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From the GAZETTE By Kenneth L. Coleman, Special to The Gazette
YORK TWP. — Cory Reisner played the type of game that most players only dream about during ninth period on game day. The senior running back rushed for 302 yards and five touchdowns on only 10 carries in Buckeye’s 62-21 Patriot Athletic Conference win over Columbia. Reisner fell just short of Buckeye’s single-game rushing record of 306 yards set by Dustin Supan. And it didn’t take long for the senior to get going as he scored on the first offensive play of the game to set the tone.
Reisner took the opening snap 64 yards and went untouched to put the Bucks (3-4, 3-1) ahead before their fans had settled in their seats. “As soon as I took the first run in, I knew that our line could manhandle them,” Reisner said. “Our line dominated all night and Columbia had no answers.” In three career games against the Raiders (1-6, 13), Reisner’s stat line reads 51 carries for 616 yards and 11 touchdowns. Reisner’s scoring runs were 64, 42, 38, 56 and 62 yards, respectively.
“Cory lit us up,” Columbia coach Jason Ward said. “It is a struggle to stop him and we couldn’t stop their counter all night, that’s really it.” When Reisner wasn’t getting the calls, Ryan McCormick racked up the yards for the Bucks. The jun ior tailback finished with 145 yards on 10 carries and three scores (on 35, 40, and 46-yard trots). As a team, the Bucks racked up 494 yards on the ground to beat their previous record of 485 yards.
The Bucks built a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and reached halftime up 42-0. Refusing to roll over, the Raiders showed heart in the third quarter. Their 12play drive was capped when Brandon Heidinger (25 carries, 58 yards) put Columbia on the board with 1-yard plunge. Two fumbles on consecutive possessions kept the Bucks scoreless in the third, and the Raiders took the momentum into the final quarter. They then struck on a 24yard scoring pass from John Banyasz to Brandon Clark to make it 42-14.
But the gap would get no tighter as McCormick and Reisner each found the end zone again. Reisner’s fifth score of the night stirred up some controversy. Ahead 56-21 with four seconds left, Buckeye coach Billy Burke called Reisner’s number rather than having quarterback Mike Kelly take a knee to end the game. Reisner took the handoff 62 yards for the meaning-less, and to many, unnecessary score. “He was just proving a point,” Ward said of Burke’s decision. “If that’s how he wants to prove his point, then fine. Our day will come.” Burke regretted the controversial call after the game. “I’m very disappointed in myself,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that.” Coleman may be reached at sports@ohio.net.
From the GAZETTE by Adam Ferrise, Special to The Gazette
WELLINGTON — Mike Kelly, who struggled through the Buckeye football team’s first four games, looked comfortable under center in leading the Bucks to their second straight win. Kelly completed 6-of9 passes, one for a 70-yard touchdown, and rushed for 68 more in the Bucks’ 28-19 Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division win over Wellington on Friday.
“Mike’s an athlete,” Buckeye senior Cory Reisner said. “That’s something we didn’t have last year. It’s good for both of us to use our speed and quickness.” Reisner rushed for 153 yards on 21 carries, scored three touchdowns and intercepted the final pass of the game. “When we go Cory, Cory, Cory, teams can forget the quarterback is a very capable runner as well,” Buckeye coach Billy Burke said. “That’s how our offense is going this season.”
In the Bucks’ run-heavy offense, both players said their communication has been essential in the last two wins. “We watch how they line up and we talk each other through the play,” Kelly said. With the Bucks ahead 2119 in the fourth quarter, Kelly faked two handoffs and decided to rush himself. He avoided a slew of Dukes in the backfield with a nifty spin move and took the rush 28 yards to the 1. Reisner capped the drive on the next play with his third touchdown of the game. “I feel both me and Corey can make the big ones,” Kelly said. “We just go with whichever is better that play. We both feel either of us can make the play.”
For the second consecutive week, Kelly converted a fourth-down play for a score. This time it came in the second quarter. On fourth-and-7 from the Wellington 25, Kelly connected with Darren Boulton for a touchdown, giving the Bucks a 21-7 lead with two minutes left in the first half. Boulton had five receptions for 57 yards.
