STOW: No doubt about it this time.
After receiving a scare against Wadsworth on its way to the best season in school history last year, Stow took no such chances on Friday.
Unleashing an offense that looked as if it could score at will and a defense that refused to allow breathing room, the Bulldogs rolled to their third consecutive victory, 38-14 over a young Grizzlies team in Bulldog Stadium.
Led by quarterback Kyle Vantrease and his stable of receivers, the Bulldogs made sure there was no repeat of last season when they needed a last-minute score to hold off the Grizzlies by three.
“No question last year was on our minds,” Vantrease said. “That game gave us motivation for tonight. Last year Wadsworth came out and showed why it has a great tradition. We didn’t want that happening tonight.”
Coach Mark Nori, the man who has orchestrated the Stow resurgence, agreed.
“Absolutely, it was,” he said. “They had nine guys returning on defense and they play tough and are very well-coached.”
The Bulldogs, ranked fifth in the initial Associated Press Division I state poll, made sure it wasn’t going to happen and they made sure early in their Suburban League National Conference opener.
They scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and on four of the first five in building a 31-0 halftime lead and activating the running clock. Junior place-kicker Gavin Costello got the clock running when he kicked a 29-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
“Yes, I was happy to see us score those first three,” Nori said.
Vantrease, a Buffalo recruit, was exceptional through the first 24 minutes. The 6-2, 225-pound senior completed 12-of-15 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He completed four consecutive passes to open the game and went 9-of-10 for 152 yards in the first quarter.
Seniors Joe Andrassy and Logan Lindsay, veterans of Stow’s drive to the Division I state semifinals last year, did most of the damage. Andrassy caught scoring passes of 20 and 9 yards and finished the first half with seven receptions for 120 yards. Lindsay caught five passes for 134 yards, including a 48-yard missile in the second quarter. He finished with five receptions for 134 yards. Seven others caught at least one pass.
Vantrease and company played the opening series of the second half before calling it a night.
The running game also made its presence felt with 109 yards. Senior Joe Gobble had six carries for 19 yards, all in the first half, and junior Terrian Wray gained 38 yards on four attempts and scored the Bulldogs’ second touchdown.
Meanwhile, the defense was, well, Bulldog tough. It kept the Grizzlies (1-3) off the scoreboard until 4:02 remained, when Jake Justice caught a 9-yard pass from backup quarterback Tyler Caudill. Wadsworth’s other score came one play after it recovered a Stow fumble and Caudill found Drew Blankenship on a 16-yard score.
The fact that Wadsworth kept plugging away did not impress new coach Justin Todd.
“We simply did not come ready to play,” Todd said. “I could see it in their eyes before the game and told them they weren’t ready to play. We had a hard time lining up in formations that we’ve been running since team camp in June. We can either get ready to play or fold up the tent and get ready for winter and spring sports. I’m curious to see what happens.”
Junior Nathaniel Davis provided most of the Wadsworth offense with 87 yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Joey Baughman had 43 yards on 13 carries but was able to complete just 1-of-11 passes.