TWINSBURG: Resorting to old-school football, the Mogadore Wildcats pounded their way to a Division VII regional championship Friday night, dominating Warren John F. Kennedy 35-7 at Twinsburg High School.
The Wildcats (12-1) are regional champions for the 17th time and fourth time (2006, 2010, 2012, 2015) since winning their last state title in 2002.
Mogadore will play in a state semifinal Friday against an opponent and at a site to be determined.
No player better exemplified Mogadore’s throwback style than senior two-way standout Austin Williams, who rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries (one touchdown) and contributed two tackles for loss and an interception on defense.
Mogadore senior center-defensive end Nate Confere also delivered a fine all-around performance, collecting three tackles behind the line and recovering a Williams fumble in the end zone for the game’s only second-half score.
While penalties and turnovers haunted the Eagles, Mogadore’s grinding ground attack and physically imposing defensive effort overwhelmed JFK (11-2).
Mogadore scored 21 points off three JFK turnovers in the first half and built a 28-7 lead at the break.
The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and set the tone with a smash-mouth, 23-play, 88-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard scoring plunge from Williams on fourth down.
The drive featured a gamble by coach Matt Adorni on fourth-and-one at the Mogadore 21 and Williams blasted inside for two yards to keep the drive moving.
Senior Zeddie Pollock attempted just two throws during the 10-minute march, and his one completion — a wide receiver screen to senior Stephen Stott — covered 16 yards on third-and-12 from the JFK 32 to the 16.
The Eagles stoned Williams three times from the 1-yard line, but the fourth time was a charm for Mogadore’s burly running back, who scored with 1:56 left in the first quarter.
Facing second-and-14 at his own 34, JFK quarterback Bobby Jefferson tried to connect with wide receiver Hyland Burton. The ball ricocheted off Burton and into the arms of Mogadore senior Gavin Chew, who sprinted 42 yards to the end zone.
Pollock’s extra point had Mogadore on top 14-0 at 11:13 of the second quarter.
The Eagles seemed to have something working on their ensuing possession, but Williams dropped running back Evan Boyd for a 1-yard loss and then intercepted Jefferson, taking it back 33 yards to the JFK 22.
On second down, senior Josh Tompkins swept left and ran a tightrope down the Mogadore sideline 18 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-0.
Jefferson’s first-half nightmare continued when Mogadore defensive end Collin Kelly pressured him into a third turnover. The backward pass was ruled a fumble and recovered by Mogadore senior Jeremiah Sanders at the JFK 39.
On the next snap, Pollock (5-of-9 passing, 100 yards, one TD) lofted a perfect rainbow pass down the middle of the field to junior Jarad Dunn, good for 39 yards and the touchdown.
The Eagles finally got on the board with 4:02 left until halftime when state track champion Jacob Coates ran right and quickly covered 65 yards on a scoring run to make it 28-7.
Late in the second quarter, the Wildcats hit a rough patch with a fumbled center exchange, a false start, and a rare Pollock interception.
But the Wildcats’ defense would not allow the Eagles to rally.
In the second half, Mogadore limited JFK to two first downs and 36 yards of total offense. Most of the half was played on JFK’s half of the field.