Westlake Gets First Win Since 2016; Defeat North Olmsted 34-33

This game recap is brought to you by Frankie’s Italian Cuisine.  Present this article for 10 percent off your next purchase.

Westlake, Ohio – The Westlake Demons defeated the North Olmsted Eagles 34-33 giving Westlake their first victory since 2016.  The Demons came back from down 13 points in the third quarter.

The Demons came out slow, but not in a bad way.  Westlake took nearly eight minutes on the opening drive of the game.  James Coleman ran for 57 yards on seven carries on the drive. The Demons capped off the drive when Jacob May found Kevin Walls from nine yards out to give Westlake the early lead.  With under a minute to go in the first quarter, North Olmsted tied it up at 7 after a one-yard touchdown run by Liam Fay.

North Olmsted took all the momentum on the ensuing drive.  Nate Eyerman picked off Westlake Quarterback Jacob May and ran it back 44 yards to the Westlake one-yard line.  On the next play, Darren Anders ran it in to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead. May finished the night going 15-28 with 171 yards.  May threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions.

After a Westlake punt, North Olmsted started on their 16-yard line.  On the first play of the drive, Liam Fay found Owen Juhn who outran everyone on the Westlake defense for an 84-yard touchdown.  Westlake cut the North Olmsted lead to just seven points after James Coleman ran in a score from nine yards out and the teams went to the locker room with North Olmsted leading Westlake 21-14.  Coleman finished with 180 yards on 31 carries and ran in three scores.

“JJ has been a grinder for us for a long time.  I’m really happy for JJ and all these guys, they’ve been through a lot,” said Westlake Head Coach Jason Hall. “It’s been a rough stretch.  Close games last year close ones this year, playing good halves, not good games. They got down and they kept fighting tonight.”

Early in the second half, Westlake fumbled inside their own 40-yard line.  Liam Fay connected with Dalton Diaz for an 18-yard touchdown pass on fourth and seven to give North Olmsted a 27-14 lead.  The extra point was blocked. Westlake needed to respond and they did just that. The Demons led a four-minute 80-yard drive that ended with James Coleman running in a score from 18 yards out and Westlake was within striking distance at 27-21.

With 8:22 left in the game, North Olmsted had a third and eight at Westlake’s 14-yard line.  Liam Fay threw a screen to Sean Elbin who ran it in for the 14-yard touchdown pass, Fay’s third of the night.  North Olmsted went for the two-point conversion but failed which made the score 33-21.

Westlake immediately responded, a blown coverage left a Demon receiver wide open for a 58-yard reception down to the North Olmsted four-yard line.  Two plays later, James Coleman ran it in from the three-yard line. The extra point was blocked and North Olmsted’s lead shrunk to six points. The Demons forced the Eagles to punt and Westlake would have a chance to take the lead late in the game.  The Demons had fourth and two at the North Olmsted 42 yard line and needed to convert. Jacob May ran a QB keeper for 11 yards and converted to keep the Demon drive alive. With 45 seconds left, Jacob May hooked up with Jacob Jablonski for a five-yard touchdown pass giving the Demons the lead late in the game.  

North Olmsted falls to 2-3 and will host Lakewood next week while Westlake improves to 1-4 and will travel to Avon next week.

Player of the game: James Coleman is the player of the game with 180 yards and three touchdowns.