BEES TROUNCE MIDPARK
COMPLETE TEAM EFFORT IN SWC WIN
By Dom DiPasqua/Staff Writer
Saturday, October 22, 2011
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – When things go according to plan it's a beautiful thing.
The Bees took a step toward reaching their re-structured team goal with a 32-9 Southwestern Conference victory over Midpark last night in front of a less than sizable crowd at the Bee Hive.
Other than leaving three points on the field in the extra point category, Brecksville-Broadview Heights remained on course for a winning season by defeating the Meteors with a balanced offense and a stout defense.
Midpark (2-7, 1-5 Southwestern Conference) managed a second quarter field goal and a late touchdown. Other than that the Bees defense battened down the hatches.
On offense junior quarterback Tommy Tupa threw for 194 yards and a touchdown by completing 15 of 20 passes.
Running back Jay Schott continued his fine season by rushing for 135 yards on 20 carries. The junior scored a pair of touchdowns. On the season Schott has 837 rushing yards and is the teams leading scorer with 11 touchdowns.
"It was nice to be able to run and throw it like we did and I was pleased with our defensive effort." Said Bees head coach Jason Black. "That's been our story all year. Our defense has been bending, but not officially breaking. We are in the right spots when we have to be."
Brecksville (5-4, 4-2 Southwestern Conference) scored the first time they had the ball.
Tupa was outstanding on the opening march. The polished signal caller completed his first five attempts to four different receivers for 26 yards and kept the Midpark defense on its heels and guessing.
Schott picked up 16 yards on four expertly blended-in carries before bursting up the gut and turning on the jets for a 30-yard touchdown gallop five and a half minutes into the contest.
On the extra point the Bees two-point pass attempt failed leaving the score at 6-0. The impressive initial march took ten plays and covered 72 yards.
Brecksville's balanced attack was the key to the game. They were able to get Schott going early and often. Tupa was clicking with a variety of targets and the Bees took care of business.
"I think our entire line was the key." Said hulking senior left tackle and co-captain Rody Seballos. "In the second half we were coming off of our blocks a lot better, firing off the line when we needed a push."
The Meteors would score early in the second quarter. Aided by a defensive holding call against the Bees and a 41-yard romp by senior running back Josh Boros, they cashed in with a 21-yard knuckleball field by senior kicker Ken Postel. That boot narrowed the gap to 6-3.
Midpark, pulling out all the stops in a nothing to lose season, attempted an onside kick. The Bees Brian Musial, a junior linebacker, recovered the ball at the host's 41-yard line. It would be the first of two onside kicks that Musial, a member of Brecksville's good hands team, would recover.
Tupa was masterful on the ensuing drive. The quick strike Bees covered 59 yards in only five plays to score again. Schott picked up 18 yards on two totes and Tupa continued to scatter the ball around Community Stadium to an array of different receivers.
Sophomore wide receiver Timmy Tupa hauled in an aerial for 17 yards. Junior wide out Pauly Karthan gathered one for 13 and classmate Tyler Tarnowski flagged down Tupa's loft in the far corner of the south end zone on a pump fake and go route from 11 yards out. Karthan's extra point kick gave Brecksville a 13-3 lead with 7:18 remaining in the half.
That would be the score at intermission.
With Schott continuing to eat up yardage on the ground Tupa found Karthan for two more short connections on a six-play, 55-yard journey to pay dirt. Schott blasted his was to his second touchdown when he went 24 yards up the middle seemingly untouched.
"The holes were there. The line did a great job and Pauly Karthan and Tyler Tarnowski both had key blocks to spring me free too. This was an all around great team effort." Said the always-gracious Schott. "We did a good job of mixing it up. It was a great game plan."
Midpark's Kyle Johnson, a senior lineman, blocked the first of two extra point kicks in the game. But the Bees gave themselves some breathing room, now up 19-3 two and a half minutes into the third stanza.
The Brecksville defense continued to swarm forcing a take over on downs when senior defensive end Bobby Seitz tackled Meteor quarterback Branson Repasy short of the first down marker on a fourth and two play.
Tupa kept at it on the following drive, sharing the wealth of his right arm with a trio of different receivers.
The drives most dazzling play came when Tommy hit Timmy on a wide receiver screen pass. Timmy, displaying quick feet and athletic moves, deftly sidestepped a pair of Midpark defenders and danced his way for 18 yards.
Karthan picked-up another Bee first down with a 12-yard catch down the right side and Schott slipped out of the backfield to make a catch that netted 14 more to the visitor's one -yard line.
