SOT Game of the Week: Berea-Midpark outlasts the Westlake Demons 65-36.

By Sean Duffy

Westlake, OH- Week 2 of the Northeast Ohio High School Football Season is the beginning of the Southwestern Conference Play.  Our game of the week showcased two teams looking to rebound from a Week 1 loss , and start off strong in the SWC conference season.  The Berea- Midpark Titans traveled to Westlake to take on the Demons.

The Demons received the opening kickoff  marched 60 yards down the field and scored on a 25 yd touchdown run by Junior RB James Coleman,  a botched 2pt conversion attempt made the score 6-0 in favor Westlake early in the 1st quarter.  The Titans  responded with a 64 yd touchdown drive, junior QB Trevor Bycznski scoring on a 6 yd QB Keeper, Berea took 7-6 lead with 7:55 left in the 1st.  Westlake QB William Blood wasted no time when on the very next offensive play ran the ball 69 yds down to the Titan 5 yd line, Blood was shaken up on the run ,  Coleman would clean finish the scoring drive with TD run, and the Demons went up 13-7 with 7:01 left.  The Titans again responded with a 65 yd TD drive, sparked by an impressive 4th down conversion, with yet another TD Run from Bycznski this time for 8 yds,  Titans regained the lead 14-13 to end the first half.

The Demons opened the 2nd quarter  with an impressive 59 yd  TD  drive , William Blood was the main focus of the drive, scoring on a 25 yd TD run, Westlake took a 20-14 lead early in the 2nd.   The titans quickly responded, Bycznski again with another TD Run this time for 18 yds, Berea led 21-20 with 5:04 left in the half. The Titans were able to put together a drive late in the that resulted in a 10 yard TD plunge and the half ended with a Berea Midpark leading Westlake 28-20.

The Titans offense wasted no time getting on the board to open the second half when Titan junior RB Bryce Agnew scored on a 75 yd TD Run and Berea Midpark took a 35-20 lead early in the third quarter. After a botched fake punt attempt , Titans added a  30 yd field goal by senior kicker Nicholas Ruggiero and the titans were up 38-20 ,in the middle of the third quarter.  Westlake responded with a 19 yd TD run by Blood and a successful two point conversion made the score 38-28 with just over 6 minutes left in the third quarter.  Westlake was not able to take advantage of a Titan that gave the demons the ball on the titan 20 yard line , just missing a 40 yd field goal attempt.  Berea-Midpark would then utilize a 65 yd TD pass from Bycznski to Senor WR Luis Vega, a missed extra point made the score 44-28 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Westlake opened the 4th quarter with a 33 yd TD pass from Blood to junior TE Bryce Evans and with a successful 2 pt conversion, the Demons were right back in the game 44-36.  Unfortunately for Westlake,  Berea-Midpark was able to put up 21 unanswered points , a 10 yd TD Run from Bycznski, a 50 yd TD run by Agnew, and a late game TD run by Jabriel Williams, iced the victory for the Titans.

Westlake falls to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the SWC, Had solid performances from Senior QB William Blood who was 11/23 138 passing yds and 1 passing TD, 15 Carries for 149 yds and 2 TDS.  Junior RB James Coleman finished the game with 63 yds rushing and 2 TDs.

The Titans improve to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the SWC, and were led by Junior QB Trevor Bycznski who finished 17 of 32 passing for 245 yds and 2 TDS,  as well as 6 carries for 79 yds and 3 TDs on the ground.  Junior RB Bryce Agnew accounted for 186 yds rushing for 2 TD.  Earning both of them players of the week.

We caught up with Berea Midpark Head Coach John Hunek who had nothing but praise for his junior QB and RB combination.  Coach Hunek also mentioned a solid defensive performance of sophomore LB Beau Bachie who’s key tackle on third down stemmed the demon momentum after the third quarter fumble.