SENIORS COME UP HUGE IN BEE HIVE FAREWELL
By Dom DiPasqua/Staff Writer
Saturday, October 29, 2011
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – The stars were aplenty for Brecksville-Broadview Heights last night, but the Bees senior class shined the brightest in a wild 49-35 Southwestern Conference victory over Westlake on Senior Night in front of a good crowd at the Bee Hive.
The 84 total points scored was a single game record involving a BBHHS team. Thirty-five of those points were scored in a fasten-your-seatbelts fourth quarter where defense was just a rumor.
The game, which was the season-ending contest for both teams, started out with a bang and ended with a cannon shot.
These 49-35-type of games were what had been in the offing when the offensive prowess of this team began to manifest itself in the off-season. Eventually the numbers wouldn't fib.
"We knew we had to go all out to end the season. We did everything on the field tonight that we wanted to do all season long." Said six-foot, one-inch, 210-pound senior offensive lineman Brian Semall.
Brecksville (6-4, 5-2 Southwestern Conference) scored the first time they had the ball and for all intents and purposes the last time they had it as well.
The Bees would need everyone of those 49 points in holding off a Demon team that was hell-bent on matching Brecksville's offensive fireworks.
Junior running back Jay Schott carried the ball ten times for 57 yards on the opening drive of this crisp autumn night and scored from nine yards out. It would be the games first of 12 total touchdowns scored.
The drive took a whopping 7:15 and covered 63 yards in 15 plays. Only one of those plays was a pass. Junior quarterback Tommy Tupa hit senior tight end Ryan Kelly for an easy five yards, but the damage was done on the turf.
Pauly Karthan, a junior do-it-all guy, made good on his likely school record-breaking seven extra point kicks on the night and the hosts took a 7-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
Westlake (4-6, 2-5 Southwestern Conference), behind the running of senior Jonathan Brick and the passing of senior quarterback Phil Brusk, picked-up a pair of first downs on its opening possession.
But the Bees defense buckled down and shut the door. Senior linebacker Nenad Camur, a veteran who left it all on the field in his Bee Hive adieu, made the drive ending stop on a fourth and five play.
The Bees Tupa heated-up on next possession. He connected with sophomore Nick Shirilla on a short crossing route and five plays later dialed Karthan's number on a sweet post pattern from 14 yards away for the host's second touchdown.
The seven play directive covered 59 yards in a mere 2:47 and it gave Brecksville a 14-0 lead 1:17 into the second stanza.
Westlake narrowed the gap to a touchdown when Brusk briskly found senior wide receiver Kyle Perkins in the end zone with a high floater. Senior kicker Alec Ferrell would nail the first of his five point-after boots with 7:05 to go in the half.
Senior Jack Rose returned the ensuing kick off to the Bees 31. Brecksville had decent field position and would go for the jugular. They had the Demons in a defense that they liked and Westlake head coach Mark Campo knew it. Smelling a rat, Campo quickly signaled for a time out.
It didn't work.
"Seven Ryan seven!" Called out BBHHS offensive coordinator Tom Tupa from the near sideline.
Kelly knew that he would be the man and he beat his. Kelly, a rugged tight end with good hands, was more open than Denny's. He caught Tupa's perfectly thrown spiral in stride for a 69-yard strike that sent the Bee Hive into a wild celebration.
The hosts were up 21-7 midway through the second quarter.
Sophomore linebacker Colton Czack, who has had an outstanding second half of the season, continued to pay dividends on the Demons next possession.
Czack sacked Brusk for a seven-yard loss on a first down play and on fourth down he blew up a screen pass that was caught for one yard by sophomore running back Connor Fife to end the threat.
The Bees would put together another fine aerial assault, but it would come at a cost. Schott gained 14 yards on two totes. Tupa hit his brother Timmy for a 13-yard gain with the splendid sophomore displaying some fancy footwork along the way.
And then on a second and ten play from the Demons ten-yard line Tupa was sacked for a nine-yard loss by sophomore lineman Kent Dinchman. Tommy left the game and did not return.