“As everyone understands, Mike isn’t the most gifted thrower in the world,” Burke said. “Once he understood that and we learned when he can throw well and where he’s efficient at, he really started to come into his own.” Kelly said he is gaining confidence in his decisionmaking, something that plagued the junior in the first four games, all losses. “It was hard getting used to at first,” he said. “I threw a lot of interceptions in those four games. The last couple games, I came out and decided that if it’s not close to being open, I’m not going to throw it.”
Dukes quarterback Steve Simonson went 74 yards for a touchdown on a draw to cut the Bucks’ lead to eight points at halftime. Wellington (1-5, 1-2) matched Buckeye (2-4, 2-1) touchdown for touchdown through three quarters, but failed to convert two extra points. Simonson, who rushed for 143 yards on 11 carries and connected on 12-of-22 passes for 122 yards, led Wellington on a nine-play, 82-yard drive at the end of the third quarter to make the score 21-19.
On their next possession, the Bucks scored on a 1-yard Reisner touchdown that was set up by Kelly’s 28-yard burst on third and 4. “We had to stop their offense, and it seemed like we had them stopped a couple times,” Wellington coach Matt Stoll said. “That’s kind of been the story of our season. We gave up long third- or fourth-down conversions.”
For Reisner, the win allowed the senior to get a little redemption. Two years ago as a sophomore, the Bucks lost a 76 game. Buckeye scored late in the fourth quarter and went for the two-point conversion, with Chaz Jordan carrying. The referees ruled the attempt failed — the goal line was buried under several inches of water, making it unclear — and the Bucks lost. “It was probably the worst day of my life,” Reisner said. “That got to me a little bit, but it feels good to get a little revenge.”
UP NEXT: Buckeye (2-4, 2-1) entertains Columbia. Wellington (2-4, 1-2) is at Black River. Ferrise may be reached at sports@ohio.net.
From The GAZETTE by Brad Bournival, Staff Writer
BUCKEYE (1-4, 1-1): Stars Division action hasn’t started yet, but Buckeye coach Billy Burke is confident his Bucks will repeat as Patriot Athletic Conference champions for the third time in four years. “”There’s never been the threat that they are going to fold the tent,” he said. “We’re better than we were last year. All we can do is work hard and continue to do what we do. We did the same thing last year. We can do it again.”…The Buckeye of old showed up last week against Lutheran West when the Bucks rushed for 391 yards and had 442 yards of total offense.
Burke is expecting much of the same tonight against Wellington. “That’s us,” he said. “That’s what we do. Hopefully it’s second nature for us by now and we can expect 400 yards every time.” … Friday’s win over the Longhorns marked the second time Ryan McCormick and Cory Reisner have gone over 100 yards rushing in the same game (Highland, Week 2). The last time the Bucks had two rushers go over 100 yards in the same game twice in a season was 2006 when Reisner and Jordan did it against Black River and Brookside. LW: W, 34-18 at Lutheran West. TW: at Wellington (1-4, 1-1). NW: Columbia (1-4, 1-1).
From The GAZETTE by Albert Grindle, Staff Writer
Talk about confidence boosters. Medina and Buckeye each picked up potentially season-changing victories Friday. The Bees clipped Stow in overtime, and the Bucks rolled over a strong Lutheran West squad.
The Fighting O’Boyles’ triumph was the game of the week, however, with their offense pretty much revolving around one man. With that said and the season half over, Pat O’Boyle is pound-forpound the most rugged player in the county. All the kid did Friday was rush for 115 yards, pass for 156 more, all the while scoring three touchdowns against a Stow defense that allowed just 14.3 points per contest coming in. The Bees’ defense, which has played better over its last two games, showed up as well when it counted, forcing the Bulldogs into a field goal attempt in overtime that went begging. That set up sophomore Justin Letts’ game-winning 32-yarder to seal the deal.
Meanwhile, the Bucks dominated a Longhorns squad that was predicted to win the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division by most publications. It was evident Buckeye played a full game similar to their first half against Highland, rolling up a whopping 391 yards on the ground. Workhouse Cory Reisner (164 yards, 3 TDs), speedy Ryan McCormick (106) and quick quarterback Mike Kelly (81) all had big days on the ground as Lutheran West had no answer for Buckeye’s ground-it-out style.
