The Wadsworth Grizzlies saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Friday night. At Art Wright Stadium, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees defeated Wadsworth 21-13 in a Suburban League contest.
The Grizzlies took the opening kickoff and marched down the field led by the running attack of tailback Dan Weinerman and fullback Alex Jones. The 8-play, 77 yard drive ended with Jones scoring the TD on a 4-yard run. With the extra point Wadsworth had a 7-0 lead less than three-minutes into the game.
Brecksville tied the score just before the end of the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Dan Shirilla to senior running back Josh Underwood. The extra point was good and the game was tied at 7.
The Grizzlies went three-and-out on their next possession. Brecksville got the ball back and took the lead on an 11-play, 84-yard drive. The Bees converted on a third-and-18 and on a fourth-and-nine in the drive. The fourth-down conversion was a 22-yard touchdown pass from Shirilla to wide receiver Sam Wiglusz. With the extra point Brecksville had a 14-7 lead.
Wadsworth came right back. They returned the kickoff to their own 41 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Weinerman carried the ball to the Brecksville 11. On the next play, Weinerman took it to the 5 yard line. But, Weinerman lost 5 yards on the next play and Jones lost a yard on third down. Sophomore Conner Mendel came on to attempt a 28-yard field goal. He missed it to the left and Brecksville maintained a 14-7 lead.
Wadsworth had another chance just before halftime. On a first-down play from the Brecksville 31, Montgomery tried to hit Zach Looser at the goal line on a crossing pattern. But, the ball was intercepted by Brecksville ending the Wadsworth scoring threat.
The Grizzlies got the break they needed to start the second half. Jake Schmidt recovered a fumble on the kickoff setting the Grizzlies up at the Brecksville 40 yard line. Seven plays later, quarterback Connor Montgomery hit Weinerman on a 14-yard pass in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. But, the try for the extra point was blocked and Brecksville had a 14-13 lead.
On their next drive, Wadsworth moved the ball to the Brecksville 19-yard line, but a 15-yard penalty and a two-yard loss on an Alex Jones running play backed the Grizzlies up to the Brecksville 35. The drive ended with Wadsworth turning it over on downs
Brecksville turned to the ground game in the fourth quarter. Following a Wadsworth punt, with less than five minutes in the game, Underwood took a handoff from Shirilla and raced 43 yards for a touchdown. The try for point was good and the Bees led 21-13.
The Grizzlies didn’t give up. Following the kickoff, Weinerman carried the ball for a 21-yard gain to the Brecksville 45 yard line with 2:30 to go. But, Weinerman lost a yard on the next play, Looser lost three on a sweep play. On third down, Montgomery was sacked setting up a fourth-and-24 from the Grizzly 39. Montgomery took the snap on fourth down and hit Looser on a 45-yard pass that carried him to the Brecksville 16. But, Wadsworth was guilty of Illegal motion on the play, making it fourth and 29. Montgomery was sacked on the next play.
Wadsworth, now 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the Suburban League, plays at Hudson next Friday night. Brecksville is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SL.