Timmy took over at quarterback and on his first play hit Karthan for eight yards to the 11. His next pass, intended for junior wide out Tyler Tarnowski, was broken-up by the Demons Brian Davis at the goal line. Westlake took over on downs and ran out the first half clock.
"There was minor panic when Tommy left the game, but we conquered it and everything went well." Said Semall.
Timmy Tupa started four games at quarterback for the Bees this season so there was more than a familiar voice in the huddle.
"Timmy provides confidence and a calmness. He brings something to the offense with his legs. I can't say enough about what Timmy did for us tonight and all year." Said BBHHS head coach Jason Black.
Westlake began the second half with the ball, but the drive was short-lived. Brecksville's Ben Genco picked off Brusk at the Bees 32. Genco, a senior defensive back, provided a nifty 14-yard return to the 46.
Timmy Tupa directed the next march. The 11-play, 54-yard drive took only 3:46 to generate yet another touchdown.
Timmy picked-up 19 yards on two carries, Schott added eight more on a pair and sophomore running back Carlo Milano came on to spell Schott and ran hard, picking-up 14 yards on two straight rushes.
Timmy called his own number and sneaked in from a yard out with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter to give Beeville a commanding 28-7 advantage.
Brusk came into his own from this point on giving the Brecksville defense fits. Despite a crunching hit by Bees senior defensive back Brian Colarik that popped the pill lose from a would be Demon pass-catcher on a first down play Brusk hit Shawn Turk with a flea-flicker that netted 31 yards on the very next.
Westlake continued to move the ball in the air. Brusk found 6-2 junior wide receiver Bryan Mackenzie open in the end zone from the three yard line to make the tally 28-14 at the 2:42 mark.
Rose was at it again. His dazzling 78-yard kick off return gave the Bees the ball at the Demons 13. Tupa, the offensive coordinator, had another trick up his playground sleeve.
On first down Timmy pitch the pigskin to Karthan and the wide out fired to Kelly in the end zone upping the score to 35-14. Brecksville had the ball a mere 21 seconds. It was Karthan's first ever varsity touchdown pass.
"That was Coach Tupa's genius play. He likes to draw in the dirt. And that was one that he drew in the dirt for this week. We have about five plays like that for each game. I'm glad that it worked out and glad that Pauly had a chance to throw a touchdown pass." Black said with a smug grin.
Brusk hit three consecutive passes on Westlake's following possession, as the third quarter slowly melted, like a like coating of spring snow, into the fourth. He continued to stay red hot in the final frame. His nine-yard scoring strike to Davis made it 35-21.
The offensive onslaught was just beginning.
Milano made a nice run on first down and Timmy Tupa outdid his classmate by scampering 40 yards for a touchdown, his second of the evening, with 9:20 still remaining in the scoring-fest giving the red-clad Bees a 42-21 margin.
Two big Beeville penalties gave the Demons a short field and Brusk quickly made them pay with another strike. His six-yard pass to Brick made the score 42-28 at the 6:47 mark.
An interception gave Westlake the ball back and Brusk, once again, wasted little time. He found sophomore Michael Fikter for a 42-yard touchdown and all of a sudden the score was 42-35.
Lookout Loretta!
"I was thinking that this was going to be a white-knuckle finish. But in reality I knew that if we could just possess the football for three or four minutes at that point I knew that we would be okay." Said Black. "It was even better when we popped a long run for a touchdown."
With the Demons defense gasping for air Timmy Tupa scampered 26 yards to the Westlake 35. On the next play senior linebacker turned fullback Kyle Graham bolted off left tackle and the big guy showed everyone in the house that he has some getty-up in those sturdy legs as he cruised 35 yards for the games final touchdown.
Ironically Graham, a co-captain and outstanding student in the classroom who wears jersey number 49, would allow the Bees to score their 49th point.
Westlake's last possession came to an end when Genco intercepted Brusk for the second time.
"I have to start out by giving glory to God." Genco said. "My favorite verse is Phillipians 4:13 'I can do all things through his strength in me.' All the credit goes to him."
