Oct 22, 2022 Correspondent photo / Michael J.
Sekol.
Struthers’ Alec Grzyb runs for a gain Friday night against Poland.
Grzyb rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
STRUTHERS , In the regular season finale Struthers would defend its home turf, dominating Poland 35-7 at Wildcat Stadium.
Both teams entered at 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play, seemingly evenly matched on paper.
The tale told on the gridiron Friday night couldn’t have been more contrary.
The battle of Region 9 teams played a stake in hosting a home game next week, for the opening round of the Division IV Ohio state playoffs.
Struthers dominated the run game on both sides of the ball.
The Wildcats rushed for four touchdowns as a unit and outgained Poland 318 to 131 yards on the ground. “We have a young line on both sides of the ball,” said Struthers coach John Bayuk. “For them to be doing what they are doing on offense and defense, it’s just hats off to my coaching staff for getting these young guys ready.
Hats off to our kids showing up and playing against a great league schedule every week.” Alec Grzyb would start the scoring with a bang getting the scoring started with a 44-yard touchdown run at the 2:18 mark, giving the Wildcats the early 7-0 first quarter lead.
Struthers would score again with 9:32 left in the first half.
The only pass completed by either side Friday night was a trick play as running back Anthony Carter found receiver Chaz Ekoniak in the back corner of the endzone just over the turned Poland defender’s head with a 24-yard strike, extending their lead to 14-0.
Grzyb would make his presence felt again, breaking off another big run at the end of the first half, a 75 yarder that’d set up a violent four yard touchdown run from Devin Braham to conclude the first half at 21-0.
The Wildcats would end any shot of a Bulldogs comeback in the third quarter scoring two touchdowns in a two minute span, extending their total to 35.
Poland would score late in the fourth making the final 35-7 Friday night’s route would cap off an excellent regular season and give the Wildcats some momentum heading into the playoffs with their fifth straight win.
After a disastrous 1-4 start, filled with four losses of two scores or less, Struthers was able to right the ship and peak at the right time heading into the playoffs. “We were battling in all our games early on, we got better every week,” Bayuk said. “We took a look in the mirror and decided we are going to put our foot on the gas.
Our team motto was 1-0 every week, our kids took that seriously every week Monday through Thursday and have been fighting all year.
I can’t be more proud of them.” Poland has been decimated with injuries, including losing two starting offensive lineman and quarterback’s JP Genova and Dominic Pagano. “We are pulling Bulldog, we are going to respond in a positive manner.” Poland coach Tom Pavlansky said. “Injuries are part of the game and nobody is making excuses here.
If you’re wearing a P on your helmet we expect you to go and perform.
We are going to coach you up to do that.
I’m proud of our kids and right now we are at 0-0.
It’s a new season.” After Friday night’s contest, Struthers finished the regular season at 6-4 and Poland at 5-5.
Both teams will be awaiting other results around the region to determine their opponents for the start of the playoffs next week.
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