Senior co-captain Kyle Graham, the Bees short-yardage specialist, put on his fullback cap and bolted in from a yard away with 3:33 to go in the third.
Karthan's extra point kick topped the nine play 73-yard trip and gave Beeville a sturdy 26-3 advantage.
Even though Graham has scored four touchdowns this year he makes his living on defense at his linebacker position.
"We game planned well for Midpark all week. I was trying to be aggressive and it worked out." Graham said. "They broke a long run early, but we had a good goal line stand and they had to kick a field goal. Their touchdown came late. The defense played well."
Junior Matt Csuhran came on in relief of Tupa early in the fourth quarter.
With junior running back Ryan Mulhorn and Carlo Milano and Dylan Goodwin getting their carries Csuhran, coming out of a time out, executed a sweet-looking eight-yard pass to senior tight end Ryan Kelly in the middle of the south end zone.
The Bees final touchdown would give them a commanding 32-3 lead with 7:21 remaining.
"If we're able to run the ball and throw it like we did tonight we can be very tough to stop. Our game plan from day one was to mix in the run a fair amount of times knowing that our passing game was always going to be there especially with Tommy." Said Black. "Tommy only had two official days of practice going into Avon Lake after six weeks off. Last week he had a gargantuan task and tonight he played like the super star quarterback that he is. It was a great bounce back game. He threw the ball very well. I was impressed with him."
The Meteors, who will face arch-rival Berea next week to end the regular season, ate up most of the remaining time on the scoreboard with a 14-play, 65-yard drive that ended in their only touchdown of the cool fall evening.
With the clock and the crowd thinning senior back Joe Kinder did the honors from four yards out with 2:40 left. The Bees Brian Colarik, a rough and tumble veteran defensive back, blew up the Meteors two-point attempt.
After Musial's second onside kick recovery and a couple of Csuhran genuflects later the Bees were serenading their loyal fans with a spirited and victorious rendition of the schools alma mater.
"This is a step toward our re-adjusted goal this season, to finish with a winning record and go 4-1 at home." Said Seballos. "It is our goal to have two winning seasons in a row so this was a huge win."
Schott, who has an outside chance at becoming a thousand yard rusher for the Bees this season, has carried the mail, through the rain, in the heat and in the cold.
"Schott has been a very pleasant surprise to our season. The best thing about him is that he keeps getting better week in and week out and he is only a junior. The nice thing is that we get to see him do that ten more times next year." Black said of his workhorse back.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
Brecksville ran the ball 32 times for 179 yards and passed the pill 21 times completing 16 of them. Their three rushing touchdowns and two through the air matched that box score balance with the stat sheet.
Milano had five carries for 25 yards. Mulhorn picked up 17 yards on three. Karthan led Bee receivers with five grabs for 74 yards. Timmy Tupa hauled in four of Tommy's passes for 83 yards in what resembled a game of pitch and catch in the back yard.
Schott, Kelly and Tarnowski were on the receiving end of two passes and bruising junior tight end Mike Tyler (6-5, 215) caught an eight-yarder. Tarnowski and Kelly each caught a touchdown throw.
The Bees defense, whose goal it was to pitch a shutout, was outstanding. The 'Beefense' has improved immensely since earlier this season. Providing the bulk of the bulwarks was linebacker Kyle Graham (ten total tackles), Brian Colarik (8) and senior co-captain and safety Jack Rose (7). Colarik leads the team with 32 solo tackles this fall. Graham is the hit master with 67 total stops.
Junior Grant Cunningham, who has been a major player in the Bees defensive resurgence, came up with a half dozen stops, as did Tyler from his defensive end position. Ben Kremer, Troy Lang and Joey Houk all were in on five hits.
Senior linebacker Nenad Camur made a tackle for a loss and Graham had two. Colarik broke up a pair of Repasy's passes.
"You could name all of our guys on defense. I think everyone got in on the act." Said Black of defensive coordinator Ed Herrick's group. "We believe that our defense has been getting to the right gaps the last four weeks and it makes it tough to score on us when we do that."
Midpark ran the ball 40 times for 167 yards. Repasy completed seven of 14 pass attempts for 51 yards. Brecksville out-gained the Meteors 380 total yards to 218.
If balance is what you are looking for the Bees are averaging 145 yards on the ground and 166 per game through the air through nine games this season.
Schott has a combined 917 yards of total offense this year, an average of about 102 yards per contest.
