moment.”

Poland had to run the two-minute drill as a last-gasp effort to either force overtime or win the game. The Bulldogs got to Struthers’ 27 with 49 seconds left.

But the rally wasn’t meant to be. Wildcats senior Robbie Best picked off Kosco to seal the lead.

“I’m just happy we got the W,” Best said. “I wanted to beat this team like I wanted to beat every team.”

Struthers coach Kurt Kuntz was proud of his senior captain.

“He’s a three-year starter at safety and so we had an extra safety on the field,” Kuntz said.

“He plays outside linebacker, but he’s used to playing on the back end, that’s what he does best. He’s been voted as captain and he showed why tonight.”