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Third consecutive victory for Green, while Magics lose chance at playoffs
By Fred Cay
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Saturday, Oct 18, 2008
GREEN: Playing for pride has proven to be a powerful motivator for Green's football team.
Dreams of titles and playoff hopes disappeared weeks ago. And yet, the Bulldogs rallied in their darkest hour to become the team they expected to be all along.
A dominant second quarter put Barberton away Friday night as Green (4-5, 3-3) rolled to a 44-7 Suburban League victory over Barberton on Senior Night, marking the Bulldogs' third consecutive victory.
''We played really well up front, on both the offensive and defensive lines,'' Green coach Tom Stacy said. ''Since the Highland game, we have gotten better on both sides of the ball.''
Since that 37-7 loss to the unbeaten Hornets three weeks ago — their fourth consecutive loss, putting the Bulldogs at 1-5 — they have looked more like the perennial league power of past years.
''After the Highland game, we said, 'Enough is enough,' '' said Green senior Justin James, who carried the offense with 191 yards on 31 carries. ''Our senior leadership has made the difference.''
James ran on all but one play of a first-quarter drive that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Garrett Cook. James gained most of the yardage on the Bulldogs' first touchdown drive, with quarterback Jesse Mason scoring from 5 yards out on a keeper that made it 10-0 early in the second quarter.
James carried on the final five plays for 36 yards of the next scoring drive, culminating in his own 4-yard run for a 17-0 lead with 2:07 left in the half.
A 31-yard punt return by Tyler Chaboudy to Barberton's 1 set up Mason's touchdown sneak on the next play for a 24-0 advantage 1:23 before halftime.
Meanwhile, after allowing three first downs on Barberton's opening drive, Green's defense held the Magics to four consecutive three-and-outs.
''James is just a tough, hard-nosed guy,'' Stacy said. ''He has had several games over 100 yards this year.''
Stacy, in his first year at Green, also praised his seniors on the offensive line: Tyler Guyton, Alec Gallo, Zack Doak and Lenny Concepcion, along with tight end David Glotfelty.
''Our whole line did a real good job,'' James said. ''They have had a couple injuries to overcome, but the rest of the guys all pulled together and filled in the spots. I'm proud of them.''
Barberton (3-6, 1-5) saw its flickering playoff hopes die. The Magics needed to finish with wins in their final two games to have a shot at making the top eight in Division II, Region 5.
Barberton coach Brian Staats, in his second season, said his players might have felt some pressure.
''Maybe, I think we did,'' he said. ''It is part of the process of getting things back on the right track. It got away from us in the first half. We just didn't play like we have in some other games.''
Barberton mounted a promising drive to start the second half, before an interception by Vito Gironda at Green's 20. The Bulldogs then put together a 12-play, 70-yard drive capped by fullback Deroderic Brown's 4-yard scoring run that made it 30-0. Mason had three completions on the march.
A 1-yard sneak by backup quarterback Mark Malachin boosted the score to 37-0. That was set up by Adam Spray's 38-yard punt return to Barberton's 11.
The Magics averted a shutout when junior quarterback Kyle Snyder found Thaddeus Ingol on a 27-yard scoring strike with 10:13 left in the game.
Green then ran off all but the final seconds with a clock-killing 17-play, 64-yard drive. MarQwe' Hughes scored from two yards out to make it 44-7.
''We are playing our best football right now,'' Stacy said. ''The kids are bringing great confidence.
''They have worked hard in the weight room. We stressed the importance of them getting bigger and stronger. I said it would pay off and that is the case now.''
GREEN: Playing for pride has proven to be a powerful motivator for Green's football team.
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