STREETSBORO, OH- It was a chilly night at Rockets Stadium where the host #1 seed Streetsboro Rockets took on the #8 Orrville Red Riders. The Rockets were idle last week having clinched a first round bye while Orrville eliminated Akron East 34-30 to advance. After trailing 20-6 midway through the 2nd quarter, the Rockets outscored the Red Riders 49-14 the rest of the way in their 55-34 victory.
The Rockets would receive the opening kickoff but would be forced into a three and out punt to begin the game. Orrville wasted no time getting on the board as Mark Lorson completed a short pass to Aiden Shoup who took it 39-yards for the score. The PAT put Orrville up 7-0.
Streetsboro would once again be forced to punt on their next possession. Orrville continued their hot start with a 9-play, 74-yard drive capped off by a Parker Hostetler 8-yard touchdown run. The PAT put them up 14-0 with 5:34 to play in the 1st.
The Rockets would get on the board on their next drive that went into the 2nd quarter. They would convert a big 4th and 4 when Colton Cox completed a 25-yard pass to Kyle Giacomo. Four plays later Logan Fincham ran it in from 8-yards out for the score. Sadowski’s PAT attempt was blocked leaving the score at 14-6.
Logan Fincham scores from 8-yards out to get the Rockets on the board
Orrville would answer back on a big Lorson to Josiah Klein 40-yard scoring strike. The PAT was missed and the Red Riders led 20-6 with 6:15 to play in the half.
The Rockets would then come up with a big play of their own on the second play of the drive when Cox found Giacomo streaking wide open over the middle for a 63-yard touchdown. Sadowski hit the PAT to pull the Rockets withing a score at 20-13.
The defense used that momentum created by the offense to hold the Red Riders to a three and out punt. Two big plays on the next Rockets possession, a 33-yard pass from Cox to Dallas Morris and a Logan Fincham 23-yard run, setup a 13-yard Liam Fincham touchdown run with just over two minutes to play in the half. Sadowski tied it at 20-20 with another PAT.
Liam Fincham with a 13-yard touchdown before the half
Orrville would move into Rockets territory but would not score before the half as the teams went into the break tied at 20-20.
The Rockets defense started the 2nd half the way they finished the 1st forcing a Red Riders punt. It took Streetsboro all of two plays as Logan Fincham took a handoff 73-yards to the house for the quick score. Another Sadowski PAT put the Rockets up 27-20 early in the 3rd.
What came next was the first of two big time special teams plays as the Rockets recovered an onside kick at the Orrville 28-yard line. Seven plays later Logan Fincham punched it in from a yard out. The Sadowski PAT made it a 34-20 game.
Logan Fincham with his 2nd touchdown of the game
What’s better than an onside kick recovery? How about a second straight onside kick recovery! This time it was recovered at the Orrville 40-yard line. The seven play drive ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cox to Liam Fincham. Sadowski nailed the PAT for a 41-20 Rockets lead.
Colton Cox hits Liam Fincham for the touchdown
Orrville would finally stop the bleeding of 35 unanswered points when Lorson took a quarterback keeper 58-yards to the house. The PAT was missed leaving the score at 41-26.
The big plays on offense continued for Streetsboro when Liam Fincham broke off a 33-yard touchdown run. Sadowski hit his 6th PAT for the 48-26 lead with just over seven minutes to play.
Following a Lorson touchdown pass to Tyson Woodruff, Dallas Morris broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run. Sadowski hit his final PAT to put the Rockets up 55-34. That would end up being our final as the Rockets outscored the Red Riders 35-14 in the 2nd half.
Logan Fincham had (unofficially) 233 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Liam Fincham with 80 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Kyle Giacomo had 88 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Rockets advance to the Division IV Regional semifinal next Friday where they will host #5 West Geauga who knocked off Norton.