"On the two picks I was in the right spot at the right time. On the first one give credit to Will Hubert my monster back. He got a great jam on the guy and knocked him out of position. Their quarterback threw it up and his receiver wasn't there. It was a great job by Will." Said Genco.
Hubert, one of the Bees most unsung, but spirited players, is pound for pound one tough football player. Despite his five-foot, four-inch, 145-pound stature, Hubert is a fierce competitor and a solid tackler. You can tell he loves to play the game. He is a good teammate. Will Hubert is what high school football is all about.
"We accomplished all the goals that we set out for the team two weeks go after the Avon Lake game." Said Black. "That was to make sure that we won our last two games and for the seniors to have a positive experience in their last game."
"We finished up strong that way. And the underclassmen got a chance to show us what 2012 may look like." Black said.
The game had so many details that had this space been in a newspaper and not the worldwide web we would have had to cut down another tree by now.
Statistically Speaking:
Brecksville ran the ball 34 times for 257 yards. Schott hauled it 15 times for 76 and a touchdown. He finished the season with 913 rushing yards and will be the teams top returning ground gainer in 2012.
Timmy Tupa picked up 91 yards on only a half dozen carries (15.2 ypc) and tallied two touchdowns. Milano picked-up 32 on a half dozen rushes.
Tommy Tupa went solid 7 of 12 for 160 yards and two touchdowns in just under a half of work. The well-polished junior was not intercepted. Tommy, with his numbers last night, became Brecksville's all time career passing yardage leader. He returns next season on more than a mission.
Kelly, in his final game as a Bee, had three catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He ended his senior campaign with six TD receptions.
Schott, Karthan and Timmy Tupa each grabbed two tosses. Shirilla had one.
The Bees defense held Westlake to a meager 28 yards rushing on 21 attempts. The Demons did their damage in the air. Brusk went an amazing 27 of 39 for 309 yards and five touchdowns to four different receivers.
Brecksville out-gained the Forest green and white in total offense, 445 yards to 337. The 782 yards of total offense was indicative of the twelve touchdowns that added up to 84 points scored.
Graham led the hard-hitting Bees defense with ten total tackles. Rose, a senior co-captain, and Camur each registered eight. Senior lineman Nick Foster was all over the field with seven. Colarik, as hard a hitter is there is on the team, contributed a half dozen stops.
"Our defense has tried to be physical all year. If you come out and hit somebody hard they are not going to want to get back up and play." Colarik, who has a serious nose for the ball, said. "Especially the defensive backs. We just want to lay it on the line and hit somebody. We don't want anybody to get back up."
Czack, junior Joey Houk (team leading four solo's), junior end Mike Tyler (6-5, 215) and senior mainstay Tony Martella each were in on five stops.
Brecksville did get to Brusk three times. Tyler, Czack and sophomore defensive end Troy Lang each had a sack. Graham, Camur, Martella and junior lineman Bobby Jacobs each made a tackle for a loss.
The Bees defense was about as physical as it has been all season. There were several stoppages in play the result of the Westlake training staff having to attend to players on the field. There was nothing at all un-sportsmanlike about Brecksville's huge pops. It was simply good, old-fashioned, hard-hitting Bees defense as coached by longtime coordinator Ed Herrick.
As if Karthan's seven extra point kicks were not enough his touchdown catch and pass were icing on the cake for BBHHS.
Each team picked-up 16 first downs. The Bees were penalized six times for 59 yards. Westlake was flagged three times for 25. Brecksville won the turnover battle with a plus one margin.
LINE SCORE:
Westlake 0 7 7 21 = 35
BBHHS 7 14 14 14 = 49
BOX SCORE:
First Quarter –
Bees: Jay Schott nine-yard run. Pauly Karthan kick. 7-0 Bees (4:45).
Second Quarter –
Bees: Pauly Karthan 14-yard pass from Tommy Tupa. Pauly Karthan kick. 14-0 Bees (10:43).
