Accountable to each other, Buchtel keeps winning streak alive with playoff win over Woodridge
PENINSULA — Reflecting on his team's season, Buchtel coach Bryan Williams said the turning point came after his team's 0-4 start.
"It was after the [St. Vincent-St. Mary] game, that was the point," Williams said. "I let them have it after. I challenged them that we knew we were better than we played. All those seniors on the defensive line heard what I said and said, basically, 'He's right.'"
That accountability still permeated the Griffins' postgame huddle Friday. When Williams asked his team if it dominated, the answer was an emphatic "No!"
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"We played terrible on defense tonight," Buchtel senior Davian Greenlee said. "We played OK on offense. We have to get back in the lab and fix things, but I know we can do it."
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Greenlee might have been a bit harsh on his fellow defenders, who played a major role in Buchtel's first playoff victory in years.
Taking advantage of turnovers and breakdowns, Buchtel took a three-score lead in the second half and held on for a 24-21 win in a Division IV, Region 13 first-round playoff game Friday at Lahoski Field.
Buchtel (6-4) scored its sixth consecutive win and advanced to face Northwest in the second round.
"We knew this was going to be a battle from the beginning," Woodridge coach Jeff Decker said. "We both have seniors on the line and great skill players. We knew it was going to come down to whoever made fewer big mistakes.
"We both made mistakes, but they just made a few less than we did."
The game pitted the strength of each team against each other: Woodridge's running game vs. Buchtel's aggressive defensive line.
"The defensive line was playing with their hair on fire all night," Williams said.
Greenlee, Marques Turner, Jermaine James and Tinell Edwards held the Bulldogs running game in check. Woodridge (7-4) finished with 111 yards rushing and never looked comfortable.
"I thought we would be able to run the ball a little better than we did," Decker said. "Our quarterback had to make some plays, and he did, but just not enough."
Woodridge quarterback Johnny Howard complete 12 of 23 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, but threw an interception in the second-half. Howard was also sacked three times.
An exchange of turnovers early in the third quarter proved the turning point in the game.
After Woodridge's Gavin Lewis intercepted a pass from Buchtel quarterback Stevie Diamond, Turner brought it back on the next play. He ripped the ball out of David Hitchens' arms and rumbled down to the Woodridge 3.
"He's so slow," Greenlee joked, noting he hoped Turner could score.
Two plays later, Wiley Cheairs scored the first of his two rushing touchdown from a yard out. Wiley's second gave Buchtel a 24-7 lead with 5:41 left in the third.
Woodridge did not fold. A 50-yard touchdown from Howard to Jack Novak was followed by 1-yard touchdown by Robert Dixie.
Williams had a simple message for his team in the fourth quarter.
"Relax," Williams said. "You've got this game, just keep playing."
The Griffins' defense proved their coach correct, as Woodridge's final drive was stopped on fourth down in their own territory.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Buchtel High Schol advances in OHSAA playoffs over Woodridge
