The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bulldogs spoil Shoremen’s perfection
Olmsted Falls’ triple-option offense kept Avon Lake guessing as Bulldogs make strong push for playoffs; Mikolich ran in a QB sneak
Olmsted Falls knew the position they were in Oct. 19 at home against Southwestern Conference rival Avon Lake.
A win would help propel the Bulldogs into the Division II, Region 6 playoff scene.
A win is what happened, with Olmsted Falls topping the Shoremen, 34-31, in thrilling fashion.
The Bulldogs got a go-ahead 61-yard touchdown from running back Jack Spellacy on a fourthand-1 sweep with 4:22 remaining to lead, 34-31. Spellacy finished with 313 yards on 31 carries and four touchdowns.
Olmsted Falls (7-2, 6-2 SWC) knew it couldn’t let this one slip.
“A win is a win especially against an 8-0 team in the Southwestern Conference, it’s hard to do,” Spellacy said.
The Bulldogs ran a lot of triple-option, forcing the Shoremen to guess on defense.
“If you key on me, we give it to someone else and if you key on them, I get the ball,” Spellacy added. “It’s hard to defend the triple-option here and in the college level, too.”
The Bulldogs piled up 428 total rushing yards and threw the ball just twice.
Olmsted Falls entered the fourth with a 27-24 lead, but the Shoremen took the lead with 6:34 remaining when quarterback Jack Mikolich ran in a QB sneak from 1-yard out to go up, 31-27.
After Spellacy’s goahead TD, the Shoremen had the ball from the Bulldogs’ 49-yard line in the final three minutes — a position they are familiar in previously beating Avon and Amherst in last-second fashion.
But Olmsted Falls’ Braden Galaska picked off Mikolich on a 4thand-4 play with 2:53 remaining to slam the door.
Galaska also had a 68yard touchdown catch in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 27-17 lead.
“We just ran the ball and made plays when it counted,” Olmsted Falls coach Tom DeLuca said. “We try to take what the defense gives us.”
Mikolich completed 15of-24 passes for 211 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Konner Riggs had 129 yards and three TDs.
Avon Lake (8-1, 7-1 SWC) still remains in a position to clinch at least a share of the SWC title with Avon.
“It came down to a couple big plays here and there,” Avon Lake coach Matt Kostelnik said. “Their kid (Spellacy) ran like heck. Olmsted Falls played a great game, I thought we played pretty well. We have to sure up our tackling and figure out how to finally beat these guys.”
Olmsted Falls led at the half, 13-10, before the Bulldogs went up 2010 on a Spellacy 3-yard score early in the third.
Riggs responded on the ensuing possession with a 58-yard burst with 8:30 in the quarter to cut it, 20-17.
After Galaska’s big TD catch, Riggs scored again on a 3-yard rush with 3:51 in the third to bring the Shoremen within three, 27-24.
Olmsted Falls entered the game at No. 10 in the playoff race, but a win against Avon Lake should be more than enough to put the Bulldogs in a position to control their own destiny in Week 10.
But coach DeLuca doesn’t want to think of the playoffs. He’s already thinking of North Olmsted next week.
“We have to handle our business,” DeLuca said. “It was a good win tonight. It was a must win and our kids knew that. But we also know we have another one next week.”