BEES BY THE NUMBERS:
Brecksville is now scoring on average 21.8 points per game while allowing 22.8. The local lads are 3-1 at Community Stadium and 2-3 away from Mill Road.
Last night was the third time that the Bees cracked the 30-point barrier this season. The other two times were in their season opening 31-26 victory over arch rival North Royalton and the 43 points that they put up two weeks ago at home against Amherst Steele on Homecoming.
On the defensive front Brecksville gave up a season low nine points to Midpark. That bested the ten points that the Bees allowed in the muck and mire at North Olmsted on the last day of September.
The Bees have lost four games this season. The combined record of the four teams that have defeated them is 26-10 (72.2%).
LINE SCORE:
Midpark 0 3 0 6 = 9
BEES 6 7 13 6 = 32
BOX SCORE:
First quarter –
BEES: Jay Schott 30-yard run. Pass failed. 6-0 Bees (5:29).
Second quarter -
Meteors: Ken Postel 21-yard field goal. 6-3 Bees (8:57)
BEES: Tyler Tarnowski 11-yard pass from Tommy Tupa. Pauly Karthan kick. 13-3 Bees (7:18)
Halftime score: 13-3 Bees.
Third quarter –
BEES: Jay Schott 24-yard run. Kick blocked. 19-3 Bees (9:36).
BEES: Kyle Graham 1-yard run. Pauly Karthan kick. 26-3 Bees (3:33)
Fourth quarter –
BEES: Ryan Kelly 8-yard pass from Matt Csuhran. Kick blocked. 32-3 Bees (7:21).
Meteors: Joe Kinder 4-yard run. Run failed. 32-9 Bees (2:40).
Final score: 32-9 BBHHS.
TIME OF GAME: 2:17.
WEATHER: Cool and intermittent very light sprinkles of rain.
ATTENDANCE: N/A.
SCORES FROM AROUND THE SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT:
BBHHS – 32, Midpark – 9.
North Olmsted – 40, Amherst Steele – 0.
Avon Lake – 42, Olmsted Falls – 13.
Berea – 21, Westlake – 14.
Other games of note:
North Royalton – 10, Stow-Munroe Falls – 3.
Oregon Clay – 17, Fremont Ross – 14.
# 15 Hudson – 27, #14 Elyria – 21.
Defense wins it for the Bears. The Little Giants are now 5-4. Who would have thunk it? The Explores, behind junior running back Ben Gedeon, win a huge game with plenty of play off ramifications at Ely Stadium.
SOUTHWESTERN SYNOPSIS:
In a game that was moved from Harding Stadium, which was deluged with three straight days of heavy rain this week, Olmsted Falls played a "home" game at the War Memorial in Avon Lake.
The Southwestern Conferences game of the year turned into an early rout as the Shoremen racked-up 35 points before the Bulldogs knew what hit them in the battle of teams that came into the fray tied for first place, both undefeated in the loop.
North Olmsted looked like the team that most figured they would be this season in a 40-0 pasting of over-matched Amherst Steele in a game played in the beef stew at Municipal Stadium.
Berea scored 21 second quarter points and then had to hang on to hold off Westlake, who scored twice in the final frame, 21-14. The Demons come calling to Broadview Heights on Friday.
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE GAMES FOR FRIDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 28, 2011:
Westlake (4-5, 2-4 SWC) at BBHHS (5-4, 4-2 SWC).
Berea at Midpark at Finnie Stadium.
Olmsted Falls at North Olmsted
Avon Lake at Amherst Steele.
Other games of note:
North Royalton at #15 Hudson.
Findlay at Fremont Ross.
All games kick off at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
A win by the Explorers likely puts them into the play offs. Ross can salvage a winning season by topping Findlay at home.
THE SWC CRYSTAL BALL:
A winning season is on the line for the Bees. Look for the Braves to down Midpark and take the Grindstone Trophy. Falls and North Olmsted should be a good one with two teams playing for pride in this long time rival of the Olmsted's. Look for the Shoremen to claim the outright league championship with a big win at Amherst. The Lakers have clinched at least a tie for the title heading into week ten.
QUOTES OF THE NIGHT:
"I'm not cold at all. I love this weather." Said Jason Black, wearing his traditional short-sleeve coaching shirt and shortened trousers in 40-degree weather during the post-game interview. The Polar Bear Club is looking for new members.
"You head looks cold. The volleyball team gave you a Russian Hunting Hat and you're not wearing it? I'd wear it if I were you. I'm just looking out for you." Pauly Karthan advised this old scribe. Good point.
