Linsly uses big second half plays to get past Mogadore 21-20
MOGADORE, OH- Week 6 of the Portage County high school football season took us to Memorial Stadium in Mogadore where the Wildcats hosted an out of state opponent in the Linsly Cadets from Wheeling, West Virginia. The two teams last met during the 2018 season. Mogadore jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead but could not hold off the Cadets as they topped Mogadore 21-20.
The Wildcats would receive the ball first to get this one started. A pair of 1-yard runs and an incomplete pass resulted in a three and out punt. Linsly got a nice play to begin their drive as Landon Cottrill hit Justin Heckman for a 24-yard gain. Unfotunately for the Cadets, Heckman fumbled and it was recovered by the Wildcats at their 13-yard line.
Mogadore would put together a 10 play, 87-yard scoring drive highlighted by Maddox Smith passes of 23 yards to Landen Williams and 42 yards to Collin Hendrickson. It was capped off by a Smith pass to the end zone that was tipped by Willams and caught by Kade Thomas for the touchdown, The successful two-point conversion try gave the Wildcats an 8-0 lead.
Kade Thomas catches the deflected pass for a 1st quarter TD
Linsly would drive into Wildcats territory again on their 2nd possession, but the Wildcats defense would hold strong forcing an incomplete pass on 4th and 9 turning the ball over.
On the Wildcats next possession a would be interception by the Cadets was negated by a roughing the passer penalty keeping the ball with Mogadore. Unfortunately for the Wildcats they could not take advantage and were forced to punt a few plays later.
The Mogadore defense would force and recover their second fumble of the 1st half on the Cadets third play. Mogadore would take advantage this time scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Peyton Custer just before the half. The two-point try was unsuccessful as Mogadore took a 14-0 lead into the break.
Maddox Smith hits Peyton Custer for a TD before the half
Linsly opened the 2nd half with the ball wasting no time getting into the endzone following a nice kick return. Cottrill would hit Heckman on a 36-yard pass play before Rocco Troullos took it in from 2-yards out for the Cadets first score. The PAT cut the Mogadore lead to 14-7 early in the 3rd.
The Cadets defense would then force a three and out punt that was returned 68-yards to the house by Heckman. The PAT tied the game at 14-14.
Mogadore would answer back quickly. After completing three straight passes, Maddoc Smith took the keeper 34-yards to paydirt for the touchdown. The two-point attempt was no good and Mogadore was back on top 20-14 with 5:58 to play in the 3rd.
Maddox Smith with a 34-yard TD run in the 3rd
The Wildcats would carry the momentum of the big touchdown over to the defense stuffing the Cadets on 4th and 1 from their 47-yard line. However Mogadore’s next possession would end up in a turnover as Smith was picked off giving the ball back to Linsly. Aided by a Mogadore 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a 35-yard pass play from Cottrill to Chris Upton, the Cadets would get a 2-yard touchdown run by Troullos and the extra point to put them ahead 21-20 with 8:31 to play.
Mogadore could do nothing on their next possession and was forced to punt. Linsly was able to run the clock down under two minutes before having to punt. The punt was partially blocked and downed at the Wildcats 35-yard line with 1:39 to play.
Smith would rattle off a couple nice runs of 13 and 11 yards. on 2nd down from the Cadets 30-yard line with under a minute to go, a critical sack of Smith moved them back 10 yards bringing up a 3rd and 14 with under 30 seconds to play. Smith would take two shots at the endzone. The 3rd down pass was incomplete and the final pass was intercepted by the Cadets. From there they would run out the clock to take home the 21-20 win over Mogadore.
Maddox Smith had 258 total yards and 3 touchdowns to earn R&S Landscaping & Excavating Player of the Game honors. Kade Thomas had 5 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back next Friday as they host Pymatuning Valley.
