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From The GAZETTE, By Eric Pfahler, Staff Writer
SHEFFIELD LAKE — Buckeye senior running back Dustin Supan is tough enough to tackle in perfect conditions.
Add rain and sludge — as Brookside's field had Friday — and he's practically impossible to bring down.
That was the case as the Bucks routed Brookside 42-7 in a Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division game.
Supan had his way the entire game for the Bucks (9-0, 6-0). He rushed for a school-record 303 yards and three scores on 21 carries. He also caught a pair of passes for 10 yards and had an interception.
"Our offensive line had a great game," Supan said. "They were opening holes for everybody. I didn't have to juke or anything."
The previous Buckeye record was held by Medina County Hall-of-Famer Ron Brant, who rushed for 278 yards against Keystone in 1978.
With high expectations, Buckeye coach Chris Medaglia doesn't want to get caught up in individual statistics.
"Records don't mean anything to me, honestly," Medaglia said. "Wins and losses are the only stat that we care about."
Supan also crossed the 1,000-yard mark and now has 1,102 yards on the season. He's the first Buck to cross that plateau since 1982 and is now fourth all-time at Buckeye in single-season rushing yardage.
"Without the linemen blocking as well as they did, I wouldn't be able to do that," Supan said. "I've got to give all the credit to them."
Supan's night began almost immediately. He used some holes provided by the offensive line to get space and burst through for runs of 30 and 74 yards in the first quarter to give Buckeye a 14-0 lead.
"It was wet," Supan said. "They gave me holes. I didn't have to worry about falling or slipping. Our lineman up front were playing awesome."
The Cardinals (5-4, 2-4) simply couldn't catch Supan.
Down 21-0, Brookside battled back with an 82-yard kickoff return by Steve Bartok to the Buckeye 11-yard line. That set up Ed Catanese's 9-yard TD with just 53 seconds gone in the second half.
That was about the only success the Cardinals had against a vaunted Bucks defense, which had only given up 16 points on the season.
Brookside had no passing yards and just 148 yards on the ground.
Buckeye quickly responded to the lone Cardinal score as Supan had back-to-back carries of 19 and 21 yards on the next possession. That set up Chris Reisner's 3-yard TD to regain a 21-point advantage.
Statistics mean little to Supan, though Medaglia said his back snuck into the game during the fourth quarter for a 23-yard carry.
"I didn't know he was in the game," Medaglia said with a smile. "The very next play I took him out."
The game also means Buckeye is in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, but Medaglia wants his team to look no further than next week's opponent.
"Right now, we're in the playoffs, yeah, that's all well and good, but our focus will return tomorrow to Wellington," Medaglia said.
Pfahler may be reached at ericjpfahler@hotmail.com or 330-721-4058.
2005 Bucks
The 2005 Bucks went 10-1 on the season under Head Coach Chris Medaglia. Assistant Coaches Brian Bauman, Howard Calame, Kerry Cullin, Keith Curtin, Brian Dudash, Bob Jenne, Frank Reutter, Jason Simonetti, Andy Wuensch, and Gil Medaglia. They scored 377 points while giving up just 43. They gave up just 3 points in the first half all season.
The 10-0 regular season record was a "Perfect Ten", the first time the Bucks went unbeaten and untied in their 53 seasons! They also were the first Stars Division Champions of the Patriot Athletic Conference in the Inaugural Season.
QB Adam Read was 103 of 161 for 1,687 yards with 16 TD's and only 3 INT's. Matt Dash was the leading receiver with 37 recptions for 657 yards, he had 7 total touchdowns and scored 43 points.
Dustin Supan led all rushers with 1,346 yards on 157 carries, good for an 8.6 yard average per carry. He scored 22 rushing TD's (Tied for 1st All Time), with 24 over all. He scored 144 points scored, 2nd all time, which moved him to 4th all time in scoring with 150 points for his career. Chris Reisner followed with 476 yards on 85 carries with 10 TD's and 62 points.
