The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Charleston, Gilmour roll into next round
It isn’t as though C.J. Charleston is an unknown player in the area, especially on his home campus at Gilmour Academy. On Nov. 3, the senior added to his legacy.
Charleston ran for 317 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries, leading his team to a 43-21 regional quarterfinal win over visiting Columbiana Crestview.
“Obviously that’s how our season’s been going, but C.J is a phenomenal runner,” Gilmour coach Chris Kosiorek said. He’s a phenomenal runner, he’s a phenomenal player and a phenomenal kid. But we’ve got great blockers. We’ve got a great offense.”
Undefeated and fourthseeded Gilmour (11-0) advances to a regional semifinal in Division V, Region 17, where it will face the winner of of top-seeded Orville and eighth-seeded Massillon Tuslaw. That game will be played on Nov. 10.
Charleston, who entered the afternoon with 2,035 yards and 42 TDs, racked up 81 percent of the Lancers’ 396 total yards. The game was even more onesided than the score indicated, as Gilmour put points on the board on seven of its first eight possessions in building a 43-7 advantage. The lone exception was the end of the first half.
Gilmour attempted only three passes on the afternoon, completing one.
Charleston scored on runs of 45, 18, 5, 1 and 44 yards. He also had three scoring runs, including two of more than 50 yards, nullified by penalty. However, the Lancers recovered to take the ball to the house all three times.
Charleston credited his offensive line, fullback and receivers for blocking that has helped him greatly this year.
“This is what we’ve been working for since last year’s loss in the playoffs against Black River,” he said. “It started in the offseason — June 3, I think it was. We’ve been preparing for this moment all year. And it’s special to get the win and move on to the next round.” — Steve Goldman
Wickliffe falls
A weary and muddy group of Wickliffe Blue Devils gathered in the end zone one last time as their season came to an end in a Division V Regional Quarterfinal at Leavittsburg LaBrae.
Amid tears and hugs, the 24-player group was sad to see it end in a 21-0 loss, but could hold their heads high in the knowledge that they had fought to the last second and gave everything they had.
An early 14-0 deficit, an uncharacteristic six turnovers, and a well-prepared LaBrae defense were the deciding factors in the loss for a Wickliffe team that was in the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
LaBrae (10-1) outgained Wickliffe, 391-177. Isaac Pettway gained 88 hardfought yards on 18 carries, and Chase Fortkamp added 43 yards for the Blue Devils, who moved the ball well at times but was unable to punch it in to the end zone.
Wickliffe reached the red zone twice, in the first quarter and again in the third, but was pushed backwards by penalties, and eventually lost the ball on downs and then by interception.
On the other hand, the Wickliffe defense held a LaBrae team averaging 51.5 points a game to 21. — Jay Kron