YORK TWP. — Senior Justin Lowry stalked his prey, orange Gatorade cooler in his arms.
Third-year coach Mark Pinzone appeared to be unaware of what was unfolding as his Buckeye football team readied itself for postgame chants. Alas, at the last moment, he instinctively felt No. 11 blitzing hard and ducked as Lowry completely whiffed on his valiant attempt.
Brookside’s Evan Brown-Fugate is swarmed under by Buckeye’s Dustin McCullough, left, John Garner and Jaret Yohman, bottom right, during the second quarter. (RON SCHWANE / GAZETTE)
Ice dumped directly onto Edwin Steingass Field’s cold, wet grass, but that was the only haunting (yet humorous) mistake Friday as the Bucks completed their dream — a perfect regular season — with a 35-0 victory over upstart Brookside that also clinched the outright Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division championship.
The next step won’t be official until Sunday, when the OHSAA reveals who Buckeye (10-0, 5-0) will battle in the first round of the Division III, Region 7 playoffs. All signs point to West Geauga, (8-2), but the only thing for certain is the game will be in York Township.
The senior-laden Bucks will enjoy the thrill of reaching their primary goal in the meantime.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” fullback/linebacker Kyle Svagerko said. “We’ve worked so hard for this. It’s really just something you work for, and you don’t know how it’s going to feel like and if it’s going to be worth it. But once you get there, it’s so indescribable. It’s more than worth it.”
While senior star Trevor Thome broke Cory Reisner’s 7-year-old school single-season scoring record on his third touchdown — Thome now has 170 points on the year and 330 in his four-year career — the highly underrated defense stole the show.
The Cardinals (6-4, 3-2), who were seeking their first league title share since 1962, came into play with a solid three-pronged attack of seniors Evan Brown-Fugate (RB), Hunter Schmeltzer (QB) and Dudley Taw (WR). They then grabbed early momentum after recovering a rare Thome fumble.
However, Svagerko, Nathan Polidori and Co. rose to the occasion. Brookside finished with 195 yards total offense on 61 plays (3.2 average), committed four turnovers and never seriously threatened to score.
Svagerko had a huge impact with three tackles for loss (sack) and a thunderous hit on Taw that resulted in a fumble and turnover. Polidori had two interceptions, including one in the end zone, while Thome, Hunter Gray, Jaret Yohman, John Garner and Jacob Kohler added pass breakups.
Taw made a few acrobatic catches and finished with eight receptions for 76 yards, but Brown-Fugate (19 carries, 58 yards) and Schmeltzer (10 carries, minus-7 yards; 14-for-30, 141 yards, 2 interceptions) were limited.
“We stood out,” Svagerko said. “Everyone played to their potential. Everyone played the best they could, and everyone played how they know they can. It really paid off.”
Buckeye shot itself in the foot with two lost fumbles but still led 13-0 with 7:32 left in the second quarter following 5- and 4-yard TD runs by Thome. Polidori (10 carries, 13 yards; 5-for-10, 102 yards) then rolled right, stopped and launched a 53-yard bomb to a wide-open Lowry on third-and-10 to make it 21-0.
Brookside’s enthusiasm was dead after that play, and it showed no sense of urgency. Thome added a 35-yard score in the third quarter when he took a left-side power play, cut upfield and split multiple defenders, while junior varsity quarterback Adam Fauver capped the scoring on a 10-yarder with 5:03 left.
Buckeye still finished with 347 yards total offense despite its signature jet sweep being a total non-factor and All-Gazette slotback Nathan Scott (hamstring) sidelined for the second straight game.
Even when the going got slightly tough, the Bucks kept chugging and eventually overcame everything.
That in a nutshell is why they’re 10-0 for only the second time in school history (2005).
“Sublime,” Polidori said. “That’s a good word to use.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
Buckeye 35, Brookside 0
BROOKSIDE 0 0 0 0 — 0
BUCKEYE 7 14 7 7 — 35
First
Bu — Trevor Thome 5 run (Richard Gatt kick), 6:38.
Second
Bu — Thome 4 run (run failed), 7:32.
Bu — Justin Lowry 53 pass from Nathan Polidori (Justin Canedy pass from Polidori), 5:12.
Third
Bu — Thome 35 run (Gatt kick), 6:38.
Fourth
Bu — Adam Fauver 10 run (Gatt kick), 5:03.
