Akron Buchtel 44 Warrensville Heights 6 @PaFootballNews @WH_Tigers @APSathletics1 @AkronBeacon #BEYONDTHEKEYSTONE

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub

David Burnworth | September 15, 2019

I have waited a long time to see Warrensville Heights play and when I saw that they were playing at Akron Buchtel, a place I enjoyed last year I circled this one on my calendar. Last season it was rainy and nasty when I made my first visit to Griffin Stadium. This year mother nature gave us a beautiful day to watch football. I will bet the 400 or so fans that were there was grateful for that.
Before I get into the game I wanted to apologize for any names I do not have. I did not see programs being sold and when I asked about rosters nobody was able to help me, so I am using the incomplete ones from hudl.com and maxpreps.com. Neither have all of the numbers for those on the roster. Also the fans I met there, especially a former Warrensville coach and current coach at Akron Ellet, you all were so kind and I enjoyed very much meeting you all.

Both teams entered this contest 0-2 but for Buchtel, they had played a killer schedule ( North Canton Hooker and Canton McKinley). In my opinion this had prepared them for anything they will see against anyone left on their schedule. For Warrensville Heights, they are very low on numbers (24 dressed by my count) especially when it comes to linemen. The thing that stood out to me about the Tigers is those kids were beat early but from my seat directly behind their bench they never quit.

The Griffins would flex their muscles from the defensive side of the ball first, when RICHARD GOOD pounced on and sacked Tigers quarterback Ravon Sanders with just a couple of minutes into the contest. After getting the ball the Griffins needed just 4 plays to go 30 yards to light up the scoreboard. The scoring play came from Michael Jackson III, who went right up the guy of the smallish Tigers line to dash 26 yards for the score, after Dylan West made good on the PAT the score was 7-0.

Martavien Johnson would blitz the defense for a 39 yard score to make this a 14-0 game, after the PAT was again hit by West The drive was a one play drive as the Griffins showed that they have that quick striking offense that has speed to burn. Shortly after #54 for the Griffins sacked Sanders, the home team would get the ball back again. This time they needed just four plays to go the sixty yards needed to score again. This time #4 would be the one to hit pay dirt on a 49 yard run. The point after made this a 21-0 game with :50 seconds left in the opening quarter. The defense for the Griffins would flex its muscles again to end the quarter, with Mekih Williams doing the honors by crushing Jerome Lee Jr. for a six yard loss.

Tinell Edwards was given credit by the PA announcer for recovering a fumble by the Tigers Sanders just 62 seconds into the 2nd quarter. Johnson would dance in from 15 yards out for another Buchtel score to make this a 28-0 game, after another West PAT with 9:59 left in the half. A 25 yard gain by Jermaine James set up the final score of the half, which came on a 30 yard run by James. The teams would go into the locker rooms with the Griffins leading 35-0.

The second half was played with the running clock and as you would guess, it did not take long for this one to officially be completed. The Tigers used a smart play by #8, who waited until a punted ball had stopped rolling and when nobody from the Griffins touched it, #8 picked it up and flew 52 yards, making this a 35-6 game. The Tigers defense would roar when Deangelo Bell picked off a Griffins pass. From there it was all Buchtel, with a safety coming when Mekih Williams sacked Jerome Lee jr, to make the score 37-6. The Griffins followed that up with a 25 yard run by James and another West PAT to make this a 44-6 game after three.

The fourth quarter had one play of significance and that was a 25 yard completion for the Tigers, with Lee throwing it and Elijah Gordon catching it. The 25 yards were big because by my stats, when all was said and done that would be the total yards the Tigers had for the game.