Chris Reisner was the Golden Buck Award winner, Nick Tavernelli won the Iron Antler Award, and Dustin Supan was named Most Improved Player
The Bucks finished 3rd in Division III, Region 11, and were ranked 4th in the state by the AP. They made their 3rd appearance in the State Playoffs in the last 4 years. They also hosted the first ever State Playoff game at Edwin Steingass Field in November. However they did not get past the visiting John Glenn Muskies, losing by a score of 10-6.
From The GAZETTE, By Brad Bournival, Staff Writer
SULLIVAN TWP. — Through seven games this season, Buckeye's football team still has not given up an extra point.
The powerful Bucks surrendered their first touchdown of the season Friday night in a 38-6 Patriot Athletic Conference rout of Black River — a 19-yard fourth-quarter ramble against the second string by Brandon Freeman.
"It's still a win," Buckeye linebacker Matt Dash said. "Actually, I think it's good. It'll happen down the road and we'll know how to adjust."
Buckeye (7-0, 4-0), which leads the Stars Division, went an incredible 332 minutes and 30 seconds without giving up a TD.
Though that streak ended, the Bucks can still claim not to have given up a PAT thanks to Ben DiMarco's block of Jon Brietkrenz's attempt.
Given the way the Bucks handled the Pirates (2-5, 2-2), opponents might not get a chance to kick another extra point in the regular season.
Black River coach Al Young was so impressed with Buckeye he gave the postgame speech, not Bucks mentor Chris Medaglia.
Just as Medaglia was about to go into his prose, Young tapped him on the back and stepped in.
"You deserve to be where you're at right now," Young told the Bucks. "We're your biggest rival, but we'll be your biggest fans from here on out. Keep playing like that and listen to your coaches and it ain't gonna be one and out in the playoffs."
If the Bucks keep playing like they did against the Pirates, no one will have a chance.
It was a dash of Dustin Supan (9 rushes, 79 yards, 3 TDs) and a sprinkling of Dash (6 catches, 106 yards, 2 TDs).
All those yards came in the first half, and anything the Bucks needed
to do to put the game away happened in the first 24 minutes as well.
Tim O'Connell picked off Derrick Waltz's first pass of the game and Dash turned it into six just one play later on a 25-yard toss from Adam Read (11-of-14, 179, 2 TDs).
On the next possession Dash caught another 25-yard pass and fumbled, but Supan picked it up and chugged 24 more yards to the Black River 6.
Supan scored four plays later to put Black River in a 14-0 hole.
"You throw the ball to Dash and I don't care where it is, he'll catch it," Medaglia said. "You put Supan in the open field and there isn't anyone that's going to chase him down."
Then again, give Buckeye the field position it had in the first half and there isn't anyone that will be able to keep up.
Of the Bucks' five touchdown drives, three were of 32 yards or less. Buckeye twice capitalized with touchdowns off turnovers.
"We're more consistent now," Medaglia said. "We don't limit ourselves in certain situations, where in years past we had to play in those situations."
With PAC games left against Keystone (4-3), Brookside (5-2) and Wellington (5-2), things set up nicely for the first 10-0 season in Buckeye history.
"They're great," Young said. "They've got the horses. They're the best team we've ever played."
Bournival may be reached at Bournival929@sbcglobal.net or 330-721-4045.
From The GAZETTE, By Brad Bournival, Staff Writer
Black River football coach Al Young is aware of it. Buckeye coach Chris Medaglia knows it will end.
No matter how it's viewed, the fact that Buckeye comes into tonight's game against the Pirates having not surrendered a touchdown is astounding.
"They're everything they're cracked up to be," Young said. "To be honest I don't know what we're supposed to do. I haven't figured it out yet."
Buckeye holds a 10-6 series advantage over the Pirates and has won four of the last five times. That's what matters to Medaglia, not the fact that the Bucks have outscored opponents 229-3 this year.
