The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Tough loss for Panthers
Ironmen take control in fourth with running game
Though there were missteps and tough sledding, Elyria Catholic had a chance to pull out a victory, but they were unable to get a final stop.
The Panthers, who trailed by 10 midway through the fourth quarter, trimmed the deficit to three, but host Cleveland Central Catholic grinded out a pair of first downs to hold on for a 20-17 nonconference win Sept. 9.
“Central played a very good game,” Elyria Catholic coach Dave Stupka said. “At times we were our own worst enemy with untimely penalties … we knew it was going to be a field position game and those things hurt us as the course of the game went on.
“Our players continued to fight. We just didn’t have enough at the end to make a final run at them.”
The Ironmen (1-2) took control in the fourth quarter with their running game.
Going on a nine-play, 63-yard drive — which featured all running plays — the Ironmen pushed their lead to 20-10 on De’Shaun James 4-yard touchdown run with 5:35 remaining.
For most of the game, Elyria Catholic couldn’t break off any big plays. The notion changed as Donovan Warfield got behind the Ironmen secondary. Taking in a perfect pass from Cameron Engrish, Warfield went into the end zone untouched to complete the 46yard touchdown pass with 3:35 left and trailing 20-17.
“We had to score and I knew I had to make the play,” Warfield said. “It’s a simple-pitch-and-catch. He put it right on the money.”
But Cleveland Central Catholic went back to its ground-and-pound attack. Totaling 232 yards on the ground, the Ironmen got a pair of first downs to run out the clock and seal the win.
“We have some real good skill guys,” Cleveland Central Catholic coach John Lundy said. “Our defense has been playing lights out so I put more pressure on our offense to help them out.”
The Panthers got a break on the game’s first possession with Leighton Banjoff recovering a fumble and taking it to the Ironmen 6-yard line.
After taking it down to the 2, a false start pushed the Panthers back and eventually settled for a 25-yard field goal by Bryce Hileman.
A one-yard run by J.C. Dunn gave the Ironmen a 7-3 lead. Elyria Catholic had a chance to slice into the deficit before the half
after an interception, but the field goal attempt went wide.
Dunn hit Keije Brown from 24 yards out midway through the third quarter to make it 13-3.
However, Dunn fumbled deep in his own territory with Zach Evans recovering it.
Two plays later, Evans helped the Panthers close
the gap with a 5-yard touchdown reception.
Though the Panthers are disappointed with the loss, they know there is time to turn things around.
“We’ve got seven games left,” Warfield said. “We’ve got one more week and then we go into conference. I think we have a pretty good chance to win out … and make the playoffs.”