The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
High-powered Mayfield routs Nordonia
Mayfield gets a big night from running back Joey Dostal and records a 55-31 win over Nordonia in a Division II, Region 5 playoff encounter. Daniel Sherriff breaks down the action.
Mayfield’s senior running back Joey Dostal erupted for 185 yards on 31 carries along with 45 receiving yards on four receptions and scored four touchdowns to lead Mayfield to a 55-31 victory over Nordonia in the second round of the Division II playoffs on Oct. 16.
THE SCORE MAYFIELD 55, NORDONIA 31
The game looked to feature a high amount of scoring early as Mayfield (5-1, 3-1) needed just four plays to go 56 yards down the field and strike first thanks to a 4-yard touchdown keeper by senior quarterback Michael Huss.
“They gave us the ball. I told our defensive staff, ‘Hopefully when you guys get the ball it’s 7-0.’ It’s a good start and we just kept it going all night,” said Mayfield coach Ross Bandiera.
The Knights (4-4, 3-2) used a more methodical drive to march down the field thanks to the efforts of senior tailback Sal Perrine.
Nordonia converted two fourth downs to keep moving the chains and Perrine hit pay dirt on a 2-yard touchdown run to cap off a 15-play, 79-yard drive.
Mayfield countered back as Dostal scored his first
touchdown of the game on a 13-yard dash into the end zone.
The defense held the Knights to a field goal but Nordonia’s defense forced a punt and senior quarterback Billy Levak set the Knights up in the red zone thanks to a 32-yard pass to junior wideout Cooper Rusk and Perrine gave them a 1714 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run.
The Wildcats took back control thanks to a 7-yard touchdown run by Dostal. Mayfield’s offense erupted in the second half.
Dostal kept the offense moving and put the Wildcats up 28-17 on a 1-yard
touchdow n r u n. T he Knights closed the gap as Lezak delivered a 75-yard touchdown pass to Rusk on a quick drive.
The defense got little rest and it showed as it continued to struggle to slow down Dostal.
“I knew what I was gonna do. Watching the film they didn’t have a good rushing defense. They didn’t look like they wanted to tackle and that obviously showed,” said Dostal.
Mayfield went up again by two scores thanks to its rushing attack. The Knights tried to keep pace but Wildcats’ safety Tim Steffens intercepted Levack and May
field put the game out of reach with a 3-yard touchdown run by Dostal.
“They made some plays. You’ve gotta give credit to Mayfield and their defense. Making some plays at critical times to get us off schedule and just got stops,” said Nordonia coach Jeff Fox.
Huss threw for 129 yards and one touchdown on 9 of 11 passing and ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Levak totaled 293 passing yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Wildcats next play at Archbishop Hoban in the third round of the playoffs on Oct. 23.