The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
CHARDON CRUSHES CANFIELD FOR CROWN
Jubilant Chardon fans counted down the final seconds before a surge of black-clad and red-helmeted Hilltoppers stormed the field to celebrate a decisive 38-6 Division III regional final victory over visiting Canfield on Nov. 6.
Jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the game’s first three minutes, Chardon (10-0) turned three turnovers into points and answered the Cardinals’ lone score with a dominant 90-yard scoring drive of its own in the third quarter to leave no doubt.
The victory puts the Hilltoppers into a D-III state semifinal Nov. 13 against Tiffin Columbian, which edged Holy Name, 17-14. It is Chardon’s first time advancing to the final four since 2003.
“We came out hard, and they’re a tough team,” Chardon senior LB Vince Ferrante said. “Our offense performed, and our defense came out and played (hard) every single play. The biggest thing was turnovers. We picked off two or three passes and had a fumble return for a touchdown, and that’s the game.”
Ferrante had one of those turnovers, picking off a pass a few plays after James Pettyjohn scored on a one-yard run to give Chardon a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive.
Evan Ash ran it in from the 1 three plays later, and the Hilltoppers found themselves up, 14-0, with 9 minutes still to play in the first quarter.
“It was our goal, like we did against New Philadelphia,” senior QB Drew Fetchik said. “We came out fast, and that set the tone for the whole game. That was the goal this week, and we did it. I’m so proud of my guys.”
Canfield (9-1), which actually outgained Chardon, 307-289, responded with a 13-play drive that advanced the ball as far as the Chardon 30, but had to punt after a holding penalty pushed the Cardinals back.
Senior WR/DB Nathanael Sulka, who turned a bubble screen into a 52-yard gain on the first play of the game and added an interception before halftime, recovered a Canfield fumble one play after the Cardinals had reached the Chardon 16 and went untouched 85 yards for a touchdown to give the Hilltoppers a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Sulka dislocated his shoulder in the second half and did not play the rest of the game, but is hoping to return for the state semifinal.
“There’s a reason he’s been a four-year starter, and he’s a Division I kid,” Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt said. “He’s going to get more offers, and we’ve got to get him back healthy
for next week.”
Sulka’s interception late in the second frame halted a Canfield drive that had reached the Hilltopper 22. A 43-yard run by Pettyjohn took Chardon down to the Canfield 12, and Nathan Tager knocked through a 25-yard field goal for a 24-0 halftime lead.
Canfield mounted a nineplay, 64-yard drive to start the second half that culminated in a one-yard TD run by QB Broc Lowry. A twopoint conversion attempt was no good.
The momentum seemed to shift a little with that Cardinals’ scoring march, but Chardon snatched it
right back with a 13-play, 90-yard drive that took 7:04 off the clock and ended with a three-yard TD run by Fetchik on a keeper.
“We were reeling, we got punched, and we were bleeding a little,” Hewitt said of Canfield’s scoring drive. “We needed a drive more than ever, and they came through.”
Pettyjohn tallied again in the fourth quarter from the 1 to give Chardon a 38-6 lead and start a running clock with 7:42 to play. Pettyjohn rushed for 130 yards, and Sean Carr added 58.
Lowry passed for 205 yards but threw a pair of interceptions for Canfield, and also ran for 79 yards. Tony Pannunzio caught six passes for 91 yards for the Cardinals.
After making an emphatic statement regarding who the best team is in D-III, Region 9, Chardon sets its sights on its first state semifinal in 17 years, and possibly beyond that to its first state final appearance in 22 years, and maybe even its first state title in 26 years.
“It’s been a hard year for a lot of people,” Hewitt said. “From jobs to quarantines, and staying home from school. I hope to some degree these kids have brought a little bit of smiles to this community. The beauty is we’re not done.”