Football Roundup: Orrville upsets CVCA for biggest win in years
Week 8
Orrville 39, CVCA 38
Orrville almost surely needed a win heading into its final three games to have a chance at a playoff berth. But with CVCA, Canton South and Triway on the schedule, it wasn't going to be easy for a Red Riders program that hadn't beat a team with a winning record since 2019.
That streak ended Friday, as Orrville picked up its biggest win in three years and changed its playoff fortunes in one fell swoop on a rainy evening in Cuyahoga Falls.
It was a wild night at CVCA, as Orrville survived being outgained by 180 total yards to pull off the improbable victory over the five-win Royals.
After taking a 27-24 lead in the third quarter on a 53-yard pass from Sawyer Hamsher to Brant Besancon, the Red Riders surrendered two touchdowns to CVCA in the fourth, giving the Royals a 38-27 lead.
The Red Riders responded by playing their best stretch of football of the year, with Hamsher finding Besancon for another touchdown before Hamsher rushed for the go-ahead score from 11 yards out with 3:51 to go.
CVCA still had a chance after that, but Orrville recovered a Royals fumble to preserve the victory with the Royals threatening to score.
"Truthfully, that's been our weakness for several years at Orrville," Zuercher said. "When adversity hits, we haven't been able to fight back and overcome those tough moments. It was a tremendous effort by them, and I was proud to see them fight through and not give up."
Hamsher played perhaps his best all-around game as the Red Riders' starting QB, going 16-for-28 for 202 yards, four TDs and two interceptions. Besancon had a career night of his own, catching seven passes for 132 yards and three scores. Asiah Smith also scored on a four-year reception from Hamsher.
"It was definitely (Hamsher's) best game maturity-wise," Zuercher said. "He was positive. He stayed focused. He made a lot of plays with his legs and his arm tonight."
Mason Woodruff also returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the Red Riders.
Kyle Snider rushed for 223 yards and two TDs for CVCA and Joey Kopec added 173 yards and two TDs as the Royals piled up 423 yards on the ground. However, Orrville limited them to negative-six passing yards on just one completion.
Dalton 55, Rittman 14
Dalton held up its end of the bargain as all four first-place Wayne County Athletic League teams won to create what will be a drama-filled Week 9 pitting the first-place teams against each other.
There was no drama Friday for Dalton as it led 35-0 at half and never let Rittman into the game.
Sammy Tomlinson had another big game running the ball for the Bulldogs, rushing for 145 yards and four TDs on just eight carries.
Brady Geibel, Cade Mullet, Greyson Siders, Ethan Stutz also scored touchdowns for the 'Dawgs. Colin Pearson went 3-for-5 for 105 yards at QB, with Brady Hignight catching two of those for 76 yards.
Artie Sonego was a bright spot for Rittman in the loss, rushing for 158 yards and two scores, including a 65-yard TD run. Jaxon Miller threw for 126 yards with Dack Mutter (2 catches, 58 yards) and Tyler Leatherman (6 catches, 54 yards) leading the way as receivers.
Loudonville 44, Cardington-Lincoln 12
Matt Sprang was dealing as Loudonville took an early lead and never looked back, winning its second game in a row.
Sprang's chemistry with Zach Frankford, Micah Simpson and James Henley worked wonders for the Redbirds, with Frankford catching seven passes for 120 yards and a TD, Simpson catching six passes for 115 yards and Henley catching five for 65 yards and two scores. Camdyn Beachy also caught a TD.
Sprang finished with 339 yards and four TDs passing, along with 39 yards and two TDs rushing.
The Redbirds' defense was also up to the task, limiting Cardington to 186 total yards.
Northwest 28, Triway 7
Triway got within one possession early in the fourth quarter, but Northwest pulled away late to stay tied atop the PAC-7 standings with Canton South.
Cale Drown found Cooper Barton for a five-yard TD pass with 8:55 to go in the fourth to cut Northwest's lead to 14-7, but Northwest scored two touchdowns in the final 7:09 to seal the win.
Drown connected with Barton all night, as Barton caught 12 passes for 124 yards. Drown finished the night 19-for-38 for 154 yards.
Northwest intercepted Triway four times.
Norwayne 66, Chippewa 0
Norwayne dominated another WCAL opponent, scoring 60-plus points for the fourth time this season in a blowout victory to stay tied atop the league.
No stats provided.
Canton South 49, Tuslaw 7
Canton South stayed tied atop the PAC-7 with Northwest with a blowout win over Tuslaw.
No stats provided.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Football Roundup: Orrville upsets CVCA for biggest win in years
