The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bay defense forces five turnovers in win
After a lengthy halftime, the Elyria Catholic Panthers and Bay Rockets were able to finish their game.
The two teams played the first half of their game Sept. 13 before the game was suspended because of weather during halftime. Despite moving the start time from 7 p.m. up to 6 p.m., the rain still interrupted play.
The Panthers and Rockets took the field at 2 p.m., Sept. 14 to play the second half, with Bay leading 26-8 at the start of the third quarter on its home turf. The Rockets (21) racked up five interceptions in the contest, while quarterback Logan LaMere tallied two scores to lead Bay past Elyria Catholic (2-1), 26-16.
Elyria Catholic struck first early in the first quarter on a Chris Jackson 1-yard touchdown run, which was set up by a 68yard pass from quarterback Steven Navalinsky to wide receiver Connor Trockley.
Bay responded in a big way, both offensively and defensively.
“They responded well,” Bay head coach Ron Rutt said. “It’s tough to sleep on a lead in some ways because the other team has a chance to make adjustments and change some things up. I was very proud of the way our guys came out today because they were fired up and ready to go over there at Elyria Catholic, and our guys responded and held on today.”
Rockets quarterback Logan LaMere brought Bay within 8-6 with a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ben Anderson.
Bay took a 12-8 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter when Anderson intercepted Navalinsky and raced down the field for a 97-yard score.
The Rockets’ defense kept the pressure on as Cullen Gergye intercepted Navalinsky and took the ball all the way to the end zone from 33 yards out to give Bay a 19-8 lead.
“We kept trying to take things that they weren't giving us,” Elyria Catholic head coach Brian Fox said. “At the end of the day, they made us pay. Defensively, however, we were spectacular.”
Gergye tallied three interceptions on the day, while Bay racked up five total in the contest. Two of the five interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
“He's unbelievable,” Rutt said. “He has a knack for when the ball is in the air to position himself and go up and get it. He has great hands and great instincts. He's not the fastest guy in the world but he's a really good athlete and has great ball skills.”
LaMere closed out the first half with his second score of the day, as he ran the ball into the end zone from one yard out. Bay took a 26-8 lead into halftime.
Elyria Catholic started the second half with energy as their team was encouraging their fans to make noise. The Panthers scored once in the second half on an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by running back Levi Ellis. The two-point conversion brought Elyria Catholic within 10 points at 26-16.
The rest of second half was a physical battle between as both teams clamped down defensively.
“We put a good game plan in for their juggernaut offense,” Gergye said. “We had a lot of guys rushing, a couple guys staying back, so we really pounded in there.”
The Panthers' score in the third quarter was the only score of the second half, which was filled with punts by both teams as well as both sides turning the ball over on downs. Bay's defense was able to record their fifth interception of the game when Gergye intercepted Navalinsky late in the fourth quarter.
“Our defense played huge, Rutt said. “The name of the game was not to give up the big play and our guys did that. Our defensive backs stayed deep and came up and made plays when the ball was in the air.”
Up next, Bay hosts Valley Forge while Elyria Catholic travels to Buckeye on Sept. 20.