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Tough schedule puts Comets in spotlight
(by Steve Novak - October 01, 2008)
Tough schedule puts Comets in spotlight
By STEVE NOVAK
Solon jumped from 12th place to sixth place in Division I, Region I, of the Ohio High School Athletic Association computer rankings following a 42-7 triumph over host Lakewood last Friday night in a Northeast Ohio Conference clash.
The spotlight will be on the Comets (4-2) when they visit Brunswick (6-0) at 7 tonight (Oct. 2) in a conference game that will be televised by FSN Ohio. Brunswick, ranked second in Division I, Region II, has beaten Mansfield Senior, 51-35, Brush, 36-14, Brecksville, 38-37, Nordonia, 30-7, Normandy, 38-7, and Elyria, 42-14.
McQuaide said the team is even more ominous than the 6-0 record indicates. He said Brunswick is undefeated in the past two regular seasons, and hasn't suffered a regular-season loss in three years. Brunswick's last regular-season loss was Sept. 23, 2005, to Elyria, 49-42.
"They're 31-0 in regular-season games," he said. "They use a spread offense, so they're going to try to throw it all over the field. They have a good quarterback and a good running back. This is going to be a challenge for us."
In the Lakewood contest, Solon had two touchdowns both through the air and four on the ground. Five different players scored.
Quarterback Jake Voight completed seven of 12 passes for 75 yards, including touchdown passes to Matt Piscietto for nine yards and Darryl Baldwin for 16 yards. Kyle Hammonds ran for scores of two and 11 yards, C.J. Jackson had a two-yard score and Austin Hood went 13 yards for a touchdown.
Hammonds finished with 90 yards on 19 carries and Jackson had 59 yards on nine tries.
The defense, led by Joe Janasek's nine tackles and Tony Davidson's seven tackles, held Lakewood to 33 yards rushing and 91 yards passing. Janasek has 66 tackles for the year and Davidson has 65 tackles.
"The best thing is that we're getting more consistent in the past two weeks," Solon head coach Jim McQuaide said. "We've been able to run the ball and to throw the ball. We've been able to effectively throw the ball, but we've still got a ways to go."
For the second week in a row, McQuaide praised the work of his offensive line for plowing the running lanes and keeping them open. This week, he singled out the work of the center Sam Gaeth.
"He's a captain on the team, and he really had a good game," McQuaide said. "He's really picked it up for us in the past few games."
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