Announcement
YORK TWP. — Despite throwing a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter Friday, Buckeye quarterback Nate Polidori was frustrated.
Polidori put that emotion to good use after halftime, as he led the Bucks to a much-needed 35-22 victory over Wellington in Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division action.
The victory keeps Buckeye (6-2, 3-0) atop the division and in position for a Division III, Region 8 playoff berth.
Polidori had a lot to do with that, as the junior quarterback used his arm and legs to overcome frustration stemming from a first-quarter interception and some stalled drives.
“You know, Polidori is Italian like me, so he likes to wear his emotions on his sleeve,” Bucks coach Mark Pinzone said with a smile. “But, you know what, give him an Italian hug and talk a little pasta and he puts it together.
“He’s an athlete and he does things great. I know when we’re in a jam we can rely on him, and he gets the job done.”
The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder responded by throwing a touchdown pass — his third of the night — on his first touch in the second half. It followed a Wellington drive that chewed up more than five minutes and cut the Bucks’ lead to 21-14. The march featured big passes from Joey Holliday (12-for-23, 181 yards) and was capped by a 19-yard run by Jacob Nakos.
Polidori tossed a 65-yard bomb to Trevor Thome, who caught the ball while diving forward before doing a 360-degree flip onto his feet to sprint the rest of the way.
“I was really frustrated,” Polidori said. “It was a big relief that the first pass I threw (in the first half) was a touchdown.”
Polidori finished 5-for-9 passing for 159 yards and three touchdowns. He also put away the game on a counter for a touchdown with 11:53 left that capped a 110-yard day on the ground.
The junior was quick to credit Thome and Nathan Scott (12 carries, game-high 133 yards), however, for making his job easier. They also helped Polidori forget his own miscues quickly, as did long talks on the headset with Bucks offensive coordinator Bill Turner.
“It’s amazing,” Polidori said. “Trevor, Nate and all of them, it’s just ridiculous. They just make great plays and are so fast and so elusive.
“The play-action pass was good and they kind of stopped the jet, which opened up some running for me on counters and stuff. We’ve been doing stuff like that all year.”
Scott, whose day included a 56-yard sprint, found the end zone on a 17-yard jet sweep midway through the second quarter after a key lead block from running back Kyle Svagerko,
“We know that the only thing that’s going to stop our offense is us,” Polidori said. “So we decided no more mistakes and we just took it to them.”
The win came with a couple of losses, however, including wide receiver Justin Lowry. After catching a 36-yard pass from Polidori early in the first, the junior sustained a leg injury and did not return. Josh England left the field on crutches.
Despite losing two players, the Bucks are in the middle of a playoff chase.
“We have to take care of our business and we have Keystone and Firelands,” Pinzone said. “They’re both good teams with great records and they’re playing well, so it’s not an easy road.
“We have a lot to do. We’re a little banged up and we have a lot of work to do. It won’t be easy.”
Contact Dan Brown at sports@medina-gazette.com.
Buckeye 35, Wellington 22