Demons: Kyle Perkins 30-yard pass from Phil Brusk. Alec Ferrell kick. 14-7 Bees (7:05).
Bees: Ryan Kelly 69-yard pass from Tommy Tupa. Pauly Karthan kick. 21-7 Bees (6:41).
Halftime score: 21-7 Bees.
Third Quarter –
Bees: Timmy Tupa, one-yard run. Pauly Karthan kick. 28-7 Bees. (6:44).
Demons: Bryan Mackenzie three-yard pass from Phil Brusk. Alec Ferrell kick. 28-14 Bees (2:42).
Bees: Ryan Kelly 13-yard pass from Pauly Karthan. Pauly Karthan kick. 35-14 Bees. (2:21).
Fourth Quarter –
Demons: Brian Davis nine-yard pass from Phil Brusk. Alec Ferrell kick. 35-21 Bees (10:01).
Bees: Timmy Tupa 40-yard run. Pauly Karthan kick. 42-21 Bees (9:20).
Demons: Jonathan Brick six-yard pass from Phil Brusk. Alec Ferrell kick 42-28 Bees. (6:47).
Demons: Michael Fikter 42-yard pass from Phil Brusk. Alec Ferrell kick. 42-35 Bees. (4:57).
Bees: Kyle Graham 35-yard run. Pauly Karthan kick. 49-35 Bees. (3:29).
Final Score: 49-35 BBHHS.
Time of Game: 2:54.
Weather: On the cool side and dry.
Attendance: 4,000.
BEES BY THE NUMBERS:
Brecksville reached their re-adjusted team goal of winning its final two games to complete the season with a winning record of 6-4 overall. It was the second straight year that the Bees have had a winning record. The first time that has happened in the last 11 years. (The 1999 and 2000 seasons.)
Beeville takes a two-game winning streak with them to North Royalton in late August. It will be their first trip to the recently remodeled Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium. They'll take the Golden Shoe Trophy with them. Goal number one for 2012 is to bring it back. Perhaps Coach Black will carry it with him if he decides to walk back to the Bee Hive along Route 82 as he did in 2010.
The Bees finished with a 4-1 record at home in 2011, accomplishing another team goal. Their only loss at the Hive was to Olmsted Falls on September 23 by the count of 27-16.
On the road the red and gold went 2-3. The tough losses were on a fateful night at Fremont Ross, at play off bound Hudson and in a heartbreaker at Avon Lake, 17-14.
Brecksville went 5-3 on artificial turf this autumn and 1-1 on natural grass.
It took the team nine weeks to do it, but they managed to finish the season on the upswing with a 24.6 points per game scoring average, while allowing opponents 24.1 points per game.
Brecksville tallied 246 points and surrendered 241. That's perseverance. Their high water mark on offense came last night with the 49-point outburst. Their season low on the scoreboard was 13. A number they reached twice, ironically both Southwestern Conference road wins at Berea on September 16 and at the Municipal Stadium mud bath in North Olmsted two weeks later. That too is perseverance.
The most points that Brecksville allowed was the 50 that the Little Giants amassed in week two on the prairie at Fremont Ross. The least was nine points in week nine at home against SWC rival Midpark.
Jason Black is 15-15 in regular season games in his three seasons as the Bees head coach. Black is 0-1 in the post season. Brecksville is 3-0 against Westlake since Black has been stalking the sidelines in shortened trousers.
The Bees went 6-4 overall and for the second consecutive season they went 5-2 in the Southwestern Conference. Brecksville struggled early going 1-2 in their non-conference games. Setbacks at Fremont Ross on Labor Day weekend and at Hudson the following week perhaps will take on a different slant next year when both of those teams travel to Broadview Heights.
The 49 points that the Bees scored last night were unofficially the most points that the team has scored since moving to Community Stadium from The Pit in 1987.
2011 BEES STATISTICAL LEADERS:
Schott gained 913 yards on 215 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. Tommy Tupa completed 62 of 117 (53%) passes for 980 yards and eight touchdowns in five starts. Forty seven percent of his pass attempts (55) came in the season opening battle under the midnight sun on August 26 against arch rival North Royalton.
