Albert Grindle
The Gazette
GRANGER TWP. — On nearly every read-option they faced Thursday, the Aurora football team’s defenders rabidly went after Highland running back and Medina County leading rusher Sam Jenkins, all but daring quarterback Tyler Zelinski to beat them.
Zelinski responded by carving up one of the most feared units in Northeast Ohio.
In just his eighth career start, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, powering the Hornets to a stunning, wire-to-wire 38-28 upset of the Greenmen in a Suburban League American Division game televised on Time Warner Cable’s SportsChannel.
Aurora (5-1, 2-1) will fall from third place in The Associated Press Division II state poll, while Highland (4-2, 2-0) set up another huge game, this time at Copley (5-0, 2-0), next week.
“I’m not really surprised,” Zelinski said without bravado. “We had a hard week of practice. I know we can beat any team if we put our minds to it. We haven’t been playing the last couple weeks like we’ve all wanted, but this game we really pulled together and we got the win.”
Making up for his lack of top-end speed with dazzling ball fakes, Zelinski finished with 31 grueling carries for 194 yards. He also was 6-for-11 for 141 yards, zero interceptions and a 139.2 NFL rating while throwing picture-perfect TD strikes to tight end Zach Filips (81 yards) and slot receiver Evan Kasulones (14).
Mostly having Kasulones fake a jet sweep and then running a power option to the opposite side of the formation, Zelinski took advantage when it became clear the Greenmen were committed to making sure Jenkins (20 carries, 59 yards) couldn’t repeat his 194-yard showing in a 31-27 loss to Green last week.
Often rumbling untouched for 4-5 yards following the mesh with Jenkins, Zelinski had 15 carries of 7 or more yards, including a 26-yarder on the first play from scrimmage, and 10 first downs.
He was clutch, too, with the pop-pass TD to Filips on third-and-7, an 8-yard run on fourth down that set up a Charles Howe field goal and a fourth-down completion to Kasulones in the fourth that led to another TD.
Aurora entered play having allowed 276 rushing yards all season. The Hornets finished with 255 on 53 attempts behind the all-senior line of Hunter Rinard, Hunter Meacham, Tyler Frederick, Mason Carriero and Ben Smith.
“The offensive linemen opened up huge holes,” Zelinski said, deflecting all credit. “I was able to run. Receivers caught the ball when we needed to.
“Our team played 48 minutes. That was the goal from the start.”
Highland led 14-0 just 5:21 in but settled for a 17-14 advantage at half, as quarterback Nolan Sotka (14-for-21, 170 yards, 3 TDs) took advantage of good field position twice with a rushing score and TD strike to Gavin Blunt (3 receptions, 78 yards, 3 TDs).
The Greenmen then dropped a surefire first down on fourth down from the Highland 23 after starting running back Ben Nelson (7 carries, 54 yards) was carted off with a left leg injury.
The momentum swung for good. Zelinski marched the Hornets and found Kasulones over the middle to make it 24-14. Sotko then made a rare mistake and overthrew a receiver on fourth down from the Highland 27, and Zelinski capitalized again with a 7-yard rushing TD that made the score 31-14 with 5:23 left.
With Hornets standout cornerback Manny Dela Cerna getting checked out by trainers after getting rocked on a kickoff, Aurora sandwiched long TD receptions by Blunt around Zelinski’s final score, an untouched 3-yarder with 1:27 to go.
Outside of the hurry-up TDs late in the game, Highland’s defense atoned for poor tackling last week. Aurora had 198 yards with six minutes left and had only three runs of more than 10 yards.
The two second-half stops near the red zone were important, as they kept the lead intact and allowed the offensive line and Zelinski to take over the game.
“It was a great team victory,” coach Mike Gibbons said as the players sang the alma mater with the band. “You know, we came in expecting to win. I know they’re a really good team, very well-coached and very impressive on film, but we’re glad we were able to come out and execute and make some big plays.
“I’m just so proud of our guys.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721- 4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
Highland 38, Aurora 28
AURORA 0 14 0 14 — 28
HIGHLAND 14 3 7 14 — 38
First
H — Tyler Zelinski 2 run (Charles Howe kick), 9:41.
H — Zach Filips 81 pass from Zelinski (Howe kick), 6:39.
Second
A — Gavin Blunt 12 pass from Nolan Sotka (Robby Albrecht kick), 7:30.
H — Howe 27 field goal, 4:47.
A — Sotka 15 run (Albrecht kick), 0:52.
Third
H — Evan Kasulones 14 pass from Zelinski (Howe kick), 4:39.
Fourth
H — Zelinski 7 run (Howe kick), 5:23.
A — Blunt 56 pass from Sotka (Albrecht kick), 5:07.
H — Zelinski 3 run (Howe kick), 1:27.
A — Blunt 10 pass from Sotka (Albrecht kick), 0:41.