The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
JUMPING FOR JOY
South High School football players celebrate during their game against North High School. The Rebels went on to win the game, 46-13.
New faces in many critical positions on South’s football team meant growth would be required from Coach Matt Duffy’s players.
Duffy saw improvement in some areas but not enough to net a win — even with a four-score lead at half against Madison on Sept. 15.
Against the Rebels’ main rival Sept. 22, at the season’s midpoint, South chose an apt time to play its best game of the season to date.
Tyler Henderson carried 15 times for 118 yards and four touchdowns, the Rebels forced four turnovers in the game’s first six minutes and beat North, 46-13.
“This was our first complete game,” Duffy said. “Even though the second half’s a little different with how things were going, our kids are growing up. We’ve got to keep improving.”
South extended its winning streak over its neighborhood rival to 15 games. North last beat South in 2003.
South needed 53 seconds to score on its first possession. Steven D’Eusanio completed a 28-yard pass to Danny Gallagher, then ran
19 yards to set up his 1-yard score for a 7-0 South lead. South forced a fumble on North’s second play. Henderson scored on a sweep off right tackle from the one to put South up 14-0.
The Rangers fumbled again on the first play of their next drive. Henderson took a handoff from D’Eusanio and ran up the middle for a 10yard touchdown, South’s third touchdown less than three minutes into the game. Henderson scored on a 24yard run as South bolted to a 28-0 lead with 6:05 left in the quarter. North coach Shawn Dodd lamented injuries to seven starting players, which led to missed assignments and compromised ballcarriers in the backfield. On the opposite sideline, Duffy was pleased to see South capitalize on miscues.
“The biggest change in the last couple of weeks is we’re creating turnovers,” Duffy said. “In order to be a solid defense you have to do that, and our guys really started to do that last week.”
Tanski put the Rangers on the board with a 32yard touchdown run with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
Henderson answered 35 seconds later with his fourth score, a 20-yard run for a 35-6 South lead. The senior tailback said it felt “great” to break multiple big plays, especially against a rival. Henderson added three catches for 46 receiving yards.
“I just wanted to help my team win because I know we’ve been struggling in the first few games,” Henderson said. “My line came out strong, I came out strong and we had a good chance to win it.”
Brian Cook pushed through the North line to drop Tanski for a safety in the second quarter, and D’Eusanio’s second touchdown run gave South a 44-6 halftime lead. Tanski opened the second half with a 51-yard touchdown run up the right sideline to pull North within 44-13. Tanski scored each of the Rangers’ touchdowns, ran for 63 yards and threw for 78.
Tyler Dodd recovered the ensuing onside kick to put the Rangers at midfield. North drove to the South 20, where the Rangers lost their fourth fumble of the game and any momentum garnered early in the half. South punted to the North 4, where Cameron VonSeggern notched South’s second safety for a 46-13 lead.
Dodd said the loss will impart more life lessons upon his players. On the field, Dodd looks for his team to avoid debilitating turnovers and some of the underclassmen to step up in the void of injured starters.
“I’ve been through a lot worse in life than losing a football game,” Dodd said. “But this should still bother them. We prepare, we work hard, this is a great group of kids, they still have great character.”
Each team’s record moves to 1-4. South’s win is momentous as the Rebels move into the season’s second half. Their 15th win in a row over the Rangers is also gratifying.
“It’s better to get the first one,” Duffy said. “I’m happy for the kids that they got North.”