Rootstown tops rival Crestwood 21-12 on milestone night for coach Hannan

ROOTSTOWN, OH- Week 7 of Friday Night Lights in Portage County took me to Robert C. Dunn Field in Rootstown where the Rovers hosted Portage County and Chagrin Valley Conference rival Crestwood. This was their first matchup as conference foes since 2019. The Red Devils took last season’s matchup 20-2, but this season it would be Rootstown coming out on top 21-12.

The Rovers took the ball first and wasted no time finding the end zone. It was a 5 play, 65 yard drive in under two minutes capped off by a Kiel Reuting 4-yard touchdown run. Blake Mullaly hit the PAT to put the Rovers up 7-0.

Kiel Reuting with the 1st quarter TD for the Rovers

Each of the teams next two possessions ended in a punt before Crestwood was able to move the ball into Rover territory. A Bobby Bradley 10-yard run to being quarter two moved them into the red zone. Facing a 4th and 1 from the Rovers 3-yard line, Bradley was stuffed for a 5-yard loss and the Red Devils turned it over on downs at the 8-yard line. The Rovers were unable to capitalize after a big sack by Red Devils Tye Berquist led to a Rovers punt with 3:17 to play in the half.

Crestwood would strike quick on the 3rd play of the drive when Chris Mory took it to the house from 42 yards out to get Crestwood on the board. The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful making it a 7-6 Rover lead with 2:19 to play in the first half. That would be the score heading into halftime.

Landscaping- mowing, trimming, flower beds, gravel, mulch, leaf blowing, removal of old landscaping and planting of new landscaping, Hardscaping. Excavating- trenching, downspouts, all around excavating.

Crestwood would get the ball out of halftime and use up almost eight minutes of clock on a methodical scoring drive that went 15 plays aided by 35 yards in penalties against the Rovers. The end result was a Bobby Bradley 3-yard touchdown run. The two point try was again unsuccessful and the Red Devils took their first lead at 12-7 with 3:42 to play in the 3rd quarter.

Bobby Bradley gives Crestwood a 3rd quarter lead with this 3-yard TD run

Rootstown would answer right back at the end of the 3rd quarter. After moving into Red Devils territory, a defensive holding call on the Rovers moved the ball to the Crestwood 18-yard line. From there Damien Reuting took it in for the 18-yard touchdown run. Mullaly hit the PAT and Rootstown grabbed the lead back at 14-12 with 38 seconds to play in the 3rd.

Damien Reuting scored from 18-yards out in the 3rd quarter for Rootstown

Crestwood’s next drive would stall on the 3rd play as Michael Kalista was picked off by Rovers DB Max McEwuen for the first turnover of the game. The Rovers would make Crestwood pay for the error as they used the good field position and score their final touchdown, a 2-yard run by Damien Reuting. Mullaly added his 3rd PAT and Rootstown went up 21-12 with 7:52 to play.

Damien Reuting with his 2nd TD of the game in the 4th quarter for the Rovers

It was deja vu for the Red Devils on the next drive as it once again ended with a McEwuen interception, this time off of a Wyatt Januska pass. The Rovers would get into the red zone after a 33-yard Damien Reuting run, but a personal foul penalty set them back and they would eventually turn it back over to the Red Devils.

Crestwood’s final possession would end in another interception by guess who…Max McEwuen…giving him three for the game, all in the 2nd half! The Rovers would win this one on Homecoming Night 21-12.

Damien Reuting was the offensive star for the Rovers rushing for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. McEwuen had the 3 interceptions earing him R&S Landscaping & Excavating Player of the Game honors.

It was a big night for longtime Portage County head coach Tom Hannan. The former Crestwood coach and current Rootstown coach became the first coach in Portage County history to defeat all 12 Portage schools. He was honored with a banner following the win.

Rootstown will look to keep it rolling against a touch 6-1 Wickliffe team next week while Crestwood looks to bounce back versus Berkshire.