Brush clinches WRC championship

Led by senior quarterback Godwin Joe and his talented receiving core, Brush (8-2, 7-1) clinched the Western Reserve Conference title, and a possible home playoff game, with a crucial 43-23 victory over Madison (2-8, 1-7) on a cold and rainy senior night at Korb Field in Lyndhurst on Oct. 27.

Joe, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, got off to a rocky start when he threw a red zone interception on the Arcs’ first possession but bounced back in a big way as he led his team to four consecutive touchdown drives following the early gaffe.

The Arcs got on the board first when Joe hit fellow senior Markel Toney with a high-arcing pass for a 45yard touchdown, capping off a seven-play, 80-yard drive, to put Brush ahead, 7-0, with 2:07 left in the first. On the next Brush possession, Joe found receiver Zach Dixon alone in the end zone for a 4-yard score that extended the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Following a Blue Streaks three-and-out, the highoctane Arcs offense took over at their own 26-yard line. Joe hit Dixon for big gains of 10 and 14 to get the Arcs out of their own territory before the dualthreat quarterback gave his arm a rest and finished off the drive with his legs. On first-and-10 from the Madison 28, Joe broke free for a 23-yard run to set his team up inside the red zone. One play later, he scampered in from 5 yards out to extend the lead to 21-0.

Less than two minutes later, Joe and Toney hooked up again, this time from 34 yards out extending the Arcs’ lead to 28-0 with 1:43 left in the half.

The Blue Streaks put together a 65-yard drive led by big plays by Alex Dragas and Ken Cline, who finished off the drive when they connected for an 18-yard touchdown pass to send the game to half at 28-7.

On third-and-3 from their own 38, on the Arcs first drive of the second half, Joe dropped back and found Toney over the middle for what looked to be a short gain, but the 6-foot-4 wideout showed his wheels as he streaked past the Madison defense and into the end zone for a big 62yard score that made it 35-7.