The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Streaks hit the ground running Willis pleased after Madison ‘got a lot better in a week’
A week after Madison’s running game struggled to generate drives in a scrimmage against Twinsburg, Coach Tim Willis challenged the Blue Streaks in their final preseason tuneup.
Madison traveled to Mentor to meet a more physically-imposing Lake Catholic, and Willis goaded his team to be more physical.
Each side’s first-team units competed in the first half, and Willis’ unit dominated in the areas synonymous with Madison football.
Madison’s defense was on and off the field quickly while the running game, behind Ken Cline and Caleb Fiorello, chewed up yardage en route to a 20-14 Blue Streak win.
“I think our kids came and played,” Willis said. “I don’t think they expected that out of us tonight. From last week to this week, we’ve got a lot of young kids and we got a lot better in a week. That’s a good sign.”
“I think our kids came and played. I don’t think they expected that out of us tonight. From last week to this week, we’ve got a lot of young kids and we got a lot better in a week. That’s a good sign.” Madison coach Tim Willis, on the Blue Streaks’ performance Aug. 18 in a scrimmage against Lake Catholic at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium
The Blue Streaks’ ground game was so good this week that a running back, Cam Caito, threw a touchdown pass on a gadget play.
Cline and quarterback Alex Dragas rushed for touchdowns to stake Madison to a 20-0 lead midway through the second period of the scrimmage.
“I was proud of our running game,” Willis said.
“I was proud of our defense. They’ve got some big kids on their offensive line, and we pretty much took care of them.”
Opposite the Blue Streaks, Lake Catholic coach Scott O’Donnell’s team left Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium with a week to prepare for a talented Stow-Munroe Falls team in Week 1. Until then, the Cougars coach will urge improvement everywhere.
“In all three phases we’ve got a lot to improve and we’ve got a week to do it,” O’Donnell said. “It’s next Friday. It’s go time.”
O’Donnell was encouraged by his team’s response to a 20-point deficit.
Lake Catholic quarterback Jack Gibbons scrambled for a touchdown from near midfield some 30 seconds after the Cougars fell behind by three scores. Trailing, 20-7, Lake Catholic soon pounced on a loose football after a botched snap near the end zone to draw within six points.
The defense forced a Madison punt with seconds remaining to give the Cougars a chance to at least tie the score before time expired. The firstteam segment of the scrimmage ended with a Mark Primer sack to secure the Madison victory.
Lake Catholic’s second team controlled the latter two periods to defeat Madison’s second-string, 20-3.
The Cougars’ five projected starting linemen weigh an average of 278 pounds. If improvements are to be made for Lake Catholic, O’Donnell looks for his team to capitalize on its size advantage.
“They were physical, and they got after us,” O’Donnell said. “They were pushing us around a little bit, and we’ve got to figure that out.”