Babbitt helps guide Mogadore to 4-0 start

Mogadore improved their record to 4-0 overall this past Friday with a 28-7 victory over host Rootstown.

Senior quarterback Drew Babbitt threw three touchdown passes and the Wildcats defense was stingy, limiting the Rovers to just 55 yards rushing and 84 yards passing.

“I liked our defense,” Mogadore coach Matt Adorni said. “We forced them to five three-and-outs in the first half. We played physically up front.

“Jake McAvinew had a phenomenal game both ways. He had 10 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown.”

Mogadore took a 21-0 lead into halftime after neither team scored in the first quarter.

“Offensively, it took us a little more time to get rolling,” Adorni said.

Adorni said Babbitt looked poised and confident as the game progressed.

“He missed a couple of reads early, but I thought he came on strong in the second quarter,” Adorni said. “He put the ball where it needed to be.”

Senior Matt Traugh caught two touchdown passes after sophomore Dustin Owens caught his first varsity touchdown to open the open the scoring.

Adorni also praised the play of junior linebackers Joe Scolaro (12 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss) and Kodey Chance (nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, two interceptions).

Senior two-way linemen Andrew Monea was also vital with seven tackles, a sack and with his blocking on offense.