The Wadsworth High School Football team chalked up win number one on the season Friday night as they defeated the Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers 28-7.
Wadsworth is now 1-4 overall on the season and 1-1 in the Suburban League. Cuyahoga Falls drops to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the Suburban League.
The Grizzlies were led by all-Ohio running back Dan Weinerman, who scored two second-half touchdowns. Weinerman scored on a 2-yard touchdown run on the last play of the third quarter and on a 21-year run right up the middle with less than three minutes to go in the game. Weinerman had 5 runs of 20 yards or more against the Black Tiger defense.
Weinerman said “I think today is a big game for us to build on. We got a lot of stuff done tonight that we’ve had a rough time doing earlier in the season”.
Wadsworth scored first in the game, thanks to their special teams. Cuyahoga Falls dropped back to punt on a 4th and 33 from their 7 yard line when their punter dropped the snap from center in the end zone. Linebacker Cody Surratt tackled the punter in the end zone for a safety giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead.
The Grizzlies got their first touchdown on their next possession, moving 52 yards in five plays. Junior running back Alex Jones scored on a 5-yard run with 2 minutes to go in the first quarter. The extra point try was blocked and the Grizzlies had an 8-0 lead.
After stopping a fake field goal try by the Black Tigers, Wadsworth moved 93 yards for their second TD. Senior quarterback Connor Montgomery found wide receiver Zach Looser in the back of the end zone on a 23-yard hookup. The point after was good and the Grizzlies had a 15-0 lead at halftime.
Cuyahoga Falls scored their only touchdown after the Grizzlies fumbled at their own 2 yard line. It took two plays for Duane Matthews to score on a run from one yard out. With the extra point, Wadsworth’s lead was cut to 15-7.
Wadsworth put their next drive in Dan Weinerman’s hands. After Looser returned the kickoff to the Cuyahoga Falls 46, Weinerman carried the ball three straight times. The plays went for 13, 31 and 2 yards. The third play was a touchdown for the senior. The point was missed, but Wadsworth took back control of the game at 21-7.
Wadsworth head coach Greg Dennison said “just getting a win is big for us, especially with the number of young guys we have playing for us. We’ll use this as a momentum builder”.
Next Friday night, the Grizzlies will be on the road again as they play the North Royalton Bears in North Royalton. Kickoff next Friday night will be at 7 o’clock.
