Chardon rolls over Howland

Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt was a little concerned his team with a bye last week in the opening round of the playoffs might have lost some of the momentum built up rolling to a 6-0 regular season and the No. 1 state ranking in Division III.

Ah, no.

The No. 1-seeded Hilltoppers won the coin toss Oct. 16 at Chardon Memorial Field, deferred and kicked off to Howland.

They stopped the Tigers from getting a first down and then swarmed Howland punter Gage Gibson.

Charlie Brosch blocked the punt, Rocco Perico recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, and the Hilltoppers were on their way to a 49-14 pounding of the 17th-seeded Tigers. Six other Toppers found the end zone.

“We never had a bye week in all the years we made the postseason,” Hewitt said after the game. “You never know quite what to expect. Our kids played fast. They played hungry like they had a week off, so it was good stuff.”

The Hilltoppers next meet Geneva on Oct. 23 in a Region 9 quarterfinal at Chardon. Geneva edged Hubbard, 22-19.

The Hilltoppers i mposed their will from the first play to the last. They led, 42-0, at halftime, so the entire second half was played with a running clock. The starters were rested.

“The downside of being the No. 1 seed is you’re the 1 seed,” Hewitt said. “The positive side of being the 1 seed is when the 17th seed comes in, they already have a level of doubt. It’s our job to make sure we water that seed. They’re only going to play with us as long we allow them to.”

James Pettyjohn scored on a 48-yard run on Chardon’s first offensive play to make it 14-0 after the Hilltoppers stopped Howland on downs.

There never was a doubt how the game would end, but what happened next typified why the Hilltoppers are a legitimate contender for a state championship.

Tigers running back Eric Babinchak broke loose in Howland territory and was destined for the end zone, but he never made it. And then the Hilltoppers put up a prideful goal-line stand, stopping Howland four straight plays without giving an inch of ground.

“That goal-line stand never takes place if (senior linebacker) Blake Barker doesn’t sprint as fast as he can and tackles (Babinchak) down at the 3-yard-line,” Hewitt said. “That will be talked about in our program for years and years and years, because we teach effort, never quitting on a play. That epitomizes everything we teach.”

Chardon increased its lead to 28-0 on a 21yard t ouchdown pass from Drew Fetchik to Nathanael Sulka. Defensive back Brady Toth, tracking the ball like a center fielder going back on a fly ball, set up the touchdown with an interception.

Fullback Sean Carr and running back Evan Ash each added rushing touchdowns before halftime, and then Ryan Peterson raced 21 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Seven touchdow ns from seven players. Spreading the wealth doesn’t get any better.

“T hat ’s incred ible ,” Hewitt said. “We have a lot of weapons. I think we’re doing a better job this year, in all my years, of getting the weapons the ball or at least different people touching the ball. So I’m very pleased with that.”

Pettyjohn led the Hilltoppers with 121 rushing yards. Fetchik was 4-of-8 passing for 101 yards and one touchdown.