Karthan and Tarnowski each had 26 receptions. Karthan's went for 532 yards and five touchdowns. Tarnowski's added-up to 343 yards and a pair of moneymakers.
Genco led the club with three interceptions. His first was at North Olmsted and the duo last night. Rose recovered two fumbles and broke up eight passes to pace the squad.
Colarik's 33 solo tackles were a team best. Graham's 103 total hits, including 11 for a loss, left a mark on opposing ball carriers as well as the stat book. Lang was the teams sack master with five, including one for a safety.
Schott led the team in scoring with a dozen total touchdowns for 72 points. Karthan contributed in a myriad of ways for 66 points, including going an outstanding 27 for 27 on extra point kicks.
SCORES FROM AROUND THE SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT:
BBHHS – 49, Westlake – 35.
Avon Lake – 52, Amherst Steele – 0.
Berea – 49, Midpark – 27.
Olmsted Falls – 21, North Olmsted – 14.
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND –UP:
Avon Lake locked up sole possession of the Southwestern Conference championship with a lopsided, statement-making win at Amherst. Congratulations to the Shoremen, who have claimed their 24th SWC flag and second in a row. The Lakers finished 8-2 overall after a 1-2 start. They ran the SWC table going 7-0 in the loop.
Berea ran away from sister school and archrival Midpark at Finnie Stadium to grab the coveted Grindstone Trophy. The Braves have The Grindstone, ooh-ahh!
Olmsted Falls got past stubborn North Olmsted in the muck and mire at Municipal Stadium.
OTHER NOTABLE SCORES:
#14 Hudson – 31, North Royalton – 17. The Explorers finish 9-1.
Findlay – 42, Fremont Ross – 39. The Little Giants collapsed the second half of the year.
SENIOR CONVERSATIONS:
The 49-35 season-ending win was an emotional one. Playing your last high school football game as a senior is something that you'll remember the rest of your life.
That fact has never been lost on Black. "Seniors, take some time, walk around the field. Take a good long look at that scoreboard. Soak it all in. It's okay to show emotion, that's what tonight is all about." The Bees classy head coach told his team before they broke their final post-game huddle of the campaign.
The seniors posed for many pictures. They met their parents and family members, classmates and cheerleaders, all who graciously took the time to join the team on the field. There were lots of tears and hugs.
This group of seniors maintains a tight bond. Last nights win meant a lot to them. Many of the underclassmen were emotional as well. It meant a lot to them as well that this group of 22 seniors went out with a win. It was a true team win. The scene is exactly what is so indescribably delicious about high school football – especially Bees football.
"There are no words to describe just what it means to play on this team." Semall said of his Bee Hive swan song. "It's such a family, there's no words."
"Gosh. It was such a great atmosphere and a great win tonight. I'm so happy to be a part of this. From going 0-13 our two years in middle school and to come back and have two straight winning seasons, the seniors really have fought together. It's quite a bond." Genco, who spent a year in China as a foreign exchange student, said. "Everything has come together. As seventh and eighth graders this class did not win a game, props to the kids who stuck around. A lot of kids quit after those years, but these seniors stuck around and fought back. It's a great feeling to be part of this." That's perseverance.
"There's no words to say about how important this win was for us tonight. We just did it as a family." Said hulking six-foot, two-inch, 230-pound senior lineman Nick Foster, fighting back tears. "We grew up over four years as a family and added more and more people to it. This is all we can really ask for. I love these guys. I'll remember all the great friends I've made along the way and the people that I have met. It's been the best experience of my life."
"This season went by too quick. I wish I could go back and live it over again. This was a once in a lifetime thing that I could do." Said Colarik who was a team spokesman back on a steamy evening in August during the team's senior roundtable discussion. "Tonight is bittersweet. I'm just glad that I had the chance to come through Brecksville and play here. It was a great time. I loved it."