"It gives us a team focal point I guess. We don't want it to end," he said. "It's nice while it lasts, but it's not what we concentrate on. It's just something that's happening. In the end it's about winning and losing."
That's how both are viewing this Patriot Athletic Conference tilt that will give one team a leg up in the Stars Division. That, and bragging rights for a year from schools that don't exactly like each other.
"Records are a non-factor," Medaglia said. "If you can't get up for this game, this time of year, you're playing for the wrong coach at the wrong school. Shame on you."
Back in Black
BLACK RIVER (2-4, 1-2): Since Derrick Waltz took over at quarterback in Week 4, the Pirates are 2-1 and moving their way back toward respectability in the league. Last week's overtime win over heavy favorite Wellington showed just how far the team has come since starting the season 0-3. "It seems like the longer we've played, the better we've gotten," Young said. "(Last week) we made the right plays at the right time. It's amazing after all the things that have transpired, we've kept playing hard." … The reason Black River has a home game with the Bucks for the second straight season comes from the fact Buckeye played the Pirates at home in 2002 and 2003. With the both teams in the PAC, it will go back to a rotating schedule again. … Tackle Jesse Campbell is out for the season with a neck injury.
Last Week: W, 10-7 at Wellington. This Week: Buckeye (6-0, 3-0). Next Week: at Brooklyn (4-2, 1-2).
Two down could mean two out
BRUNSWICK (5-1, 2-1): In the 12th spot in Division I, Region 2, the Blue Devils can't afford a loss even though teams like Green (home with Tallmadge), Massillon Jackson (home with Canton McKinley) and North Canton Hoover (home with McKinley) could fall below them in the upcoming weeks. "That's what it looks like now, 9-1 gets us in," Brunswick coach Rich Nowak said. "We can't afford to lose another game for a lot of reasons besides the playoffs, but that's part of the game." … With 17 yards passing on Saturday, Anthony Lanzara will move past his stepfather Gary Clift (2,498) and into fourth-place at Brunswick for most passing yards. … In 12 meetings, Brunswick has never lost to Parma. … Running back Mike Francescangeli (separated shoulder) won't play against the Redmen, but two-way players Jason Reitenbach (ankle) and Dave Pace (knee) will. Mansfield replaces Cleveland Heights on the non-conference schedule next year and Hudson takes over for Lakewood in 2007.
LW: W, 39-7 Medina. TW: at Parma (1-5, 0-3). NW: at Normandy (6-0, 3-0).
Don't cry me a River
BUCKEYE (6-0, 3-0): Medaglia doesn't buy Black River's 2-4 start. That's why the conference favorites aren't looking forward to Keystone next week. "Whenever you play a rival, you throw records out," he said. "Our focus isn't on winning the conference championship or making the playoffs. It's on beating Black River. They've played some good opponents. We gave our kids examples of teams that went into a game against teams with worse records and got snakebitten." … Lineman Tony Fabri is expected to see 20-25 snaps this week.
LW: W, 34-0 at Columbia. TW: at Black River (2-4, 2-1). NW: Keystone (4-2, 3-0).
The payoffs dealing with playoffs
CLOVERLEAF (5-1, 2-1): Nestled in the third spot in the Division II, Region 6 playoff picture, the Colts know exactly what's at stake the remaining four weeks of the season. After a trip to Highland, Cloverleaf plays Green, Copley and Tallmadge. Those three have a combined record of 15-3 and are fighting for postseason position as well. "I think anytime you lose at this point, you've got to get back on track," said Cloverleaf coach Kevin Gault of last week's loss to Revere. "I told them I want this to hurt and they agreed. I think we have a shot to get in at 1-3, but we can't leave anything to chance. The whole goal is to go 4-0 and win the league championship. You do that and everything takes care of itself."
LW: L, 26-23 Revere. TW: at Highland (1-5, 0-3). NW: at Green (5-1, 3-0).