BEE HIVE BUZZ:
The customary hearty group of Bee Nation Tailgaters was in the Bee Hive picnic pavilion early. Hot soup, chili and the usual menu of burgers and dogs were on the grill. As temperatures dropped many in the group sought comfort near the fire.
All of the prognosticators figured on a rosy-cheeked Brecksville victory and they were correct. Stating the pre game predictions were:
Katie Graham: 36-10. (Katie was the closest to the actual final score.)
Nicole "The Predictor" Best: 28-7.
Yours Truly: 28-7.
Emily Wirkus: 17-14. Wirkus text-messaged her vote to Best who relayed the foretelling.
Hannah Nowacki: 21-7.
Nowacki, a Lady Bee volleyball player, was in the football training room being attended to by head trainer Tom Iannetta before the game. It turns out that Nowacki, a senior libero, cut her left knee in an accidental meeting with one of the guardrails in the parking lot.
The crowd at the Bee Hive was on the smallish side last night. Even those up on the grassy knoll were fewer in numbers than usual.
Although it was Pee Wee football night at Community Stadium the numbers were down. Midpark who traditionally doesn't travel well, did not bring many folks. The cooler weather may have played a factor in the smallest crowd in several years.
BBHHS students staged a pink out. Many, if not all, of the students in their section donned pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Thinking pink has been a month-long focus from the NFL on down to the high school level. Brecksville cheerleaders also got in on the act donning pink gloves and socks.
Bees basketball coach Stevie Mehalik and his staff were grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs for the concession stand. Mehalik, who is priming up for the season, reported that sales were slower than usual.
A photographer from ScoutingOhio.com was on the sidelines last night, at least for the first half. Her camera was zeroed in on Tommy Tupa.
The BBHHS athletic department recognized the girl's cross country and soccer teams on their Southwestern Conference championships.
The Bees Marching Band was spectacular as always at halftime playing their patriotic tribute to the Unites States Military for the first time this season in front of the home crowd.
IN MEMORIUM:
Sincere condolences go out to the Drvenkar family on the loss of their father Steve. Mr. Drvenkar passed away on Monday at the age of 72. He was a long time videographer for the Bees football teams. He leaves behind his wife, Janice and three sons Eric, Sean and Ryan.
Mr. Drvenkar was a great guy and a huge fan of high school sports. He always had a smile on his face, a firm handshake and kind words. I have gotten to know Sean and Ryan over the years, going back to their days as Bee football players. Sean and Ryan are now coaching at North Royalton.
Mr. Drvenkar's funeral mass was this morning at Assumption Catholic Church in Broadview Heights.
NEXT UP:
The 2011 season comes to a close Friday when Westlake visits the Community Stadium for a Southwestern Conference game with the Bees that kicks off at 7:00 pm. It will be Senior Night.
The Demons are smarting after their 21-14 loss at Berea last night. Westlake is 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the SWC.
Brecksville will be out to finish their campaign with a winning record. The Bees won in impressive fashion at Westlake in last year's season finale, a triumph that catapulted them into the post season.
Standing in their way, as they always are the last Friday in October, is the Demons. Mark Campo is the head coach at Westlake.
"We have a heck of a task in front of us against Westlake. They are a very good football team. They played everyone in our conference close, it doesn't matter who it is." Black said.
The Bees hope to ride the emotion of Senior Night against the Demons.
"You never forget your last game as a senior. You remember that game forever period, but you remember it a lot more if you win." Said Black on one of the multiple levels of importance for Fridays clash with Westlake. "There are 45-50 other players on the team that are not seniors. They'll need to do everything they can this week to make sure that our seniors go out happy in the final high school game that they play."
Brecksville has 22 seniors listed on its 2011 roster. Senior co-captains are Rody Seballos, Jack Rose and Kyle Graham. They have been the corner stone of the team this season. Their swan song means a lot.
"It will be really emotional after playing on the varsity for three years." Graham said. "It's the last high school game of my life. It's going to be sad, but I'm excited to play."
That fact isn't lost on junior co-captain Tommy Tupa, Jay Schott and the rest of the Bees.
"Senior night is important. We are going to go out and do our best to win just for these guys." Said Schott. "I love all these guys. They have been my teammates for the last two years."
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
Follow the Lady Bees volleyball team on the web at: www.beesvolleyball.com. The second-seeded Bees take on Solon Wednesday at 7:30 pm in a Division I district tournament semi final match at Solon High School.
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