"This was a great way to end our careers as seniors. We've all been together for four years now and it's been great. I couldn't ask for a better night than to score two touchdowns on Senior Night, it's pretty exciting." Kelly, who overcame a broken foot in a June passing scrimmage and a deep cut to the webbing of his hand at Fremont Ross, said. "What I'll remember most about this season is how we overcame adversity. We had a key injury we continued to fight and got through stuff. We had some tough losses, but to finish the season with two wins is huge." That's headline-making material.
BEE HIVE BUZZ:
The final tailgate party of the season was going full blast upon arrival last night. With the parents of the seniors already on the field for pre-game Senior Night festivities the gathering was a little slim, but the atmosphere was that of a robust autumn clambake.
Anna Katuscak came back to supply her incredible clam chowder. A delicious concoction that is richer than old man Rockefeller. The usual assortment of hot dogs and hamburgers were sizzling on the grill, which provided much needed warmth. The mood was light and festive.
A bevy of pre-game prognosticators took their shots at predicting the final score. All foresaw a relatively healthy Bees victory:
Anna Katuscak, 21-14 Bees.
Frank Katuscak, 24-7 Bees.
Nicole "The Predictor" Best, 37-12 Bees.
Ken Cunningham, 41-10 Bees.
Jeanie Cunningham, 42-11 Bees.
Ward, 32-14 Bees.
Emily Wirkus: Missing in action.
Yours truly, 21-10 Bees.
Note: Nicole Best is a studious predictor. Nothing gets by the sophomore. She does her homework and wants to be as accurate as possible. One could get frostbitten fingers waiting for her pick.
The Bee Hive was decked out in fine Senior Night fashion, courtesy of the Bees senior mom's. The BBHHS student section, although a little light in numbers, sported white to create a 'white out' effect. The seniors in the stands helped lead a raucous revelry all evening long.
The game was broadcast, on a tape-delayed basis, by Cox Cable to Broadview Heights residents. Mark "Munch" Bishop called the play-by-play. Former Bees assistant coach Bill Powers added the color commentary. The Cox Cable sideline reporter was quick to track down Timmy Tupa for a post game on field interview.
Andy Baskin from News Channel 5 was on the home sidelines with a video camera. Bees head basketball coach Stevie Mehalik made sure Baskin was well-fed. Baskin and Jeff Phelps are the two "Talking Heads" on The Fan, 92.3 FM in Cleveland. Their sports talk show can be heard every weekday from 10:00 am-2:00 pm. They do a great job with the program that has only been on the air for nine weeks.
With conference title and play off possibilities on the line there was plenty of scoreboard watching going on along the sidelines. Many games raised eyebrows thanks to modern technology. Cleveland Heights-Maple Heights, Avon Lake-Amherst Steele, Austintown Fitch-Boardman and Twinsburg-Mentor were just a few scores that were being bandied about from a variety of high-tech hand-held instruments.
The junior varsity Bees pummeled Westlake this morning on a beautiful fall day at the Bee Hive by the score of 42-14. The quote of the day came from Jay Schott who said, "Who would have seen the day when Matt Csuhran would run for a touchdown?" When Csuhran, out of his quarterback position, darted into the end zone from four yards out with Brecskville's last touchdown while pointing the ball into the end zone.
SPECIAL NOTE:
A great big thank you goes out to BBHHS head coach Jason Black, coordinators Tom Tupa and Ed Herrick and all of the coaches for permitting unlimited access to the team all season long. Detailed reports could not possibly be available without their constant support.
Thanks a million to the Bees players. They have welcomed this old guy with a notepad and cheap tape recorder to become part of their haven on the sidelines. It means a lot to be involved with such a class organization.
A hearty handshake goes out to all the parents of Brecksville players who cordially invite me to take part in the great eats at pre game tailgate parties. Their generosity knows no bounds. Thank you.
Sincere best wishes to the Bees 22 seniors. Your kind words, handshakes and hugs are appreciated. You guys are all class acts. I wish you nothing but success in the future. It has been an honor to cover your games the past four years. Thank you for your time and for all the hard work that you put into this football program.
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
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