The good, the bad, the ugly
HIGHLAND (1-5, 0-3): It's been a strange season for the Hornets and the statistics prove it. Steve Weigand's 83-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown two weeks ago at Revere broke a school record (82, Clint Walters vs. Buckeye, 1997). Weigand also became the first Hornet to rush for a TD and score on a fumble recovery in the same game since Mark Funfgeld did it against Rittman in 1989. Kevin Callari's 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Tallmadge was the second longest in school history (92, Brick Jones vs. Hudson, 1993). On the flip side, last week's 69 points allowed were the second most in school history (72, Orrville in 1964) and the 48-point margin is the biggest since 1999 (62-8, Copley). Highland has allowed 259 points and is projected to give up 432. That would be much more than the current school mark of 324 set in 1996.
LW: L, 69-21 Tallmadge. TW: Cloverleaf (5-1, 2-1). NW: at Barberton (3-3, 0-3).
No kuchen, no turnovers either
MEDINA (1-5, 1-2): Though the Bees lost by 32 last week to Brunswick, they did something rarely seen this season. The team outgained the Blue Devils on the ground 154-86. The difference? Medina coughed it up four times, to Brunswick's none to push its turnover ratio to minus-12 (16 Int., 4 fumbles) this season. "I've told them you've got to be in the game in the fourth quarter before you can win," Medina coach Greg Reed said. "You've got to be able to stay competitive and so far that hasn't happened. And it's because of the turnovers. It's hard when you're down 21-0 to come back." … Normandy is off to its best start in school history. Undefeated through six games, the Invaders are better on paper than their 1981 and 2004 playoff teams. … Matt Gaynor will get the start at quarterback tonight versus Normandy.
LW: L, 39-7 at Brunswick. TW: Normandy (6-0, 3-0). NW: Parma (1-5, 0-3).
Welcome back Carter?
WADSWORTH: (4-2, 1-2): The Grizzlies don't need a scouting report on Copley running back Delone Carter (129 carries, 1,150 yards, 26 TDs). All they have to do is look at last year's film from Week 7. In that 48-7 win by the Indians, Carter ran for 239 yards on 18 carries and added four touchdowns. "It's more a matter of containing him than trying to stop him," Wadsworth coach Greg Dennison said. "He'll get his yards. It's just tackling in gangs and not giving up the big play." … Linebacker Matt Wenger (mononucleosis) and two-way lineman Adam Grey (hip) are still out, but linebacker Jeff Smith (virus) is back after missing last week.
LW: W, 44-15 at Barberton. TW: Copley (4-2, 1-2). NW: Tallmadge (6-0, 3-0).
Bournival may be reached at Bournival929@sbcglobal.net or 330-721-4045.
From the GAZETTE, by Brad Bournival, Staff Writer
BUCKEYE (4-0, 1-0): As it sits right now, tonight's game with Oberlin is still on at Edwin Steingass Field. The same couldn't be said about the Indians when they were scheduled to play at Urbana on Sept. 10. Sources say Oberlin was a late scratch and forfeited. Because of the late notice, the Indians had to fork over $3,000 to Urbana. Still, Buckeye isn't looking past tonight's Patriot Athletic Conference, cross-divisional matchup at "The Buckodome." "I wouldn't say we're pumped up, it's more focused," Buckeye coach Chris Medaglia said. "They understand how important every game is." … Under the tutelage of defensive coaches Kerry Cullin, Jason Simonetti and Bob Jenne, the Bucks have shut out three opponents in a season for the first time since 2002, which was the first year Buckeye made the playoffs. Speaking of the postseason, the fourth-seeded Bucks would entertain Beloit West Branch in a Division III, Region 11 contest if the season ended today. … Don't give up on two-way lineman Tony Fabri because he hasn't given up on Buckeye. As soon as his knee brace comes in, the 6-foot, 245-pounder will be ready to go.
LW: W, 35-0 at Lutheran West. TW: Oberlin (0-4, 0-1). NW: at Columbia (2-2, 0-1).
