The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Fetchik, Pettyjohn set school records in playoffs
There are a big group of young men from Chardon who can now call themselves state champions.
There are also a few who can call themselves recordbreakers.
With a come-from-behind, 31-28 double-overtime win over Columbus DeSales in the Division III state championship game on Nov. 21, the 2020 Chardon Hilltoppers became the first state championship football team at their school since 1994.
Along the way, quarterback Drew Fetchik and running back James Pettyjohn forever etched their names into the lore of Hilltoppers football with their season and postseason accomplishments.
A senior running back, Pettyjohn set new program standards of:
• Most yards rushing in a playoff game (240 in the state semifinal win over Tiffin Columbian). The previous record was 232 by Tommy Benenati in a regional loss to Warren Harding in 2016.
• Career playoff rushing yards (1,205), crushing the former record set by Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt (680).
• Touchdowns in a playoff game (4), which ties him
with Gary Renner (1995 against Riverside).
• Playoff scoring record (78, with 13 touchdowns),
beating the previous record of 59 set by Scott Mackar.
A senior quarterback, Fetchik put his name in the re
cord books with program standard of:
• Passing yards in a playoff game (249 in the final vs.
DeSales), which crushed the former record of Scott Neill (148) in a 1993 playoff game against Madison.
• Pass completions in a game (nine vs. DeSales), beating the previous record of eight set in 1987 by Howard Joiner.
• Touchdown passes in a playoff game (two), which tied him with O’Neill in that 1993 playoff game against Madison.
• Career playoff passing yards (571) and completions (26), surpassing previous marks held by O’Neill (404 yards, 24 completions).
Hewitt called both players’ performances “incredible” when describing them.
“Drew had a remarkable performance,” Hewitt said of the state championship win in which he threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns to lead Chardon back from a 14-point deficit with six minutes remaining. “It might be one of the greatest performances in the history of our program.
“When we can’t run the ball and are struggling to stop the ball, we’re like 0-100. That kid (Fetchik) threw for 250 yards, and that never happens at Chardon. That was incredible.”
Pettyjohn was the workhorse in Chardon’s backfield all year, rushing for more than 1,600 yards. He was held to 28 yards in the championship game, but Hewitt said DeSales’ defense keyed on him all night.