The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Wickliffe rolls to shutout
If there was any question Wickliffe would have any sort of letdown in Week 3 against East Tech, after a come-from-behind victory against Fairview in Week 2, the Blue Devils put that to rest quickly in their 42-0 victory over the Scarabs.
Isaac Pettway broke off a 47-yard run and an eight-yard run on the first drive for a touchdown. Brad Dietrich hit Chase Fortkamp with a 32-yard pass to start the following possession, putting the Blue Devils up, 13-0, in three plays on their way to the big win and a 3-0 start to the season heading into conference play.
“I was a bit concerned about that this week — it was an emotional win last week,” Blue Devils coach Marce Porcello said of any carryover from the Week 2 battle. “We always tell the guys we’re going to evaluate us as a team. We have the motto ‘don’t look up.’ We came out and played well.”
There was no looking up or letting up after scoring 13 points on three plays. A safety gave the Blue Devils a 15-0 advantage, and Pettway found paydirt twice more in the first half on runs of three and six yards to go up, 29-0. The senior running back finished with 131 yards on seven carries and a total of three scores.
“We came out of the locker room, and we were ready,” Pettway said of the team not letting up after last week’s big win. “We had a positive attitude, we were pounding the ball well and had a good scheme tonight.”
Senior Jaylen Bowers added a touchdown run in the first half, and sophomore Isaiah Bolon capped off the scoring with a touchdown in the third quarter. Wickliffe finished with 277 rushing yards in the win, and the younger Blue Devils continued to impress their coach with their growth in the season’s first few contests.
“Our offensive line has been a pleasant surprise each day,” Porcello said. “I knew we were young up front, but they are getting better every day and worked hard in the offseason. Most of them play two ways, but they haven’t gotten tired. They find the energy to keep going.”
The Blue Devils head into conference play in the CVC Valley for the first time in the new division, visiting Independence, and hope to stick with the same approach to prepare for the first division game against their namesake Blue Devils.
“It’s over now,” Pettway said of the Blue Devils’ 3-0 start to the season, their second straight year accomplishing that feat. “We have a big challenge coming up. We have to bring it Monday in practice like any Monday and stay focused and hungry throughout the week.”