North Royalton Bears fall to Wadsworth Grizzlies in lopsided 61-28 loss

By: Gabby Ortiz

NORTH ROYALTON, OHIO– The North Royalton Bears got their homecoming game spoiled by the Wadsworth Grizzlies on Friday night.

The Bears and Grizzlies traded touchdowns until the middle of the second quarter in what was mostly an offensive game. The Grizzlies went on to defeat the Bears, 61-28, increasing their record to 7-0 in the Suburban League Standings.

The Bears scored their first touchdown of the game in the 9:15 mark in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7. In one quarter Bears quarterback Joe Marousek threw for 64 yards. In the second quarter the Bears offense stayed hot as quarterback Joe Marousek threw for another 61 yards, including a 50-yard pass completion to wide receiver Adam Barrett. Joe Marousek scored a touchdown with 8:23 left in the second quarter by running the ball into the end zone for five yards. The Bears took the lead 24-21 in the middle of the second quarter.

The Wadsworth Grizzlies would start to separate themselves from the Bears in the middle of the second quarter with a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Baughman to wide receiver Brett Randolph in just 29 seconds to increase their lead to 38-21. After the Grizzlies scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass, the Bears offense completely fell apart.

The Bears would not score again until the fourth quarter in what was a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Marousek to wide receiver Tyler Knurek bringing the score to 54-28. Bears Head Coach, Nick Ciulli said that the team played well until they had to play catch-up.

“We came out playing well, and then against a team like that who has such skilled guys on offense if you make a mistake they are going to make you pay. So, they got that lead, and then we are playing catch up, and we couldn’t stop them.”

The Wadsworth Grizzlies offense was just too powerful for the Bears to keep up. In three quarters Grizzlies quarterback Joey Baughman threw for 401 passing yards, destroying the Bears defense. It looked too easy for a quarterback who had a rifle arm, and the Bears were never able to recover from the Grizzlies high powered offense.

When asked on what he felt the Bears did well, head coach Nick Ciulli said that the team came out with a belief that they were going to get after it and win the game, but mistakes led to the Grizzlies capitalizing on touchdowns.

“I think we came out with a belief that we were going to get after it and win, and then two or three mistakes happen in a row, they capitalized with two touchdowns, and now it’s like we are playing catch-up, and when you are playing catch-up it’s never good,” he said.

This loss brings the Bears to 3-4 in the Suburban League and extends their losing streak to two games. Head Coach Nick Ciulli says for the team to improve they have to tackle better and get stops.

“We have to tackle better, that’s the bottom line and we can’t give up the big play, those are the two things that need most improved. Again, that goes hand in hand, and if you tackle well and bring people down you are going to be fine.”

The Bears are away as they take on Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Friday, Oct. 13th at 7:00 p.m. The Grizzlies will head back home to face Twinsburg High school next Friday as well.