It was a textbook victory for coach Billy Burke’s troops, and don’t be surprised if Buckeye rolls untouched the rest of the season. The argument persists that the PAC is at its alltime worst— think Keystone, Brooklyn, Oberlin, Columbia and Brookside— but crazier things than the Bucks getting into the playoffs with a 6-4 record have happened. However, it must be pointed out Buckeye’s remaining opponents have a combined record of 5-20, which isn’t going to sit well with the computers.
Wheelin’ and dealin’
The last-place Spencer Redbirds decided enough was enough early this week, mortgaging their future for a shot at this year’s Gazette Prep Fantasy Football title. Desperate to improve a squad already five games out of playoff contention, Spencer acquired Black River slot back Jake O’Connor from the Mallet Creek Maulers for injured Buckeye quarterback Austin Friel and a pair of 2009 draft choices. “We’re more jacked up than a 10-year-old after two cans of Red Bull,” said Redbirds owner, president and general manager Albert Grindle, whose team gave up second and fifth-round picks.
After the Redbirds’ front office burned up the phone lines, the team finally swung a deal for O’Connor, who dazzled Spencer scouts with three TDs against Oberlin. The 5 foot 9, maybe 155 pounder’s ability to return kicks was another added bonus — returns for scores are worth between 8-10 points in GPFF play — as was his eligibilty at both running back and wide receiver. The sophomore is reportedly slated to start alongside Brunswick tailback Brit Musal in the backfield, with Medina’s Jake Arthur or Brunswick’s Tevin Jackson at all-purpose to round out Spencer’s threeback attack. “It’s all or nothing, baby,” Grindle proclaimed as he tossed darts at a Poe Ravens logo. “We’re not going down without a fight.”
From The GAZETTE by Adam Ferrise, Special to The Gazette
Behind a grinding offensive attack led by running back Cory Reisner and a timely play by quarterback Mike Kelly, Buckeye finally left the field with a win for the first time this season Friday. Reisner rushed for 164 yards on 30 carries and the Bucks’ defense was able to hold Lutheran West quarterback Paul Fackler in check in the second half on the way to a 34-18 Patriot Athletic Conference win.
"It finally it took to Week 5, but that’s who we are,” Buckeye coach Billy Burke said. “We showed glimpses all year long. We ran for a bunch of yards and that’s our offense. Mike makes the decision whether Cory takes it or Mike keeps it.”
With Buckeye leading 2018 and facing a fourth-and6 with 6:43 remaining, Kelly dashed for a 23-yard touchdown. The run capped a 16 play, 86-yard drive that deflated Lutheran West in every possible way. “That kid has a little bit of a knack for making opportune plays,” Burke said. “He worked so hard and things haven’t gone his way, but finally things fell his way. And he had some real success.”
Fackler ran 91 yards for a touchdown on the following play from scrimmage, but it was called back because of a clipping penalty that happened 10 yards behind the ball. That was the only break the Bucks’ defense needed.
After Buckeye switched to a nickel defense at halftime, Fackler, who had 194 yards in the first half on 14 of 23 passing, was a nonfactor. He finished with 247 yards passing on 18 of 34 attempts. “High school football is a funny thing,” Burke said. “Last week, we had a 200-pound tailback who can run the football. This week, we have a kid that can fling the ball around the field. Our defense has to be different. We made an adjustment that helped take away the pass routes.”
Reisner started the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown burst that came three plays after a fake punt which Chad Gapp took for 40 yards. The Bucks and Longhorns went back and forth for the entire second quarter. Fackler tossed a 16-yard touchdown, but 58 seconds later, Buckeye’s Ryan McCormick (106 yards, 7 carries) hit a huge hole and took it 67 yards for a score. Fackler tossed anotherTD followed by another Reisner score from 3 yards out.
The Longhorns cut the score to 20-18 on a Fackler pass with 42 seconds left in the half. Nearly 18 minutes then went by without a score until Kelly’s fourthdown touchdown run. Kelly ended the game with 81 yards rushing and 53 passing. “It feels good, but it’s always been there,” Burke said. “I’ve never been down or depressed because I know we’re a very good team. We just haven’t got the breaks or made the big play. That makes the difference in the game. It always been there and finally it came together.”
UP NEXT: Buckeye (1-4, 1-1) is at Wellington, while Lutheran West (3-2, 1-1) travels to Keystone. Ferrise may be reached at sports@ohio.net.
