Streetsboro pulls away from West Geauga late 35-21 in Division IV playoff win

STREETSBORO, OH- The OHSAA Football State Playoffs got underway on Friday night across the state of Ohio. I traveled to Rocket Stadium in Streetsboro where the #6 seed Rockets hosted the #11 seed West Geauga Wolverines. The Rockets came in banged up missing their two senior Division I commits on both sides of the line. The remainder of that offensive line along with a couple young fill ins would come up big rushing for over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns in their 35-21 win over West Geauga.

The Rockets would receive the opening kickoff to get this one started. Manny Gibson came up with a big 40-yard kick return to midfield to set the offense up in great field position. Facing a 4th and 11 from the Wolverines 36 yard line, Colton Cox hit Janiere Cook for a big 14-yard pass play for the 1st down. Five plays later Marcus Council would take the pitch in from 3 yards out for the first score of the game. After the PAT the Rockets led 7-0.

Marcus Council with a 1st quarter TD run for the Rockets

West Geauga would strike right back and quick. On the 4th play of the drive senior running back Miles Baker took it to the house from 52-yards out to even things up at 7-7 halfway through to opening quarter.

Disaster would strike for the Rockets on their next drive. On 3rd and 5 from their own 32 yard line, Cox dropped back to pass and had to scramble a bit from pressure. While turning directions he lost the ball and it was recovered by the Wolverines at the Rockets 19 yard line. They would take full advantage as Baker would have four straight carries, the last of which was a 13-yard touchdown run. West Geauga took a 14-7 lead with 2:20 to play in the 1st.

Streetsboro would start in good field position once again at their 41 yard line. From there Marcus Council reversed field and took the first play 59-yards to the house for his second touchdown. The PAT knotted it up at 14-14 with 2:06 to play 1st quarter.

The first defensive stop of the game came by the Rockets. They would hold West Geauga to a punt following a big holding play on 4th and 4 that moved them back 10 yards forcing the punt on 4th and 14. The Rockets would then block the punt and take over at the Wolverines 33 yard line. From there Janiere Cook would take the direct snap with an injured Cox on the sidelines and hit Gibson in stride for a 33-yard touchdown pass. The PAT gave Streetsboro a 21-14 lead with 1:40 to play in the half.

Janiere Cook hits Manny Gibson for a 33-yard TD pass

The Wolverines would drive all the way down to the Rockets 2 yard line before Keenan would fumble just inside the 1 yard line and the Rockets would recover and run out the first half clock leading 21-14.

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West Geauga would begin the 3rd quarter with a long 18-play, 80-yard drive spanning over nine minutes and capped off by a Daegan Katz 2-yard touchdown run. The PAT tied the game at 21-21.

The Rockets would come right back and regain the lead once again after a Cook 31-yard run moved them into Wolverines territory. Five plays later Council would snag his 3rd touchdown of the night as he ran it in from 14-yards out. The PAT put the Rockets back on top 28-21 early in the 4th quarter.

Streetsboro would come up big on defense on West Geauga’s next drive. Manny Gibson would pick off a Keenan pass on a beautiful diving grab to end any threat of the Wolverines tying it up once again. Streetsboro would move the ball while running clock down to the West G 19 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 10, Cox threw a pass to Council that fell incomplete due to contact by the defense that resulted in a pass interference call. Now facing a 3rd and 1, Cox would keep it himself for a 2-yard run and a 1st down. From there it was Council once again diving into the end zone from 8-yards out to seal the deal. The PAT put the Rockets up 35-21 with only 1:55 to play.

Marcus Council delivers the nail in the coffin with his 4th TD of the game

The Rockets would end the game with two straight sacks of Keenan as time expired. Streetsboro took down the Wolverines 35-21 to move on in the OHSAA playoffs.

Council led the way with 125 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Janiere Cook shipped in 60 rushing yards and the 33-yard touchdown pass. Manny Gibson was big with the 33-yard touchdown reception and the big 4th quarter interception.

Streetsboro moves on as they will travel to #3 seed Lake Catholic next Friday.